MySpace ceo Tim Vanderhook said: “Historically, TV has been a shared experience, as people gathered together to watch their favourite programmes. Our belief was that we could enhance the TV experience by increasing viewers’ ability to connect to both content and each other.”The service, dubbed MySpace TV, will allow users to discuss the programmes they are watching, discover new content and join fan communities via Panasonic Viera Connect-enabled TV sets, the companies announced at CES in Las Vegas yesterday (9 January).

Launch channels on the “over the top” service will reflect MySpace’s music focus, using the site’s library of music videos and songs. Channels are expected to extend as the service rolls out to include sport, documentaries, news and films, the companies said.

Smartphone and tablet apps will also become available so that users can access MySpace TV when they are away from their Panasonic Viera TVs.

Sky took a 10% stake in start-up social TV service Zeebox yesterday (9 January) to allow the broadcaster to integrate the technology into its mobile app portfolio. Zeebox also allows users to discuss TV programmes in real time.

NewsCorp sold MySpace to ad network Specific Media for $35m (£21.9m) last year.

This was just a fraction of the $580m (£363m) Rupert Murdoch’s company bought it for in 2005, when it was the most popular social network and before rivals such as Facebook and Twitter gained momentum.

Specific Media, along with Justin Timberlake, who fronts the social network, said last year it plans to “evolve MySpace into the premier digital destination for original shows, video content and music”.