The relationship between traditional media outlets and blogs has been contentious in recent years. Both are jockeying for eyeballs, as well as the title of leading online news source. But now, in what could be considered a hybrid approach, CNN has launched a YouTube video channel with trend-centric blog BuzzFeed.

Launched today, the new pairing will be led by viral video master Ze Frank, who is now BuzzFeed’s executive vice president of video. The partnership will essentially facilitate video mash-ups of current and archival CNN video footage, prominently displayed on BuzzFeed’s site via a new category called CNNBuzzFeed(Opens in a new window). The first release, titled “Amazing Rescue Moments On CNN,”(Opens in a new window) (below) is narrated by Frank.

“From Web video’s infancy to a massive shift to mobile video viewing, the community and ecosystem of YouTube is at the heart of the social Web,” Frank said in a statement. “BuzzFeed’s massive audience is hungry for new, interesting video formats, YouTube gets that better than anyone and we’re elated to be working with them.”

BuzzFeed’s new video venture will be housed in a new studio in Los Angeles that will also feature a coffee shop and store designed to attract major celebrities and viral video influencers. Last year, BuzzFeed also partnered with another news video site called NowThis News(Opens in a new window) headed by veterans from CNN, ABC News, and The Washington Post, which some have called a potential “CNN killer.”

“By pairing the journalistic strength and reach of the CNN brand with BuzzFeed’s unique editorial approach and young audience, our partnership will enable both organizations to engage new audiences. It’s the perfect modern day media collaboration,” KC Estenson, senior vice president of CNN Digital, said in a statement(Opens in a new window).

Financial details were not revealed, but according to a report(Opens in a new window) in the Wall Street Journal, BuzzFeed plans to invest at least $10 million in the new venture. 

For more, see PCMag’s 2012 interview with BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti.