Kilar’s Vessel embarks on beta launch

Vessel, the new online video start-up from former Hulu boss Jason Kilar, has launched in trial mode.

Jason Kilar (centre) with Vessel team

The invite-only beta comes a month after Vessel first opened up its platform to content creators, with viewers now able to try Vessel on iOS devices and the web, with an Android app due to follow.

“Our vision is to make Vessel accessible anywhere fans have an internet-connected screen, including gaming consoles, set-top boxes and smart TVs,” said Vessel co-founder and CEO Kilar.

Fans who have already registered to try the service will receive invites on a first-come, first served basis.

The service is designed to give users “early access to the web’s best short-form videos” for a monthly fee of US$2.99.

Though the site has not revealed specific content deals, Kilar said that Vessel will offer videos from “many of today’s most talented video creators, channels and artists,” which have “hundreds of millions of fans around the world.”

Kilar left Hulu in January 2013, along with Richard Tom, who is a Vessel co-founder.