MSN Video Player

MSN Video Player is an online video on demand player, launched in the United Kingdom by Microsoft on 11 March 2010.[1]

The service was made available in beta form on 3 August 2009 with 300 hours of shows from BBC Worldwide and All3Media.[2][3] A spokeswoman for BBC Worldwide confirmed that all BBC programmes on MSN Video Player will be at least 180 days old.[4] Programmes were made available in both Windows Media Video and Flash formats, streamed without digital rights management copy protection but only be available to people with a UK web address. During the opening 11 days of the beta, MSN Video Player pulled in a total of 167,487 video views by 154,841 users, with users staying for an average of 25 minutes.

The platform was optimised for Microsoft Silverlight - support that was notably missing from the beta - although it also works with Flash, and some of the content is available in HD streaming at 720p on connections of 2 Mbit/s and upwards.[5] All content on the service will be available for free, with half-hour programmes preceded by short commercials, while programmes of one hour or longer are interrupted by a commercial break.

Ashley Highfield, Microsoft's UK consumer and online managing director, suggested that in the future the service will offer users who have a Windows Live ID and are signed in, programme recommendations – based on their previous viewing habits and that a tie-up with Microsoft's gaming console, the Xbox 360, would be on the cards.[6] MSN's UK head of video, Rob Crossen, added "An obvious place to tale MSN Video Player – given the quality of content that you are seeing on the platform – is the TV, and there are a number of ways, widgets on internet connected TVs, we have our own products within the Microsoft network, Xbox and Windows Media Center for instance." When asked if a mobile MSN Video Player was likely for the forthcoming Windows Phone "We have a fantastic product coming later in the year, but no fixed plans that we are announcing today."[5] On 10 May 2010, a Microsoft spokeswoman said there are currently no plans to roll out the service in other regions.[7] On 19 May 2010, MSN Video Player was added to Windows Media Center in the TV Strip.[8]

References
  1. "MSN Video Player 'to launch UK-wide'". Digital Spy. 2010-03-10.
  2. "MSN launches free streaming video". BBC News. 2009-07-30.
  3. "MSN Video finally goes live in the UK". Tech Radar. 2009-08-03.
  4. Kendall, Nigel (2009-07-29). "Microsoft to launch internet TV service in the UK". The Times. London. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  5. "MSN Video Player launches, sets sights on Xbox and phones". Tech Radar. 2010-03-10.
  6. Barnett, Emma (2010-03-10). "Microsoft's expanded video service 'not intended to rival UK broadcasters' VOD offerings'". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  7. "Microsoft Launches MSN Video Player In UK". The Wall Street Journal. 2010-03-10. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010.
  8. "MSN Video Player hits Windows Media Center in the UK". The Digital Lifestyle. 2010-05-19.
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