With Web video becoming an increasingly popular medium, it was only a matter of time before it came to an instant messaging service, with Microsoft taking the lead.

Messenger TV is a service available to all users of Windows Live Messenger, and allows them to share videos on MSN Video with all of their IM contacts.

New Deals

To coincide with the release of Messenger TV, Microsoft has done deals with EMI and Channel 4 to provide content via MSN Video.

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Yesterday, we touched on the issue which seems to be dominating the blogosphere right about now, that of the plans Microsoft seem to be developing for having a copyright cop on the Zune player.

Microsoft, by way of Cesar Menendez, an employee who works on the Zune has since tried to rectify the issue, and on Zune Insider claims that Microsoft do not have any plans to add content filtering to the Zune.

However, Alex Curtis of Public Knowledge has delved deeper in to the issues, and in the following article looks at the legal implications of any such move were it to happen.

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Yesterday I reported how NBC has decided to get in to bed with Microsoft and offer individual episodes of its shows through the online Zune Store.

When NBC pulled all of its programming from Apple iTunes late last year after an argument with the iPod manufacturer, the two reasons cited for the falling out were pricing, and a lack of stringent filtering measures for pirated material.

The Coupling Becomes Clear

It didn’t immediately seem clear why NBC had now agreed to similar conditions from Microsoft when they wouldn’t accept them from Apple. However, after the New York Times spoke to J. B. Perrette, the president of digital distribution for NBC Universal, things may have become a little clearer.

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Last September saw NBC programming pulled off the Apple iTunes Store after a dispute between the two companies over tougher anti-piracy measures and a refusal to raise prices.

Just last month, NBC opened up the lines of communication again, and seemed to want back in, so long as their original complaints were dealt with. Apple didn’t budge, so it looks as though NBC has gone looking for a new distributor.

Microsoft Better Than Apple?

It has now found it in the form of Microsoft, who as part of an announcement about new Zune features, let it slip that NBC programmes will now be available through the online store.

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Xbox 360 owners already have access to some full length movies and television shows via Xbox Live, but now a deal has been done which will see original programming being launched on the service.

Xbox Live is Microsoft’s Web platform, exclusively available to Xbox 360 owners. Of the 18 million people who own the current generation console, 10 million have signed up for the service.

The service currently offers various different for sale, either by use of a credit card or redeeming points for participating in various Xbox Live activities.

Many games, including user created ones are available, as well as films like Saw and The Departed, and full episodes of TV shows such as South Park.

Original Programming On Way

Now, from a deal struck between Microsoft and Hollywood producer and talent agent Peter Safran, original programming will now also be heading on to Xbox Live.

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For my hour long commute in to work every day, I couldn’t imagine being without a media player to watch videos on, and listen to songs and podcasts on, to keep me entertained on the journey.

Unfortunately, at the end of October my beloved Creative Zen Vision:M suddenly died on me in the middle of my commute. 

It was no great surprise that the media player finally gave up the ghost, as it has been with me every workday for 2 or more hours a day since I got it for Christmas 2006. 

It was a fine media player and I would have gotten another one except Creative wasn’t making them any more. Besides, the new Microsoft Zune was out with better features at a much cheaper price. 

So naturally I decided to “join the social.”

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The BBC iPlayer relaunched at the end of last year, with the British Broadcasting Corporation trying to iron out some of the bugs, and make the service available for all.

After 20 days out of beta, the BBC announced that the iPlayer has racked up 1 million viewers, and more than 3.5 million programmes have been viewed using the television on demand service.

That’s an average of over 250,000 programmes either streamed or downloaded every day since the Christmas Day launch. Quite impressive for a UK based operation showing just BBC programmes.

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