Japan's TBS, Index in Internet TV joint venture

Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. (TBS), Japan's third-biggest TV broadcaster, said on Monday it will form a joint venture with mobile content provider Index Corp. and others to air TV programs over the Internet.
The move, first reported by media last month, is the latest between Japan's Internet companies and TV broadcasters, many of which have become takeover targets as Internet firms seek to use advances in communications technology to deliver content via the Web.
TBS, Index and satellite TV broadcaster Sky Perfect Communications Inc. said they would form a joint venture in January and plan to air 2006 FIFA World Cup programs for which Index has broadcasting rights over the Internet and cellular phones.
The three firms would also ask other nationwide TV networks, including Japan's biggest broadcaster Fuji Television Network Inc., to participate in the joint venture, they said.