Media behemoths found web video network

Media giants NBC Universal and News Corp. on Thursday announced plans to join forces with AOL, MSN, Yahoo! and MySpace to form an online video distribution network - taking aim at Google's popular YouTube operation.

The video network, scheduled to debut this summer, will feature free full-length programming, movies and clips from at least a dozen television networks and two major film studios.

NBC, News Corp. and the others are looking to use the web video platform as a means to attract advertisers by offering the ability to post their ads online, as well as on-air. Cisco Systems, Intel and General Motors are among the companies that have signed up as advertisers.

The online video company, which will be based in Los Angeles and New York, is also taking aim at Google and its recently acquired YouTube, the popular user-generated video site. Yahoo!, as well as AOL, MySpace and other internet sites, are increasingly adding video content to their sites.

This a tumultuous time for YouTube. Earlier this month, entertainment giant Viacom sued Google for more than $1bn in damages, citing "massive intentional copyright infringement".

Under the NBC-News Corp. agreement, partners of the online video distribution network will be able to feature the site's content on their own respective website, allowing them to add their own look and feel to the content's presentation.

The network distribution site will launch with such clips and full episodes as Heroes, My Name is Earl, Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. Movies destined for the network will range from The Devil Wears Prada to The Bourne Identity and Little Miss Sunshine.

The ad-supported site will also feature video playlists, mashups, online communities and video search.

Dawn Kawamoto writes for CNET News.com