Microsoft launches iPlayer rival

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 30 Jul 2009 at 10:37

Microsoft is launching a new video service that will stream full-length television episodes for free.

The software giant has signed deals with BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial subsidiary, and All3Media to offer 350 hours of shows including Peep Show and the League of Gentleman.

Microsoft claims further content will be added after an initial trial period, expected to last around six months. The service will launch next week.

Unlike the iPlayer, which is publicly funded, MSN Video will be ad-funded. Microsoft says half-hour programmes will be preceded by short advertisements, while shows that run for an hour or longer will be interrupted by commercial breaks. As with the iPlayer, the service is limited to UK viewers.

The service is currently in beta and will stream content using the Flash Player, though Microsoft claims it will switch over to its Flash-rival Silverlight when it comes out of beta. We're awaiting a response from Microsoft on why this decision was taken.

The service has been launched by Microsoft's vice president of UK consumer and online Ashley Highfield, who was previously behind the rollout of the iPlayer. However, he denied that he'd been poached by Microsoft specifically to launch this service: "I absolutely did not come here to do this. This is part of a range of services that I came to take on," he tells The Times.

He also denied that by streaming BBC programmes MSN Video had become a competitor for the iPlayer: "What we are offering is something we believe to be complementary to the iPlayers of this world. This is a post catch-up service for programmes that no longer feature on the BBC iPlayer."

Shows on the iPlayer are only available for a limited period after they are aired on television. Competition will also be limited by the fact that MSN Video will only show BBC programming that is over 180 days old.

It appears that Microsoft is trying to get a jump on US-service Hulu, which has been giving noisy hints about launching in the UK. Current speculation suggests it could arrive next month, bringing a bevy of popular US shows with it, including Lost and Prison Break.