Blip.tv Announces Expanded Distribution Network, Including YouTube, Vimeo, NBC Local Media New York and Roku

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NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - July 28, 2009) - Online media company blip.tv today announced expanded distribution capabilities, new partnerships to monetize and track advertising and viewership across its distribution network, and a completely redesigned show creator dashboard. Show creators using blip.tv can now reach viewers across the Web and on the TV set with a single upload.

The blip.tv distribution network grows significantly today with the addition of new partnerships with YouTube, Vimeo, NBC Local Media New York and Roku, Inc., makers of the Roku digital video player. The new partnership with YouTube enables show creators to send episodes directly from blip.tv to their YouTube account. Blip.tv can traffic advertisements on shows syndicated to YouTube, with a revenue share back to content creators.

"Our mission is to provide services of scale to the most talented independent show creators. The services we offer, which range from distribution and business development to technology and ad sales, are essential tools for any independent show creator," said Mike Hudack, co-founder and CEO of blip.tv. "We believe that we're building the next-generation television network. This is what a TV network looks like when it's created in 2005 instead of 1945."

Blip.tv's new relationship with Roku enables owners of the company's digital video player to watch blip.tv shows on their television set. The blip.tv channel will be available later this fall for Roku customers. "We're excited to see blip.tv bring the best shows the Web has to offer directly to the television via the Roku player," said Jim Funk, vice president of business development for Roku. "This is an exciting addition to the Roku platform and a major step forward in bringing Internet content to the television where it can be enjoyed with friends and family."

A new deal with WNBC means blip.tv shows will air on NBC's NY Nonstop broadcast channel in New York City. "It's helpful to us that blip.tv manages relationships with so many of the best original show producers on the Web," said NBC Local Media New York VP of Content and Audience Development Vickie Burns. "NBC Local Media New York is excited about the opportunity to broadcast blip.tv content on our new digital TV channel, New York NonStop. It's a unique opportunity to provide independent producers unparalleled access to a distinct television platform and audience."

In addition to the new distribution partnerships announced today, blip.tv already distributes to iTunes, AOL Video, MSN Video, Blinkx, Facebook, Twitter, Sony Bravia televisions with Bravia Internet Video Link, TiVo, Verizon FiOS Video On Demand, iPhones and the Internet Archive. Blip.tv's partnership with TiVo expands today, as show creators can now syndicate shows to the pioneering DVR service with just one click on the blip.tv dashboard.

Using the new dashboard, creators can batch edit and reorder show episodes, reply to comments and friend requests from different Web sites directly from the dashboard, track video and advertising views and see, in near real-time, how much revenue their shows generate across every distribution channel in the blip.tv network.

Through a partnership with TubeMogul, the new dashboard enables show creators to track viewership of their shows second by second. The ability to detect exactly if and when they lose viewers during their shows allows creators to engage in a program of constant improvement, leading to longer engagement with each video.

"We're excited that TubeMogul InPlay audience and engagement data will be available to blip.tv show creators within the blip.tv dashboard," said Brett Wilson, TubeMogul CEO. "This is an important step towards bringing objective measurability to the creative process while maintaining the art of Web show creation."

A new deal with FreeWheel allows blip.tv to not only seamlessly serve advertising across nearly its entire distribution network, but also to easily and optimally enable its distribution partners to participate in monetizing content. Advertising is optional for blip.tv shows, and all advertising revenue is shared 50/50 with content creators.

"Blip.tv has led the way in building a platform that reflects the syndicated reality of Web video," said Doug Knopper, co-CEO of FreeWheel. "We built FreeWheel for businesses like blip's, and we're thrilled to be working together."

The new dashboard is being made immediately available to a group of one hundred top show creators. Additional show creators will be given access to the new dashboard over the course of the next several months.

Shows hosted and distributed on blip.tv currently reach more than 22 million viewers, totaling more than 72mm video views per month. The expansion of blip.tv's distribution network is expected to significantly increase those numbers.

About blip.tv

Blip.tv is an online media company with over 38,000 original Web shows and 72 million video views a month. Shows on blip.tv range from scripted sitcoms and dramas to news and how-to programs. Blip.tv hosts and syndicates shows to iTunes, YouTube, Vimeo, AOL Video, Verizon FiOS, TiVO, Sony Bravia, The Roku Digital Video Play and Facebook. Blip.tv splits all advertising revenues with show creators 50/50. For more information about blip.tv please visit http://blip.tv/.