Microsoft has announced that it is developing a news video distribution network for The Associated Press and share in advertising revenue generated by the newspapers and broadcasters that use it.
The AP Online Video Network will be available to the news service’s 3,500 US newspaper and broadcast members at no charge in the first quarter of next year, the companies said.
The AP will initially provide about 50 video clips a day covering national, international, entertainment, technology and business news. The AP said it would retain full editorial control over the content. The MSN unit of Microsoft will provide the software-based video player, the technical support and the network capacity for the service. MSN will also sell the advertising and develop other network products.