NBCU, News Corp. Video Site Hulu to Debut

Hulu, the online video joint venture between NBC Universal (NYSE: GE) and News Corp. (NYSE: NWS), will officially launch on Wednesday, ending 18 weeks of an invitation-only beta test. In addition to content from NBC, Universal and Fox, the company has announced new content partnerships with Warner Bros. Television Group, Lionsgate, and sports leagues NBA, NHL and NCAA. (Digital Media Wire, AP)

Sony joins We7 to make music free

We7, a free, advertising-supported online music service backed by Peter Gabriel, has become the first to claim the support of a major label, after Sony BMG, home to Mark Ronson, Bruce Springsteen and the Hoosiers, pledged to license its catalogue of more than 250,000 tracks to the company's new online music streaming service. (The Guardian)

Sony BMG signs with We7!

Sony BMG, one of the UK's largest and most successful record companies, has signed with We7 to provide free streaming of its music to We7 users in the UK. From the end of April, We7's users will be able to stream music, on demand and for free with a short audio advert before each track, from the extensive Sony BMG catalogue. The label will also make available to stream on demand new releases from its current roster of artists. (PR)

Internet video poised for explosive expansion in viewing

A report by investment bank and brokerage Bear Stearns suggests that internet video is on the cusp of an explosion. In the United States over 70% of internet users now stream video, watching an average of 7 minutes a day. Video advertising spend is projected to reach $4.3 billion by 2012, when nearly 90% of internet users in the United States will be watching video online. (InformITV)

5.9 billion video clips viewed online

More than 116 million viewers logged on to watch online video clips to the tune of more than 5.9 billion video downloads in January. On average, viewers spent more than 120 minutes with online video and downloaded more than 50 streams per person. Most users, however, continue to land on video pages through general interest portals (86%)the traffic from communities and social networks increased to a 25% share. Photography based sites drove about 20% of video traffic while online games and video/movie sites drove about 16%. (BizReport)

Internet Music Radio and Track Plays Chart 4.8 Billion Listening Hours in 2007

Music radio online (live streaming channels and individual track plays) generated 4.85 billion total listening hours in 2007, up 26.1% over 2006, according to a new research report by AccuStream iMedia Research. Total listening hours averaged 404.2 million hours per month (excluding downloaded music), compared to a 320.5 million hour average in 2006, including leading music subscription services such as Napster, Yahoo Music and Rhapsody. (PR)