CBC will stream free, ad-supported news and entertainment content on seven websites in the San Francisco-based HandHeld Entertainment network, which consists of: ZVUE.com, Putfile.com, YourDailyMedia.com, FunMansion.com, Dorks.com, and UnOriginal.co.uk and Holylemon.com.

The CBC will provide segments from The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, The National, CBC News Sunday, ZeD, Fashion File, Retrobites, among other top shows. The Ceeb will also provide celeb interviews with actors and recording artists such as Russell Crowe, Jim Carrey, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, the Dixie Chicks, Norah Jones and Josh Groban, as well as fashion tips from Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton and Oscar de la Renta.

The videos will be viewable via the web and HandHeld’s branded ZVUE personal media players, which are sold online and in 2,200 Wal-Mart stores in the US. HandHeld’s network in the United States and Europe currently boasts 525,000 premium and free videos and other media available for purchase, download and/or streaming.

CBC director of business and platform development Bob Kerr says the agreement is part of the Ceeb’s strategy to ‘get our shows and video segments to Canadians and non-Canadians alike around the world.’

As well, CBC announced a deal in March with San Diego-based DivX to provide shows for its video-sharing site. Footage from The Hour, The National and other programs, updated weekly, were hosted at the site’s CBC channel, one of hundreds offered by Stage 6.

With files from Playback Daily.