Joost Lines Up Advertisers Ahead of Launch

Worldscreen reports that a host of big-name advertisers, among them Microsoft, Sony Electronics and Unilever, have come on board as advertisers on Joost, the new Internet TV service from Skype founders Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom.

According to the New York Times, Joost has signed on 30 “launch partner” advertisers as it gears up to deliver free content from the likes of CHUM and Viacom to users worldwide.

Nick Loria, the senior VP of global advertising sales at Joost told the Times that the new advertisers had signed up for a three-month trial. “There’s so much that’s not known about how consumers will use this media. And there’s so much interest among clients in how they will use it.”

Ten of the new advertising partners stem from Joost’s deal announced today with the Interpublic Emerging Media Lab. The year-long strategic relationship with Joost covers the Interpublic clients General Motors Europe with Opel and Vauxhall, Intel, Lionsgate, Microsoft Corp., Motorola Inc., Sony Electronics, Inc., Taco Bell Corp, Unilever's Magnum Ice Cream and the U.S. Army.

The prices for the ads are said to range from $50,000 for U.S. only to $100,000 for worldwide distribution, for the three-month period. Some will be traditional 30-second spots, while others will utilize interactive elements.