Microsoft unveils new VoD service

Microsoft is set to launch its UK video on demand service tomorrow with content including Skins, Faking it and Waterloo Road.

The new MSN Video Player, which has been in testing phase since last summer, features around 300 hours of programming from BBC Worldwide and All3Media, including Peep Show, Shameless and Midsomer Murders.

Microsoft has increased the service’s total hours of content to 1,000 in the last few months following deals with Shed Media, RDF Media and the Digital Rights Group.  Users will be able to watch full-length TV shows, films, trailers, news and clips on the new player.

The US software company hopes the additional free content will help boost the service, which was beaten to launch by rival VoD service SeeSaw.

Microsoft has also announced plans to produce programmes and films in high definition later this year using its Silverlight technology.

Ashley Highfield, Microsoft UK’s managing director of consumer and online, confirmed that viewers are watching an average of 25 minutes of video content a month on MSN Video Player.  In the first 11 days of the pilot launch, the service is thought to of attracted 170,000 views.

“That is significantly higher than ITV and Channel 4’s online TV services, which suggests we are hitting the mark with our choice of content for the service,” Highfield said.