iPlayer 2
Microsoft launched the pilot of its video on demand service - MSN Video Player - back on august 2009, but today you can access the full version and watch a wide variety of UK TV programmes for free.
MSN has done deals with Endemol, Digital Rights Group, RDF Right, Shed Media, Raw Cut, ContentFilm, ALL3MEDIA and, most importantly, BBC Worldwide. This means you can watch apparently all back episodes of popular programmes including That Mitchell and Webb Look, Mock the Week and classics like The Young Ones.
The project was coordinated by Microsoft's UK MD of consumer and online - Ashley Highfield. Prior to joining Microsoft, Highfield worked for the beeb and was responsible for the launch of its iPlayer, so he's got a fair bit of pedigree in this area.
"MSN Video Player has been developed with rapidly changing consumer media behaviours in mind," said Highfield. "The continuing rise in demand for online professionally produced video has enabled MSN to launch a service that has strong appeal to our users and advertisers."
We understand that, unlike some other services, Microsoft will be selling its own ads around the content. But, in the name of quality journalism, we watched some stuff on MSN Video Player and have yet to be confronted with an ad. There do seem to be a few teething problems, however, as some of the links didn't load up a show. This could be because we're using Firefox, and if that's the case Microsoft really needs to sort it out.
Microsoft is also using this opportunity to plug Silverlight - its competitor to Adobe Flash. If you want to watch HD content on MSN Video Player you need to have Silverlight installed.
The latest comScore figures show that we are averaging at 25 minutes per viewer, per month on MSN Video Player, a figure that is significantly higher than many of the UK's existing online TV services which suggests we are hitting the mark with our choice of content for the service.
UPDATE - 13:30 11 March 2010 - We fired a few additional questions over to Microsoft this morning and have now received a response:
Question regarding no sight of pre-roll video ads.
MSN Video Player plays 30 or 40 second pre roll and mid roll video ads before full length shows, and operates a time based model for short clips (one ad every few minutes of content). There is advertising playing on the service today, but a user may not see a pre-roll video against each clip they view.
What is the relationship with production companies?
The MSN Video Player strategy has been to deal with independents direct, witnessed by membership of Pact and the MSN / Pact terms of trade agreed last year. As shows come out of broadcaster holdback and rights revert to producers they are keen to maximise those rights. MSN Video Player is a strong new outlet for their content, as can reach the MSN and Windows Live audience of 34 million users each month.
How immediate will content be available on MSN Video Player - eg for BBCW content will it be on MSN as quickly as it will be on iPlayer?
This is not a ‘catch-up' service like BBC iPlayer, but MSN Video Player will continue to evolve the product over time and may include some catch up TV in the future.
