Watercooler brings more TV shows to social networks

Watercooler, the maker of sports team and TV show-themed applications for social networks, has cut a syndication deal with broadcast network ABC and an expanded one with NBC and Fox-backed video site Hulu.

Through the ABC deal, you can watch shows like Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, and Ugly Betty — the full episodes will be available on Watercooler the day after they originally air on TV. Through the Hulu agreement, you can watch shows like ER and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as well as short-form clips from others like Friends and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Watercooler will use the Hulu video player and ABC’s video player made by Move Networks for the respective shows.

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Watercooler’s apps live directly on social networking sites and include features like message boards so fans can share their thoughts on their favorite shows — generating more user interaction than on free-standing sites like Hulu or on ABC.com. The Mountain View, Calif. app developer has more than 25 million registered users across 700 applications, bringing in more than 400 million monthly unique page views.

Of course, Hulu clips of these shows can already be embedded in 3-inch video players on any website. This deal lets Watercooler users watch shows in full-screen mode, thereby potentially keeping them on the app page instead of going to Hulu itself to watch the larger clip.

Watercooler has been gradually easing its way in with traditional media companies, having already worked with MGM and USA on TV series-themed contests earlier this year.