• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, May 9, 2007

As News Corp. and NBC Universal prepare to launch what's billed as a game-changing video-rife site, the partners have linked with CNET. The Internet producer will contribute some of its content for distribution, while serving as a staging ground for the budding operation's offerings.

The multi-year agreement calls for CNET, which operates sites such as TV.com and GameSpot, to contribute large amounts of clips to the coming site. CNET will also serve as a distribution point for the new site's content, which will include full shows from the Fox and NBC networks and films from the Twentieth Century Fox and Universal studios, among other programming.

The new site is scheduled to launch this summer with content from some 20 TV networks.

"We are delighted that they will be joining us as both a content provider and distributor, ensuring that we continue to add to the depth and breadth of premium video available on our site and on our video network," said George Kliavkoff, chief digital officer at NBC Universal and interim CEO of the new venture. "In addition, we further extend the reach of our protected content to their highly engaged user base."

Comcast has also signed up to provide programming to the new site, with offerings from the E! and Golf Channel networks.

The new site will be staged on sites such as AOL, MSN and MySpace in addition to the CNET fleet.