Sunnyvale, Calif. - Media conglomerate Viacom said on Tuesday that it has signed a multi-year deal that will make Yahoo the exclusive provider of sponsored search and contextual ads to all of its 33 broadband sites, including MTV.com, VH1.com, Nickelodeon.com, comedycentral.com and BET.com.

The deal also could expand to more than 140 additional Viacom sites.

Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to help Yahoo pose a more serious challenge to rival Google, were not disclosed.

The ads will be powered by Yahoo's newly launched search marketing system, known by its project name "Panama."

Yahoo's Panama system, which debuted in February, ranks ads in search results based on both by the amount a company bids for placement as well as the ad's quality, determined by its historical performance.

In February, Viacom's online properties drew more than 90 million unique visitors, according to comScore Media Metrix.

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