MySpace and MTV Turn Pirated Video Into Ad Dollars

MySpace will partner with MTV Networks (whose channels include Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, VH1 and MTV) and Auditude, a Palo Alto firm that works to identify whether the video clips that users upload to the Web are owned by a television network.

Previously, when footage was uploaded from television shows like the "Daily Show," MySpace might have automatically blocked the clip, or at least taken the clip down upon complaint by Comedy Central.

Now, the users are able to post such clips to the advantage of media companies that will get to monetize and get all the data from this--meaning media companies will be able to know what is being watched, who is watching it and have their programs reap the benefit of this viral promotion.

How does this work?

Auditude will compile all of the video owned by MTV Networks that it finds on MySpaceTV, the second-largest video site after YouTube. Then Auditude will overlay an identifying label specifying the program and offer either the producing channel or MySpace the opportunity to advertise against it. Auditude will also supply viewers with a link to buy and download the full episode.

Auditude requires no additional effort by content owners and can work with a variety of Web video sites, like MySpace TV, YouTube and Veoh.

For more information on this new media topic, visit http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/myspave-and-mtv-turn-pirated-video-into-ad-dollars/.