Babelgum is a an advertisement-supported system for distributing recorded TV shows over the Internet. The project is the brainchild of Italian media and telecommunications entrepreneur Silvio Scaglia (one of the founders of Italian TelCo FASTWEB) and scientist and innovator Erik Lumer. Their vision was that the flexibility, capacity and interactivity of IPTV could potentially be extended to the open Internet , and thus they formed Babelgum in 2005 with the aim of developing interactive software for distributing TV shows and other forms of video over the Internet. Babelgum profile

Babelgum uses peer-to-peer TV technology to provide free, on-demand, tailored TV content to end users, supported by advertising. The company aims to combine the “immersive viewing experience” and visual quality of traditional television with the interactive, customised features made possible by the internet.

The service was "unveiled" in London on Wednesday 7th March 2007 and is currently in open beta-testing phase. The beta software is available to download for free from the Babelgum website.

On September 1 2007 Babelgum launched the Babelgum Online Film Festival, the first global online film festival dedicated to independent film. Online viewers voted for the shortlists in the 7 categories (including Shorts, Documentaries, Animation, Music Videos, Advertising). A jury of industry experts chaired by Spike Lee selected the winners, who were awarded at a ceremony in Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival.[http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb2007094_157643.htm Babelgum's Contrarian Approach to Web TV ]

Babelgum is an international company with offices in London (U.K.), Dublin (Ireland), Milan (Italy), Nice (France) and New York. It employs 100 people. CEO is TLC technology expert Valerio Zingarelli.

[http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Disciplines/Digital/People/Articles/ed3649572f5748d5a27e4b5fd650ba0b/Independent-streak.html |Independent Streak

Name

According to the company's website, Babelgum's goal is "to act as an international 'social glue'", bringing a vast range of content to a global audience of different nationalities, like a "modern-day Tower of Babel". The company's green bubble-shaped logo is therefore a visual pun on the name as well as a reference to Babelgum's commitment to a greener planet.

Content

Unlike other video distribution sites such as YouTube which feature user-generated material, Babelgum only airs professionally produced content, with the editorial focus on indie film and festivals, adventure sports, nature and travel. In addition to mainstream TV content, Babelgum offers niche programming such as independent and short films, aiming to "serve the Long Tail of viewers' interests" [http://www.last100.com/2007/05/29/introducing-babelgum-joost-isnt-the-only-game-in-town/ Introducing Babelgum (Joost isn't the only game in town) | last100 ] and give visibility to small independent producers who would not normally get widespread distribution. The thematic channels on Babelgum include News, Trends, Music, Sport, Documentaries, Lifestyle, Animation and Fiction. In addition to these, the platform features branded channels through licensing agreements with content providers such as Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, PBS, 3DD, Shine Limited, IMG, Ministry of Sound, Off The Fence documentaries and Serie A Italian Football. Babelgum also has partnerships with international film festivals such as the Seattle International Film Festival, DC Independent, Encounters and Rushes Soho Shorts.