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Rhys Blakely at the (U.K) Times reports that Microsoft set to launch YouTube challenge:
Microsoft is set to form an assault on video-sharing websites, including the hugely successful YouTube.com by launching a new service that will allow users to post their own web content, Times Online has learnt.The Microsoft site will launch this summer as the world’s largest software developer moves to increase the reach of its MSN portal by tapping the explosive growth of social networking sites such as MySpace.com.
It will target users ranging from amateur documentary makers to aspiring pop stars and will earn revenues through advertising. Microsoft, which recently offered clips of World Cup coverage, is also planning to offer more conventional video content in areas such as comedy and extreme sports.
Details of the new service, which will be rolled out simultaneously in several territories, are yet to be finalised. However, a Microsoft executive told Times Online that the company is planning to launch a viral advertising campaign to publicise it “imminently”.
This is undoubtedly Windows Live Video (codename Warhol) that got some buzz in March. As for the viral advertising campaign, I hope it is better conceived than the one for Origami.
September 9th, 2006 at 1:11 PM
[...] Microsoft’s YouTube competitor (codenamed “Warhol”) which had been touted as Windows Live Video, now seems destined to appear as MSN Soapbox. The name fills me with foreboding that Microsoft is going after the “personal whine” video demographic which is already so popular on YouTube. [...]
September 10th, 2006 at 10:56 PM
Microsoft look like they’re on to a winner here but I don’t get why they seperated it from Live.
Regardless, MSN Soapbox has that personal look to it that Google and Yahoo! completely missed when they deployed their YouTube clones.