The company’s video-rich site which aims to compete with Youtube will debut later this year with thousands of hours of full-length programming, movies and clips from myriad networks and two major film studios and with an unparalleled reach. With distribution partners AOL, CNet, Comcast, MSN, MySpace, and Yahoo!, the new venture will have access to 98 per cent of the monthly U.S. unique users on the Internet.

News Corp president and COO Peter Chernin says, “Jason’s product and consumer expertise in the world of e-commerce is arguably unrivaled in this business and gives him a great insight into what it takes to create a superior user interface. We already have access to world-class content and near ubiquitous distribution, and the next step is marrying it with the features and tools that will help define the ideal user experience for video content on the web. We think Jason is the ideal person to lead that effort.”

Kilar spent nearly a decade (1997 – 2006) at Amazon.com, where he quickly rose to help expand the company’s core business beyond bookselling. Kilar originally wrote the business plan for Amazon’s entry into the video and DVD businesses and ultimately led that unit as GM and VP.

The video and DVD business grew to several hundred million in revenue under his leadership. Kilar went on to become VP and GM of Amazon’s North American media businesses, which included the company’s books, music, video, and DVD categories.

He says, “As a team, we have a unique opportunity to create great customer experience through the combination of innovative technology and high quality content. In the process, I believe we can play a significant role influencing how consumers find, discover, and participate in premium content over the web. This is a big, inherently fun mission with which I’m proud and very excited to be associated.”