Joost close to deal with MTV

Joost is in talks with Viacom over broadcasting some of its programmes on the new internet TV site.

The deal will see content from Viacom's channels MTV, Comedy Central, and films from its Paramount Studios division, appear on Joost.com.

Created by the same people as communication tool Skype, Joost has already signed content deals with Warner Music and Big Brother producer Endemol.

The BBC's director of future media and technology, Ashley Highfield also said last week that the corporation had plans to meet with the company, with ITV and Channel 4 also hoping to discuss licensing deals.

Earlier in the year, Viacom ordered YouTube to remove more than 100,000 clips of its content which had been uploaded to the video-sharing site, following a collapse in a similar licensing deal between the two companies. Viacom believes it lost up to $48m in potential ad revenue from the clips being freely available.