In December, the broadcaster and search engine announced they were to work together to provide Sky’s broadband customers with search, e-mail and a video-sharing website.
As a point of differentiation to existing video-sharing and social networking sites such as MySpace and YouTube, the broadcaster is working on how the user-generated video could be linked into its existing programming strands. Users of the UGC channel will be able to edit, upload and share their own video content.
Media Week understands the service will launch within a matter of weeks, rather than months.
A spokesman for Sky said: "We are working with Google to move into the user-generated content space, and it will be integrated across all platforms. We are looking at how we will generate the content and Google is assisting us in that process."
Google will provide the search bar on Sky’s broadband portal and share those search advertising revenues with the broadcaster.
Sky is this week set to go head to head with Virgin Media, which has rebranded from NTL Telewest. Both are active in the coveted triple-play area, which combines TV, broadband and telephony.
Google last year acquired channel video website YouTube in a $1.65bn (£880m) all-share deal, and also has its own video-sharing site, Google Video.
Like Sky, rival broadcaster ITV is also working on ways to involve user-generated content with its programming, and has been running an interactive Emmerdale murder mystery on its website, ahead of a relaunch of ITV.com in March.
Last week News Corp, the owner of Sky, invested in ROO Group, a provider of video for websites, content providers and advertisers.
As a point of differentiation to existing video-sharing and social networking sites such as MySpace and YouTube, the broadcaster is working on how the user-generated video could be linked into its existing programming strands. Users of the UGC channel will be able to edit, upload and share their own video content.
Media Week understands the service will launch within a matter of weeks, rather than months.
A spokesman for Sky said: "We are working with Google to move into the user-generated content space, and it will be integrated across all platforms. We are looking at how we will generate the content and Google is assisting us in that process."
Google will provide the search bar on Sky’s broadband portal and share those search advertising revenues with the broadcaster.
Sky is this week set to go head to head with Virgin Media, which has rebranded from NTL Telewest. Both are active in the coveted triple-play area, which combines TV, broadband and telephony.
Google last year acquired channel video website YouTube in a $1.65bn (£880m) all-share deal, and also has its own video-sharing site, Google Video.
Like Sky, rival broadcaster ITV is also working on ways to involve user-generated content with its programming, and has been running an interactive Emmerdale murder mystery on its website, ahead of a relaunch of ITV.com in March.
Last week News Corp, the owner of Sky, invested in ROO Group, a provider of video for websites, content providers and advertisers.
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