Yahoo! and Current TV, a pioneer in viewer created content for television and the Web, have partnered to deliver video content to Web with the launch of the Yahoo! Current Network. According to the companies, the site combines the best in user submitted videos plus professional, studio-produced content to air side by side in a co-branded environment.

“Current TV empowers young adults to actively participate in creating the television they want to watch, but in a broader sense, we’re about giving young adults a voice,” states Current TV co-founder and chairman Al Gore. “Current’s mission has always been to spark a global conversation among young adults. Partnering with Yahoo! helps us advance this mission.”

“Current TV’s strengths in producing and programming some of the most creative video content available, combined with Yahoo!’s leadership in online video and user-centered communities creates a unique experience. The new Yahoo! Current Network helps publishers find an audience and be discovered on the biggest network on the planet,” said Dan Rosensweig, chief operating officer for Yahoo!. “In addition, the Yahoo! Current Network allows advertisers to reach highly targeted audiences in an engaging environment.”

The Yahoo! Current Network debuts with four channels on Yahoo! Video that allow users to view and upload videos, participate in rich communities and share their passions. Channels include:

• Yahoo! Current Buzz: A daily feature that reflects what the Yahoo! community is searching for, with segments that showcase the best of what’s buzzing around the world and on the Web. Current Buzz is executive produced by Madeleine Smithberg, the Emmy and Peabody-winning co-creator and former executive producer of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
• Yahoo! Current Action: The spot for action sports news and videos, straight from the people who love it and live it.
• Yahoo! Current Driver: The destination for everything automotive from hot rods and classics to tricked-out imports and exotic super cars.
• Yahoo! Current Traveler: A globe-spanning bulletin board of video postcards from people’s greatest adventures.

Each channel will feature a daily selection of the best viewer created video submissions and professionally produced Buzz videos. These featured videos will be programmed into a set of custom branded channels with all content discoverable through Yahoo! Video.

Every Monday at 5:00 p.m. PT, the best user created submission from each Yahoo! Current channel will air on Current’s television broadcast and its producer will be paid $500 by Current TV. Additional channels will be launching as part of the Yahoo! Current Network over the next several months, with eight individual channels available by the end of 2007.

Through user participation features found on Yahoo! Video, including the ability to rate, review and share videos, all viewers can voice their opinions and share their favorite content. Users can personalize their experience by subscribing to channels, grouping videos related by source or topic and making videos viewable from their blogs or websites.