Verizon seeking content deal with YouTube

The Wall Street Journal reports today Verizon Communications is in advanced talks with YouTube to bring the popular Internet video site's clips to mobile phones and televisions. According to sources close to the negotiations, subscribers of Verizon Wireless' premium V Cast service would be given access to about 50 to 100 of the most popular YouTube videos at any given time; by year's end, users should also be able to upload personal video shot with a Verizon camera phone to the V Cast network.

YouTube co-founder and CEO Chad Hurley told an advertising conference last week he sees a huge opportunity in mobile services, and the company is expected to seek similar content deals with other nationwide wireless operators. YouTube, which agreed to be acquired by Internet search leader Google for $1.65 billion, already launched its own service allowing mobile users to upload video from their handsets to the YouTube site, but currently the clips can be watched only on a PC.

The YouTube model is a natural fit for mobile entertainment--its reliance on brief, punchy clips like music videos, talk-show interview segments and indie short forms makes the content perfect for handset viewing. YouTube's massive popularity proves users will accept diminished picture clarity and small screen sizes if the content is worth viewing (and if you've ever seen this, you will most assuredly agree that it is). Kudos to Verizon if they can pull this off.

For more on the VZW/YouTube deal:
- Check out this article from the WSJ (Sub. req.)

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- Verizon alters VCast subscription costs