Microsoft’s online video player gets almost 170,000 views

Microsoft’s online TV player has attracted almost 170,000 views since its launch on 3 August 3.

According to a report in the Guardian, there were 167,487 views of shows such as Shameless and The Young Ones in the two weeks to August 14.

Ashley Highfield, managing director of consumer and online at Microsoft UK, told the Guardian: “We are very happy with the first numbers – it is a very encouraging start.

“There is still a strong feeling [in the market] that, while catch up TV works, no one wants older programmes. One motivation behind the MSN Video pilot is to see the demand for programmes outside the catchup TV window.”

The most popular programmes on the service have been Derren Brown: Trick of the Mind, How to Look Good Naked, Peep Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look and The Young Ones.

The success of Microsoft’s TV player follows the collapse of Project Kangaroo – the joint venture between BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 – earlier this year.

The Competition Commission blocked its launch as it ruled that it would lead to a “substantial lessening of competition” in the UK video-on-demand market.