Microsoft reveals MSN Video Player, another attempt at on-demand TV

Posted by Katherine Hannaford on Thu 30 Jul 2009

It's not the first time Microsoft's dipped its toe in the already-crowded on-demand TV pool, but will MSN Video Player prove popular in the UK?

The US might have Hulu, but the UK market is becoming increasingly bombarded with on-demand online video services, notably BBC iPlayer, 4oD and ITV Catch-up. Microsoft of course wants a piece of the pie, and has today announced the beta of MSN Video Player – a free service for watching much-loved British TV shows.

Speaking to Rob Crossen, the Portal Business Manager for Video and UGC at Microsoft, we discovered that they’ve signed deals with BBC Worldwide and All3Media, enabling shows such as Shameless, Peep Show, Hustle, League of Gentlemen and the Young Ones to be streamed online, free.

Microsoft is happy to pay compliments to BBC for its extraordinary iPlayer service, telling us “it’s largely thanks to iPlayer for transforming viewers’ watching habits”, however it’s not a quick reaction to all the up and coming services, as Crossen was eager to say “this has been in planning for a long time”.

Microsoft’s trialed video sites before, most recently with MSN Soapbox, which was just last week given a death sentence, with the site closing to new uploads at the end of July, and then in August shutting shop for good. Will MSN Video Player be any different? Microsoft seems to think so.

Crossen listed five main reasons why MSN Video Player will soon dominate the UK market. The “vast audience” Microsoft already possesses, through the millions who use Hotmail and Live services such as MSN Messenger; the technology behind the service (Crossen said it’s based on Windows Media Player and Flash); Microsoft’s successful ad sales team (the video portal will have pre and mid-rolls, along with “an element of display”); content partnerships with broadcasters, channels and directors; and editorial ability.

With Hulu, the successful US on-demand service launching imminently in the UK, is Microsoft worried of further competition? “We have an audience already, whereas our competitors are starting from scratch”, Crossen boasted.

Available TV shows from the BBC include League of Gentlemen, Marion and Geoff, Mock The Week, Hotel Babylon, Hustle, What Not To Wear, Dead Ringers, That Mitchell and Webb Look and the Young Ones. All3Media will give Microsoft the reins of Shameless, How To Look Good Naked, Peep Show, and Derren Brown’s various programmes.

Being rolled out across the UK in the next week, it will be available to anyone with at least a 650Kbps internet connection, and on any OS. Resolution wasn’t confirmed at time of speaking, however it’s not HD at the moment – though that is certainly on the cards, with Crossen telling us “HD is something we aspire to”.

As is, it seems, adding further content including US shows. “We’d love to have those titles [Lost, The Wire and Heroes], and we’re already in discussions with the relevant people” however for now we’ll have to make do with between 300 – 350 hours of on-demand content.

Whilst it’s certainly not going to beat BBC’s iPlayer with regard to catching up on recent programmes, MSN Video Player will be ideal for anyone wanting to go on a two-day binge watching Peep Show from start to finish, or catch up on old favourites such as the Young Ones.

The beta period is expected to last six months, with Microsoft due for a proper launch early 2010.

Link: Microsoft

101 Gadgets you can't live without