Intel, HewlettPackard, CocaCola, Nike, General Motors, Taco Bell and the US Army are among the organisations already planning to advertise with the network, which had been codenamed The Venice Project in its early trial phase.

Unlike Google's YouTube, Joost has had more success with brokering deals with content providers including Viacom, National Geographic, Warner Music Group and CBS.

Also unlike YouTube, Joost will not host usercreated videos, which may allow it to avoid the legal battles currently plaguing Google.