Microsoft Video-On-Demand in the UK

[Ian]

Microsoft are planning to launch a VOD (Video-on-demand) service in the UK, which combines content from the standard UK channels (such as BBC and Channel 4) in to a single streaming service. Unlike BBC iPlayer, there will be some advertisements shown before and during playback, but a wider archive of programming will become available:

The service is pitched at the 18 to 29 age group and will run episodes from series including The League of Gentlemen, Peep Show and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at least 180 days after they first go on air. The trial version of the player will run in Windows Media and Flash formats. However, later versions are expected to use Microsoft’s Silverlight player, which the company is pushing as an alternative to Adobe’s Flash.

Microsoft says it has sold all ad space for the MSN Video Player’s first six months to media agencies MediaCom, MindShare and MEC Interaction. The service will be supported by 30-second pre-roll ads and in-show commercials, which will run less frequently than on standard TV programming.

You can read more at BNet:
http://www.bnet.com/2448-14061_23-326549.html