This is a “if you can’t beat them, join them” strategy: Comedy Central is going to copy YouTube’s model of letting users redistribute content via Flash players.

Smart move.

Three interesting things to watch:

• Whereas YouTube has a universality and market leadership regarding its reach, can CC’s smaller reach still give its video viral legs;
• Will this make Viacom more eager to stop redistribution through YT?
• Will the inclusion of video ads limit users willingness to redistribute?

This move could tell us a lot about viral syndication.

[tags]video, comedy central, youtube, viral video[/tags]