Just one week after Comcast Corp. teamed with Facebook to air user-generated content, Verizon has announced plans to do the same with its FiOS service through a partnership with Internet video site Revver Inc.
Revver content will launch on Verizon's surround broadband entertainment portal by the end of the first quarter and on FiOS TV later this year. It will be free to Verizon FiOS TV and broadband subscribers, according to the service provider.
Revver, which compensates users for sharing content online by splitting net revenue 50-50, does not accept copyright-infringing content. It also will share revenue with users who have agreed to allow their content to be featured via Verizon FiOS TV and broadband services.
Through a separate agreement, Verizon Wireless already makes Revver videos available to Verizon Wireless customers with V CAST-enabled handsets. Roughly a week ago, Vodafone Inc. announced plans for the same functionality with MySpace. (LINK- http://www.xchangemag.com/articles/539/72h79463591085.html)
"This is just another way that FiOS continues to distinguish itself from old-fashioned TV,” said Marilyn O’Connell, senior vice-president of video solutions at Verizon.
In an increasingly competitive and crowded video market, service providers are looking for ways to differentiate their offerings, evolving from volume of channels to HD programming to VoD and DVR functionality to user-generated video and social networking features.
Verizon announced plans Wednesday for local advertising with FiOS. That adds differentiation and revenue streams by allowing smaller advertisers that could not afford or need to take their messages to broad audiences reach more targeted viewer groups.
Verizon FiOS TV and broadband subscribers will have access to some of the best content from a variety of Revver's video creators. The content will be chosen from categories on Revver.com such as Editor's Picks, Viral Video Classics, Extreme Sports, Laughs, Animation and Cute Overdose.
Revver will provide the best user-generated video clips daily to Verizon.
Additionally, when users access other videos of interest on Verizon's Surround broadband entertainment portal, they will be presented with related content from Revver. For example, when a customer browses through movie downloads, the service will display Revver videos that relate to those movies. Similarly, someone watching sports, accessing games or listening to music will see Revver videos related to that content.
Comcast Corp. www.comcast.com
Facebook www.faecbook.com
MySpace www.myspace.com
Revver Inc. www.revver.com
Verizon Communications Inc. www.verizon.com
Vodafone www.vodafone.com
