Since launching in June 2009 VidZone has streamed over 500m video to PS3 owners. More than 3.7m users have now downloaded the application. Take-up has, almost inevitably, not been as rapid as it was at the start when VidZone recorded 100m videos and 1m downloads in its first two months. It took another four months to double those numbers.
Of course it has a much larger potential audience now, not only due to the PS3’s growing installed base, as it is now available in a total of 18 countries across the SCEE region, up from just 7 at launch. There are also many more videos for everyone to watch with it having trebled its library to 30,000.
The best thing about the service of course is that the videos are free to stream. What keeps them free is the advertising and let us face it, how many of you would pay a premium for the service if there was an ad-free premium version? The adverts that pay for the service have themselves clocked up an immense 3 billion impressions. No news on the click-through rate though.
Another good thing about VidZone is that it is one of the few PlayStation services that we have over here and the Americans do not. Cue comments from SCEE countries like Poland and Greece that still do not have it either. :-)
If you are in one of the countries where VidZone is available do you use it much? Are you yet to try it? What do you think of the service?
Source: GI.biz
Grey_Ghost13
It’s a good little service that’s another string to the PS3 bow. I initially used it for a while. But the ads become to obtrusive and the expanded screens quality isn’t the best. But I have generated a few playlists on there. It’s good to have on in the background when you’ve got peeps over for a bit or your throwing a party.
Foxhound_Solid
Yeah, I use it all the time, cracking little feature. Just a shame about the amount of adverts that creep in, but cant really moan as its a free app.
lewis815
I use it every now and again, but I find the interface a little sluggish, and the new “music TV” thing they have instead of just the old playlists they uses to have is a bit rubbish because you can’t skip any songs..
But I do enjoy listening to music on there, usually when I have people around and we are chatting or if I’m getting ready to go out sometimes. It would be great if there was a “random” feature that would go through the massive catalogue they have instead of just the ones you look for.
Watchful
The playlists are still there under the On-Demand menu. You could always put the “Recently Added” one on shuffle as that usually has somewhere around 100-200 songs in it for a long random-ish list.
lewis815
The playlists are there but they aren’t update as regularly as they used to be. Aaaaand the majority of the recently added is new rubbish..
bunimomike
First impressions last. I was disappointed with it at launch and haven’t returned since.
Watchful
If you’ve not been back since launch, it is likely worth revisiting.
TSBonyman
Me too – i actually deleted it a few times but the interface and search function was revamped since then and recently they’ve added EMI so there’s plenty of good stuff there. I confess i don’t use it often but when i do i prefer making my own playlists (on demand) raher than the “tv channels”.
It’s certainly worth another look but i should warn you that the first time you run it, updating the music catalog might take 40 mins – it only takes a minute after that.
My favorite “find” on videozone is Bob Dylans “Cold Irons Bound” as i’d never heard it before.
Stitch
I think it’s changed quite a bit since launch – it certainly doesn’t take the ridiculous length of time to start up any more that it initially did.
cc_star
Its a good service, but I’m never in a situation where watching music videos has any relevance, I either listen to the radio (6Music) or I’m listening to my own music collection over iTunes my iPhone
If people are round my house I just put some music on, the TV is just distracting until its Singstar/Buzz time
So no matter how good the service is or isn’t, music videos on TV, the net or a video streaming service are less than useless for me
theberzerka
I don’t really use it but my girlfriend and son like it.
theberzerka
oops sent that before i had finished.
I’m not sure if it has changed since but the ads in between the videos are annoying, especially when blasting up the volume to be greeted to some advertisement deafening me about the latest blu-ray release.
BIGAL-1992
I like vidzone, but I HATE the TV channels.
Crazyfrog23
I love vidzone but what ad’s does it have?I have never noticed any ad’s on it, maybe its juts the irish version doesn’t have any???
There are definitely none in-between videos for me like one poster above me stated.
Origami Killer
i really like vidzone, i just create a playlist and put it on when i need to do homeowrk or coursework, easy to use as well, but how many times am i going to see that SAW 3D ad…
rossthebassist
i do think the vidzone service is a little sluggish, props to them they have tried to smooth it out, but i think the search interface itself is what needs a redesign.
overall its a great free little service, i think an add free version should be avalible for us plussers
Charmed_Fanatic
i like VidZone, use it frequently, its like having your own music channel :)