VidZone
 |
|
|---|---|
| Developer | Rants Ltd.,[1]SCE |
| Type | Video streaming |
| Launch date | |
| Current Version | 2.03 |
| Platform | PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable (through Remote Play) |
| Website | VidZone Official Website |
VidZone is the largest online music video VOD service in the world,[3] operated by London-based company VidZone Digital Media and Sony Computer Entertainment. The online service provides free streaming of music videos from the VidZone.tv website, in addition to music distribution through a number of mobile networks worldwide. The VidZone catalogue encompasses over 1.5 million tracks, 25,000 music videos and 15,000 realtones,[4] including full access to catalogues from Sony Music[5] and EMI.[6]
VidZone’s service was extended to the PlayStation 3 video game system in some PAL territories (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia and Ireland) on 11 June 2009,[7] allowing users to watch music videos on their PS3 or streamed to their PSP via Remote Play. The service was expanded by 11 countries: Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal and New Zealand, during November and December 2009.[2] The majority of videos are from artists signed to both Sony Music and the Universal Music Group.[8][9] On 16 August 2010, VidZone announced they now have a licensing agreement with EMI Music.[10] There are currently over 27,000 videos on the service.[11]
Just over 8 weeks after launch the VidZone application reached one million in download figures and 100 million video streams[12] while playing host to numerous video exclusives including:
- U2 - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight[13]
- The Prodigy - Take Me To The Hospital[14]
- Placebo - The Never Ending Why, Ashtray Heart [15]
- Editors - Papillon[16]
- Groove Armada - I Won't Kneel
- The Dead Weather - I Cut Like a Buffalo
On the 12 October 2009, VidZone announced that 1.5 million people have used the service.[17] On 31 December 2009 it was announced that VidZone had become the biggest dedicated music video streaming application in the world [18] having been downloaded 2 million times, and streamed 200 million videos. The service now has over 30,000 videos to view.[19]
On 22 April 2010, VidZone announced they are to launch VidZone TV on PS3, which includes 100 'channels' of pre-loaded music videos, behind-the-scenes videos and live concert footage.[20]
Features
 |
This section is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. (December 2009) |
- Full Screen: The music videos are displayed in a preview frame within the GUI, however full screen display is available through the "Select" button.
- Playlists: Make individual video playlists from any of the video catalogue, from 'recommended' or homepage featured playlists
Vidzone 2.0
On 9 November 2011 Vidzone was updated to version 2.0 which greatly enhanced a number of features of the service.[21]
The UI was completely overhauled to include a new "Zones" functionality, whereby users select a "Zone" for the genre of music they wish to listen to in order to quickly find all music of that type. This includes the "MyZone" section, where users save playlists. A new recommendation engine was also added, as well as social integration with Facebook and PSN as a whole.
Future
- VidZone is planning to create an additional revenue stream, in the way of a new subscription service in 2011. Viewers will get the chance to watch music videos uninterrupted by advertisements.[22]
- VidZone are also attempting to get licensing contracts with the one major music label missing from the service, Warner Music.
References
- ^ "Rants Limited". Business Week.
- ^ a b c d "VidZone Territory Expansion: 11 New Countries…The Dates You Have All Been Waiting For!!!". PlayStation Blog EU. November 17, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
- ^ "Thanks For Making VidZone The Biggest And Best – PlayStation.Blog.Europe". Blog.eu.playstation.com. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "Ericsson delivers complete and secure music billing for VidZone Digital Media". Ericsson. 2007-06-27. Archived from the original on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ "VidZone Digital Media inks deal with Sony BMG". Brand Republic. 2007-06-06. Archived from the original on 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ "VidZone Digital Media and EMI Music ink major deal". EMI Group. 2008-06-27. Archived from the original on 2009-12-14. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ "Vidzone Gets a Solid Release Date". PlayStation Lifestyle. 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- ^ "VidZone: PS3 beating online and broadcast music rivals". Games Industry.biz. August 17, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "Making playlists: first Spotify, now VidZone". Telegraph.co.uk. August 7, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "VidZone Gets Better And Faster As We Launch EMI Music And New Software Update – PlayStation.Blog.Europe". Blog.eu.playstation.com. 2010-08-16. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "Twitter / VidZone on PS3: @stuartm Just a few weeks". Twitter.com. 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "1,000,000 Downloads Of The VidZone". Playstation. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
- ^ "UK Exclusive Premiere Of U2 Video On VidZone Today". Playstation. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
- ^ "Take VidZone To The Hospital World Exclusive Premiere". Playstation. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
- ^ "Vidzone Scores Placebo Exclusive – PlayStation.Blog.Europe". Blog.eu.playstation.com. 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "The Latest VidZone Exclusive: Editors – PlayStation.Blog.Europe". Blog.eu.playstation.com. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "Thanks For Making VidZone The Biggest And Best". Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
- ^ "Vidzone Update: Vidzone Is A Completely Free Music Video Service! – PlayStation.Blog.Europe". Blog.eu.playstation.com. 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "New VidZone 2.0 – Unleashing The True Power Of Music Video! – PlayStation.Blog.Europe". Blog.eu.playstation.com. 2011-11-09. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "VidZone 2010 Demo". Vidzone.tv. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
External links
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