Joost Signs With Viacom

NEW YORK -- Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA andVIA.B), a leading global entertainment company, and Joost(TM) (http://www.joost.com), the world's first broadcast-quality Internet televisionservice, announced today that Viacom will be a key content partner and willoffer a full range of brands and programming for free to consumers on theinnovative Joost distribution platform. Under the agreement, Viacom'sdivisions -- MTV Networks, BET Networks and Paramount Pictures -- willprovide television and theatrical programming on the Joost platform.Founded by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, Joost is powered by a secure,efficient, piracy-proof Internet platform that enables premium interactivevideo experiences while guaranteeing copyright protection for contentowners and creators. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Joost will allow users to have free access to thousands of programs andchannels not readily available on the Web. Through Joost, viewers can watchprogramming from many of Viacom's brands on their computers through acustomizable platform with advanced television viewing features such aslinks that lead to more information or related websites based on thecontent; and a variety of plug-in applications, such as instant messaging,message boards, and news tickers.

Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA)