First Look: DisneyChannel.com Broadband

DCVideo.gifSince we spent some time on ABC.com’s sophisticated video player, thought it might be worth looking at the quite different DisneyChannel.com kids-oriented player going live later today and the Jetix.TV version, which is already up and running. The player probably will seem too cluttered to adults but it’s kid friendly with easy buttons, including a bigger/smaller option instead of relying on an icon. It takes two clicks max to change the style to match a favorite show or to use another theme.
— The ability to follow many shows in a variety of languages is one feature that sets this player apart. Languages can be switched on DisneyChannel.com in a click; “The Suite Life” in Mandarin, “Kim Possible” in Spanish. Don’t let the language mix fool you; it’s still U.S. only. Also, this may be because I’m looking at a beta, but language availability isn’t across the board yet.
— Disney isn’t building a library on the sites, opting instead to refresh content weekly. At Jetix, one episiode carries a “watch now” expiration warning. Content ranges from full-length episodes to music videos, trailers and other pieces. No plans to run full-length movies.
— Unlike competitor TurboNick, which is WMP/IE-reliant, the embedded Flash player works in multiple browsers.
So far, I’m told, the availability of popular ABC shows as streams doesn’t seem to be detracting from the network’s iTunes sales. While this player looks like a good alternative to iTunes downloads being bought to watch on a computer, the cycling of material may help Disney Channel maintain its download sales — and the streaming could even drive interest in buying downloads.
Related:DisneyChannel.com Ad-Supported Broadband Launches Friday; Jetix.tv Already Live
Disney Channel To Add Ad-Supported Streaming Of Top Series

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