In its battle with Google’s YouTube, Microsoft has launched a new service for its Windows Live messaging service in Europe called Messenger TV. Users will be able to watch and share clips from companies such as Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks, UK’s Channel Four, ITN, Reuters, National Geographic and the music companies Sony BMG and EMI.
The idea of this new social networking tool is that people will not just watch clips alone on their PC, but share them with their friends and chat at the same time.
The service will initially be available in Europe, where there are 95 million users of Windows Live Messenger, of whom 14 million are in the UK. There are 240 million Messenger users worldwide, Microsoft said.
Messenger TV will feature ads in the form of a banner at the bottom of video window, as well as pre-roll ads.
