IP Democracy: WSJ: YouTube in "Advanced Talks" with Verizon

The Wall Street Journal has this page one scoop by Amol Sharma and Kevin Delaney about “advanced talks” taking place between YouTube/Google and Verizon. The agreement under discussion would allow Verizon Wireless customers to have access to YouTube’s videos on their cell phones via the carrier’s premium broadband option Vcast.

Another purported part of the tentative deal would enable Verizon to deliver YouTube videos via on-demand access to Verizon’s FiOS TV customers. Yet another supposed aspect of the deal would give Verizon the exclusive right to carry YouTube videos (exclusive to whom is unclear. Exclusive to TV? Exclusive to mobile phones?), although I seriously doubt that this would be in YouTube’s best interest given that now is the time for rapid expansion of the service and an exclusive pact, even if for only a short time, could limite YouTube’s growth.

Stay tuned for more news about YouTube deals — Google is clearly moving quickly to capitalize on its hot property while the timing is right.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on November 7, 2006 9:21 AM to IP Democracy