An independent study of UK-based Video on Demand websites has described STV’s online catch-up service, STV Player, as second only to the BBC iPlayer, in terms of usability.
The research measured the usability of six VoD websites provided by the major UK broadcasting companies: STV Player, BBC iPlayer, Demand Five, 4oD, ITV Player and Sky Player.
Based on ten different usability criteria, STV Player scored 76 per cent, behind the BBC iPlayer, on 88 per cent.
Says STV: “STV Player, which launched last year, was developed in-house by STV’s digital team over a period of just six weeks. The service delivers a world-class user experience and functionality, allowing users to catch up with their favourite STV programmes completely free of charge, and watch selected programmes from the STV archives.”
The study was conducted by user experience consultancy, Webcredible.
In a statement, Alistair Brown, Head of Digital at STV, is quoted, saying: “We always try and put our audiences at the centre of what we do and I’m delighted that this has been recognised by an independent usability report.
“I'm particularly pleased as the STV Player was developed on an extremely cost effective basis and in a very short timescale; the site and its production infrastructure were designed and developed over six weeks by the in-house team at STV. We have work scheduled to enhance the service in the next few months.”
