Broadband TV Service from Skype Founders Set for 2007 Launch

LONDON, December 18: Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström,
founders of the popular online telephony service Skype, are planning to launch
a global broadband TV service next year, the FT reports.

Friis and Zennström sold Skype to EBay for $2.6 billion last
year. They have invested part of those proceeds into the service, dubbed “The
Venice Project.” The platform promises “near high-definition” content and
services that allow users to personalize channels and chat with other viewers.
The service, which will utilize peer-to-peer technology, will be ad-supported.
About 6,000 individuals are currently trialing The Venice Project, the FT
reports. The content lineup has not been announced.