Viacom Veers Left with Jon Stewart Strategy

This isn’t specifically related to mobile, but it could be a watershed moment for online video, similar to how the death of TimesSelect was heralded as a tipping point for registration curtains with online journalism.

Viacom said Thursday that it had reached an agreement with the host of its popular “The Daily Show” through 2010, and also unveiled a new web presence for the program, making available video clips from every episode dating back to 1999, according to AdAge.

“For Viacom, it’s crucial that it figure out a successful model for its web video,” said the report. “The cable giant has filed a lawsuit charging copyright infringement against Google’s YouTube in an attempt to get its content, especially bits from the popular ‘Daily Show,’ from appearing on the video sharing site.

“The new web site seems better designed to give fans what they want, the ability to call up any clip from the show… Viewers [also] can join the ‘Daily Show’ community, buy episodes of the show from iTunes, download wallpaper and IM icons, or get tickets to the show.”

Will other media conglomerates follow suit in offering free access to popular TV show episode archives?

Jon Stewart Turns Out to Be Key to Viacom Web Strategy [AdAge]

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