The three major search engines — Yahoo, MSN, and Google — recognize video as an evolving and increasingly popular phenomenon on the web.

But what have these three beasty corporations done to secure their stake in the online video market?

Read on…

Yahoo and Video

• In May 2005 Yahoo launched its video search engine which also integrated video sharing allowing users to upload their own videos.
• Although often forgotten about, Yahoo is actually a leading video website that rivals YouTube and MySpace.
• It September 2006 Yahoo acquired the video sharing website JumpCut.
• It has a large number music videos available on LaunchCast.
• It has a large number of videos in its news section.
• Yahoo offers regular TV listings which are linked to relevant online videos.

Microsoft and Video

• MSN previously arranged a licensing deal with Blinkx to help provide results in its video search.
• Microsoft launched the video sharing website SoapBox in September 2006.
• Microsoft has developed IPTV middleware that is being used by a number of TV providers, and will be available on the Xbox 360 by the end of 2007.
• It has the Xbox Live Marketplace for video downloads on the Xbox 360
• Microsoft has Media Center PCs that create a rich TV/video experience on the PC.
• Microsoft has launched media extenders to connect media on PCs to the TV screen and other PCs.
• Microsoft has the proprietary VC-9 technology which is a high compression video format that can be used over the internet.
• Microsoft has the MSN video portal which features a mixture of video content.

Google and Video

• Google acquired the video sharing website YouTube in December 2006.

• Google launched Google video in January 2005 as a service to search for TV programmes online. The functionality of the site changed when Google video added video sharing functionality in April 2005.

• Google video also allows publishers to sell video online.

• Google has introduced video adverts which have appeared on Google videos.