Internet video host blip.tv today is trumpeting one of its first break-out stars. Video blogger Amanda Congdon today is launching a new Web-based TV show with major national sponsors, Dove Cream Oil Bodywash and Paltalk.

“Starring Amanda Congdon” starts today and is one of the first to have major sponsors, according to blip.tv officials

“This is a turning point for both videobloggers and the advertising industry. It's great to see top brands like Dove and Paltalk pave the way by tapping into the uniquely loyal audience of a videoblogger like Amanda Congdon,” said blip.tv COO Dina Kaplan, in a prepared statement. “Advertisers that have wanted to tap into the growth of online video but have been concerned about random and unpredictable viral videos have now found an outlet in independently produced shows like Amanda's.”

The popularity of Web-based video has been growing through sites like You.tube, which uses video clips from consumers. Blip.tv focuses more on episodic video programming, and looks to create a business model for content producers through advertising.

Dove will use its ads to promote its new bodywash product, coming out in February and also a contest for consumers to create an ad for the bodywash. The winning ad will debut during the 2007 Academy Awards. Viewers can also work together to create an ad script in which Amanda Congdon will star.

Blip.tv will distribute the new videoblog show to its own site, www.blip.tv, to the show’s site, www.StarringAmandaCongdon.com and to iTunes and MySpace.

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