SeeSaw IPTV service goes live

SeeSaw, the Arqiva-owned video on-demand venture, went into full commercial launch today following a successful beta trial.

Available now, the online service offers over 3,000 hours of programming following content deals with BBC Worldwide, Channel 4, Five and various independent production firms.

SeeSaw aims to provide a "one-stop shop" for consumers to catch up on their favourite TV shows or browse library material. The company plans to bring on a further 2,000 hours of content by June.

ITV is the only remaining terrestrial networks not to have directly licensed its content, but SeeSaw has reached a separate agreement with UK independent distributor Digital Rights Group to access flagship ITV1 dramas such as Doc Martin and Kingdom.

Last month, a SeeSaw beta trial involved around 20,000 people trying out the IPTV service. The firm claimed that it has listened carefully to the resulting feedback and will tweak the site accordingly going forward.

The platform was created from the technology developed for the BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 IPTV joint venture Project Kangaroo, which was blocked by the Competition Commission.

Arqiva paid around £8m to acquire the Kangaroo assets last July and has since been working to develop the platform and its all-important content deals.

Despite the collapse of Kangaroo, platform controller John Keeling told BBC News that it will be a "different story" for SeeSaw.

"Lessons were learned by the shareholders of Kangaroo," he said. "We have a different model - we don't have broadcasters as shareholders."

All programming on the site will be supported by un-skippable 60-second pre and mid-roll adverts, positioned to reflect the linear TV experience. Major firms such as Ikea, Diageo and Kraft have already signed up to advertise on the service.

Channel 4 and Five will be able to handle ad sales around their own content on SeeSaw, but the company will take an undisclosed fee each time a programme is viewed.

SeeSaw will also draw revenue from selling advertising on the rest of the site, along with a premium paid-for service arriving in June, featuring predominantly US and international content. Keeling said that negotiations are ongoing with various major US studios.

The firm is also understood to be in talks with joint venture Project Canvas about bringing the SeeSaw VOD service to Freeview and Freesat homes when the IPTV platform launches in late 2010 or early 2011.