The still to launch NewCo, the unnamed video content network from News Corporation and NBC Universal has already landed private investment cash — $100 million from Providence Equity Partners, and it’s rumored more are interested. Remember, this thing is still ‘in the works,’ but with the big-time content and distribution partners it has, the potential YouTube threat seems like a good bet.
NBC’s DotComedy.com just signed with Israeli startup HIRO Media, which provides ad-supported video distribution technologies that work in multiple channels, including through P2P networks. The technology will allow NBC to dynamically personalize and alter ads every time a user views a video. It would make sense for NBC to employ the HIRO technology for NewCo.
This Web 2.0-style relationship reminds me of multiple deals CBS announced in May with a variety of blogging software, widget and instant messaging platform providers like Clearspring, MeeVee and meebo.