MySpace Signs Deal With U.K. Firm to Distribute Online Programming

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- News Corp.'s MySpace has given a British media company exclusive rights to distribute video programming from the social networking site on broadcast television outside the U.S. and to sell DVDs and related merchandise.

Financial terms of the deal with ShineReveille International, a unit of London-based The Shine Group, were not disclosed late Wednesday.

Los Angeles-based MySpace retained the right to distribute content from MySpaceTV online and over mobile networks worldwide -- and on broadcast networks in the U.S., the company said.

The company was expected to announce the agreement at an interactive media conference in Cannes, France, on Thursday.

MySpaceTV is home to several series co-produced by MySpace, including "Roommates" and "Special Delivery."

NBC briefly aired another MySpaceTV production, "quarterlife," to help fill the gap in programming at the network during the Hollywood writers strike this winter.

The series has since been picked up by the Bravo cable channel, MySpace spokesman Paul Armstrong said.

MySpaceTV: http://www.myspacetv.com