Bebo offers 100% ad revenue to tempt content owners online

Social networking website Bebo has struck content deals with a raft of international broadcasters that offer the content owners 100% of the associated advertising revenues.

Broadcasters including the UK’s BBC and Channel 4 as well as US network CBS and international channel brands such as MTV and Turner have signed up to provide series including comedy The Mighty Boosh, reality series Kid Nation and teen drama Living on the Edge to the website.

The deals are significant because they offer a 100% share of advertising revenue. Traditional online deals, with services such as Joost and YouTube, usually offer a 50/50 split.

Joanna Shields, president Bebo International, said that it would collect the advertising revenues on other parts of the site and that having such content would keep users online longer.

This follows Bebo’s moves into original programming, most recently a deal with producer Endemol to create The Gap Year, an online reality travel series, as well as hit drama KateModern, which Bebo claims drew 25 million views.