UK video-on-demand service SeeSaw has today opened its doors to the public, making available over 3,000 hours of programming from various sources including the BBC, Channel 4 and Five.
The online TV service, available to both Mac and PC users with a 1Mbps broadband connection, utilises Adobe Flash technology to deliver a growing archive of content.
At launch, the SeeSaw service offers catchup programming from Channel 4's 4oD service and Five's on-demand offering, Demand Five. The service also has a deal in place with BBC Worldwide enabling it to offer popular BBC shows including Doctor Who and Lark Rise to Candleford. Although not currently offering comprehensive on-demand content from ITV, SeeSaw has agreed a deal with the UK's Digital Rights Group, allowing it to provide certain ITV shows.
SeeSaw's content, free-to-view for any UK resident, is currently supported by pre- and mid-roll advertising. The company has also announced plans to bring US content to the service in the coming months, and could begin to charge for certain premium programming.
The SeeSaw service makes use of technology from the ill-fated Project Kangaroo platform - a video-on-demand proposal from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 that was blocked by the European Competition Commission in 2009. The assets of Project Kangaroo were later purchased by Winchester-based telecommunications company Arqiva, who then created and now runs the SeeSaw brand.
In an attempt to capture the UK video-on-demand market, SeeSaw will launch a £5m ad campaign and is believed to be working to make its on-demand service available via other platforms such as web-enabled PVRs.
Official site: SeeSaw.com
