 | |
Screenshot  The Joost homepage in May 2009 | |
| Developer(s) | Joost N.V. |
|---|---|
| Final release | none (n/a) [±] K.K. |
| Preview release | 1.1.7
/ 18 June 2008 |
| Operating system | Windows XP, Vista; Mac OS X (x86 only), iOS, PlayStation 3 |
| Available in | English |
| Type | P2PTV |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | www |
Joost (/ˈdʒuːst/) was an Internet TV service, created by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis (founders of Skype and Kazaa). During 2007–2008 Joost used peer-to-peer TV (P2PTV) technology to distribute content to their Mozilla-based desktop player; in late 2008 this was migrated to use a Flash-based Web player instead.
Joost began development in 2006. Working under the code name "The Venice Project", Zennström and Friis assembled teams of some 150 software developers in about six cities around the world, including New York City, London, Leiden and Toulouse. According to Zennström at a 25 July 2007 press conference about Skype held in Tallinn, Estonia, Joost had signed up more than a million beta testers, and its launch was scheduled for the end of 2007.[1]
The team signed up with Warner Music, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Productions (Indianapolis 500, IndyCar Series) and production company Endemol for the beta.[2] In February 2007, Viacom entered into a deal with the company to distribute content from its media properties, including MTV Networks, Black Entertainment Television (BET) and film studio Paramount Pictures.
The company went through restructuring several times and sold most of its assets in 2009; it suspended operations in 2012.
- ^ Kidman, Angus (25 July 2007). "1 million Joost users prepare for year-end launch". APC Magazine. ninemsn Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007.
- ^ Orlowski, Andrew (17 January 2007). Joost – the new, new TV thing. The Register