Content is king, goes the saying – and new TV catchup service SeeSaw is relying on the notion that the boundaries between media platforms have blurred more than ever.
With a growing number of people integrating their TV sets with their PCs, the time certainly seems ripe for a service that offers programming from the BBC, Channel 4 and Five.
SeeSaw works by streaming popular shows to viewers, rather in the way that the BBC iPlayer and Channel 4's 4oD presently do. However, users will have to view advertising in return for the service - although there are plans for pay-per-view screenings of some shows, including major American sitcoms.
Whether SeeSaw is successful depends both on whether it is able to successfully differentiate itself from existing online streaming services, and whether it attracts enough viewers to make its business model viable.
So, content may be king, but if it's available in several different places, other factors have a major role in pulling in audience share. Ease of use, good web design and SEO considerations will all be important, particularly in the early days. We'll be pulling up our armchairs and watching with interest.
