"We need to open up our websites and content both for consumers and for other companies," said Mika Salmi, MTV Networks president of global digital media.

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Since December, Viacom's Comedy Central website has been allowing viewers to embed its videos on their own sites.

The idea, borrowed from websites like MySpace, helps Viacom rely less on sites such as YouTube to reach viewers.

It means the company can also control its own programming and advertising.

As part of its move to invest more heavily in the internet, MTV Networks plans to cut 250 jobs, or about 6% of its work force.

Judy McGrath, chief executive of MTV Networks, told staff the company would "refine our business and organisational models" and build up some areas such as online and new networks while reducing resources in others.

The jobs will go in the US across MTV Networks, a unit that includes MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Country Music Television.

Ms McGrath also indicated that MTV's overseas operations was also "exploring new business models for television and online".