Online video site
Veoh revealed their new product in beta today called VeohTV. VeohTV is a specialized video browser and DVR for viewing and managing online video. Like Joost, Babelgum, Zattoo, and others, VeohTV is trying to enrich the Internet experience by making it more of a typical TV experience. VeohTV also comes with a recommendation engine so that viewers can discover more of what they want to watch. Who doesn't have a recommendation engine these days?
But based on most of the press for the day, it looks like the new player is being well-received:
"Forget Joost. Meet the real TiVo of the Web" - Business 2.0
"Joost + YouTube = Veoh TV" - WebProNews
"Unlike Joost, which is a closed system with content from a limited number of sources, VeohTV supports open Internet standards, and has access to virtually all of the video content on the Internet, on demand." said Dmitry Shapiro, CEO of Veoh Networks. "We asked Veoh.com users what they really want in their online video experience and VeohTV is the culmination of that feedback. We believe that it will be the dominant standard for online video consumption moving forward."
VeohTV presents viewers with a single interface to search, browse and view all video on the Internet, from major television networks such as Fox and CBS, to independently-produced content available on sites such as YouTube, Google Video, Veoh.com and MySpace. As with television, the interface is simple enough to be driven by a remote control, consistent from program to program, and displays video in a full screen TV-like experience. Key features include:
- Channels – browse for content by channel (i.e., CBS, NBC, Road & Track channels)
- Search – keyword search for videos from across thousands of websites
- Favorites – subscribe to content from your favorite shows, channels, and producers, and download and store your favorite videos
- Recommended – Veoh's advanced recommendation engine makes finding interesting content even easier by recommending videos based on user preferences and previous viewing habits
- Interact Mode - engage with dozens of "widgets" while viewing videos. Widgets are available to access services from Amazon, eBay, Gmail, Hotmail, CraigsList, AOL, and others. Additional widgets will be added on a continuous basis.
Once installed on a PC, VeohTV launches into a channel guide. Viewers can browse through channels or search by keywords, and watch full-screen video on demand. VeohTV users are able to stream directly from the host site or, as with a conventional DVR, click a button to download permitted videos and watch them at their leisure, either online or offline. Viewers can also simply connect their computers to their television and utilize their computer's remote control to sit-back and watch VeohTV in the comfort of their living room on their big-screen TV's.
What's VeohTV for content owners? VeohTV enables viewers to access video directly from the original video owners' website, allowing content owners and licensors to count the audience and serve advertising. It will be interesting to see if all content owners like this idea.
VeohTV beta will initially be limited. Viewers can register for an invitation to download the free software application at
www.veoh.tv.