Joost

Joost has stepped up and said that it is talking to manufacturers to embed its software in TVs and other hardware. Since Joost is software base it can easily be integrated in to a variety of hardware, as long as there is an Internet connection. What could set Joost apart form current boxes on the market, are the big name backers such as Viacom, CBS and Time Warner. But it seems that content producers are not only relaying on a single distributor. Will Joost have enough backing to go toe-to-toe with Apple TV, Netgear/BitTorrent and the barrage of new net-boxes hitting the market?

Warner Bros. TV and Joost are in business.

The studio has teamed with the Internet service to offer two channels: WBTV: Sci-Fi Fix and WBTV: Before They Were Megastars. Among the shows to be offered online on Sci-Fi Fix include "Babylon 5," "Adventures of Briscoe County" and "My Favorite Martian."

The Megastars outlet will feature high-profile celebrities who first made appearances on TV, including Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson on shows such as "Growing Pains," Kung Fu" and "Sisters."

In addition, career-launching shows -- "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "The Wayans Bros." -- will have a place as well.

The broadband video service Joost has been struggling to keep up with demand after extending its pre-launch testing by allowing trial users to send unlimited invitations to others.

The Joost service opened for business on 1 May, allowing existing Joost beta testers to invite an unlimited number of users to sign up. However, many users have found the service temporarily unusable as its central servers strained under the demand.