AP’s Online Video Network Debuts; Makes Big Splash With Exclusive Katrina Video

See clarification. Nine hours after AP’s Online Video Network (APOVN) launched, the network set off a firestorm by posting video of President Bush, Michael Chertoff and others being warned the day before Katrina struck that catastrophe would follow. AP likely would have had the same scoop with or without APOVN but this footage is available only through customers of the new service is available to participants in the new service and was delivered by FTP to others.

APOVN it’s also available only to users of IE 6 and above, which isn’t going over well with some news execs and others on the Online News listserv who don’t like the idea of Mac users being excluded. AP is partnering with MSN for the service with the portal handling the ad sales and providing a custom MSN Video Player for the 40 or so clips promised daily. In addition to the video and player, sites using APOVN get a cut of the ad revenue in exchange for a commitment for prominent display. (One example.) Explaining the decision to go with a Windows-only, IE reliant option, Sue Cross, AP VP-Online, told Online News subs it was the best way “to enable AP members to quickly
benefit from the national market for online video ads right as that market
is exploding.”

Launch press release.

Comments have been disabled for this post