MTV buys iFilm for $49 million

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, has acquired online video purveyor iFilm for $49 million, the companies said Friday. As previously reported, the deal was expected to come together this week. iFilm, a privately held company in Los Angeles, distributes short videos from Hollywood studios and amateur filmmakers over the Web, drawing more than 10 million visitors a month, the company said.

The deal could mean a lot more downloadable TV programming for Web users and more online advertising for Viacom. "We're...excited about the partnership potential with our established brands like MTV, MTV2, MTVU, Comedy Central, SpikeTV and VH1," an MTV executive said in a statement. Video via the Web got another boost this week when Apple Computer unveiled a new iPod that plays videos. The company also plans to sell TV episodes, music videos and short animation through the iTunes music store.

[Bill Dautrive]

This sucks

iFilm is a nice place to find funny and outrageous film clips.

Now that one of the most uninspired and censored media companies have bought it, it will likely go downhill.

Sad day

Great.. Now they'll ruin ifilm like they ruined.....MTV

It's not the music that sucks these days, it's the people who make the choices in what music we should like that suck.

[RoboStone]

Grahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

That is not cool. I want to... Like... I don't know.

[Hobyx]

Pffhhhh

not that iFilm was the greatest but.. I agree

viacom...

[jachamp]

Let me guess...

They are going to stop showing films on it and put in its place really bad shows with pretty people who have no talent.