MySpace signs deal to screen BBC shows

SOCIAL networking website MySpace has signed a landmark deal with the BBC in a move that will bring it into direct competition with YouTube.

BBC Worldwide has launched a video channel on MySpace TV that features short clips from selected shows including Doctor Who, The Catherine Tate Show and Parkinson.

"This is the first global content deal that any social network has done," said Rebekah Horne, vice president of Fox Interactive Media and MySpace in Australia and New Zealand.

The BBC's clips will be up to eight minutes in length and will include archival footage.

MySpace Australia has also signed a major deal with the ABC to launch a channel next week with clips from Summer Heights High, The Chaser’s War On Everything and Enough Rope With Andrew Denton.

These landmark agreements reflect YouTube's 2006 foray into official broadcaster channels following a string of copyright disputes. Broadcasters use these channels to control and promote their online content rather than users uploading the content without permission from the copyright holder.

MySpace claims that it is offering a more social alternative to YouTube videos.

"YouTube's a video site, MySpace is a social network," Ms Horne said.

"You can watch a (MySpace TV) video, blog it, email it, and add it to your profile."

But these features only work for MySpace users – other viewers cannot email or embed the clips outside the social network.

With five million users in Australia and over 5000 people signing up to MySpace worldwide each day, MySpace offers a large audience for both the BBC and ABC.

"It's about being where people want to be," Ms Horne said.

MySpace is also in discussions to bring MySpace TV to Australian mobiles, which would increase the current number of 50,000-60,000 videos uploaded by users each day.

MySpace's expansion into video-sharing could be seen as an attempt to keep the website relevant as users migrate between social networks.

One blogger has declared January 30th "International Delete Your MySpace Account Day".

But MySpace doubts that this will have a great impact on their network.

"This Delete-Your-MySpace day is just about being controversial," Ms Horne said.

"MySpace is still the biggest social networking site in the world."

In the words of BBC comedian Catherine Tate, MySpace does not look bothered.

news.com.au