Bablegum, the P2P internet TV platform which is set to go head to head with Joost this summer, has signed up a raft of new independent content providers.

The new deals with indie producers include documentaries, short films, and music footage. Bablegum says minnows will get the same billing as mainstream media conglomerates.

In the run up to its full launch, Bablegum has bagged news content from Reuters, AP, and ITN, and come out against YouTube-style user-generated footage.

Babelgum boss and telecoms tycoon Silvio Scaglia, ranked by Forbes as the world's 746th richest person, said: "The agreements we've announced today will be followed by many more as we build a library of up to 100,000 hours of independent and mainstream content from around the world."

Joost, which is backed by Skype's founders, offers a similar full screen on demand service to Babelgum, and is set to launch around the same time. Both plug their interactive features like chat and search. With similar technology, both London-based outfits know victory will be delivered by the quality of their programming. Babelgum's dedication to indies is admirable, but Joost probably edges it at the moment with more big names like MTV, Comedy Central, and Aardman Animations.

Babelgum is here in public beta. Joost is in beta here, and requires an invite from an existing viewer. ®

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