MSN Video Player off to “encouraging” start

Microsoft’s new online TV service MSN Video Player registered nearly 170,000 views in the 11 days since launching on August 3.

Figures reported by mediaguardian.co.uk show that 154,841 people had used the UK video website by August 14, notching up 167,487 views of shows. The most popular programmes were Derren Brown: Trick of the Mind, How to Look Good Naked, Peep Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look and The Young Ones. Microsoft UK’s managing director of consumer and online Ashley Highfield told the Guardian website that the figures were “encouraging”.

MSN Video Player is currently a pilot service that offers content from distributors BBC Worldwide and All3Media. Unlike other online on-demand services in the UK, including the BBC iPlayer and Channel 4’s 4oD, MSN Video Player offers older content rather than operating as a catch-up service.