It seems that UK TV-on-demand website SeeSaw will be shutting up shop after all.
Back in May, we reported that the popular online TV service was closing its digital doors, after it announced: “Following a strategic review of its business activities Arqiva, our parent company, is no longer able to support the service.”
But the disappointment soon subsided, when a stay-of-execution was announced the following month, after a private equity company called Criterion Capital Partners, which owns social networking site Bebo, declared its interest in buying SeeSaw from its current owners Arqiva, the broadcast transmission company.
Unfortunately, it seems the plug has finally been pulled on the service, with this simple message all that remains on the website: “Thanks for your support, but SeeSaw is no longer available.”
PaidContent reported earlier that a rep from Arqiva said:
“Having completed the sale of SeeSaw in July, Arqiva is very disappointed by the failure of the new investors to provide their committed funding. Without that funding, the service had to close.”
SeeSaw was launched in the UK in February 2010, with the service broadcasting recent episodes of TV shows such as Hollyoaks, Neighbours and Skins. The service opened to the public with over 3,000 hours of free content, supported by advertising. By June 2010, a pay-per-programme feature was added, including a 48-hour viewing window, and in January this year, Arqiva said that it planned to find an investment partner for SeeSaw.
So, SeeSaw is no more. This will be a big shame in many people’s eyes, but with the likes of iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and Demand Five, there’s still plenty of catch-up TV options for UK viewers to tap into.
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