The news service announced their Affiliate Network Program, which lets users add a Reuters video player to their site and stream top news stories.Reuters announced Tuesday its Affiliate Network Program, which lets Web site owners add a Reuters video player to their sites.
The video player, which is embedded in a user's Web page, contains 15 "top story" video clips selected by Reuters editors. Reuters produces approximately 18 hours of news video daily.
"Individual site owners and bloggers who many not have the resources to produce videos and sell ads can have a potential share of the revenue [from this service]," said Stephen Smyth, Reuters' vice president of media. "We're hoping to embrace the long tail phenomenon of the Web."
An example of the service is available on Reuters' Web site.
Reuters is targeting individual Web site owners, newspapers, and online magazines, allowing them to test the pilot program before their full commercial launch, expected in the first part of 2006.
Reuters has not yet determined whether to use an ad-supported or a subscription model to finance the service. Videos on Reuters' Web site are preceded by 15-second ads.
Reuters' IM tool offers interoperability with Microsoft and AOL consumer IM services. Click here to read more.
While the videos are free of charge and currently ad-free, the usage agreement makes clear that advertising may be added at any time during the pilot program.
Potential users of the video service can sign up via Reuters' Web site. The customer will then receive 10 lines of JavaScript via e-mail. That code must be inserted into an HTML file where the customer wants the video feed to appear.
Internet television syndication startup Brightcove Inc. developed the player's video technology.
Last month, the Associated Press, Reuters' rivals, announced that it will be teaming up with MSN to develop the AP Online Video Network, also launching in the first quarter of next year, providing AP members with news videos for their Web sites through an ad-supported model.
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