Joost

Joost was an online video platform launched in 2007 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the founders of Kazaa and later Skype. It aimed to deliver high-quality internet television using peer-to-peer technology to distribute video data.

The Joost client ran on Windows and macOS and presented content through channels and curated slots rather than direct uploads; it relied on licensing agreements with major studios and broadcasters to provide professionally produced programming.

The service was funded by venture capital and relied on advertising; despite initial attention, it faced licensing hurdles, monetization challenges, and competition from YouTube and other streaming services.

The consumer service was gradually scaled back in the early 2010s; Joost shifted toward licensing its technology and providing distribution solutions to media companies, with the consumer platform effectively discontinued.

Joost's approach foreshadowed later shifts toward professionalized online video and hybrid distribution, influencing subsequent strategies although it did not persist as a consumer service.