Adding one more revenue stream alongside YouTube is never a bad idea. In this piece, we’ll break down the best video distribution platforms that help creators earn extra income from the same content, including MSN and its main alternatives, so you can see where it makes the most sense to expand and get that additional paycheck flowing.
MSN: A Powerhouse for Video Monetization
MSN is Microsoft’s video distribution platform that reaches over 700 million monthly users through integration across Bing, Microsoft Edge, Windows news feeds, the MSN app, and now Copilot Discover. Unlike platforms where creators can upload directly, access to MSN is invite-only and requires going through an official publishing partner like AIR.
We were one of the first MSN publishers handling end-to-end distribution for creators.
So, why does MSN matter right now?
MSN has seen explosive growth in video consumption, with a +40% increase overall and a +80% growth among Gen Z viewers in 2025. Yet it remains largely untapped by most creators, meaning less competition and more visibility for early adopters. Think of it like joining YouTube in 2008, but with hundreds of millions of daily active users already in place.
MSN lets creators reuse the same videos they already publish on YouTube, and distributes them across the Microsoft ecosystem, turning their back catalog into a second revenue stream. On average, creators distributed by AIR to MSN earn about +30% extra revenue on top of their YouTube earnings.
Key benefits of MSN distribution:
- Same videos, second paycheck. No need to create new content.
- Monetization from day one. No thresholds, waiting periods, or long ramps.
- 700M+ monthly users. Built-in reach across Bing, Edge, and more.
- Hands-off operation. AIR handles metadata, approvals, rights checks, and payouts.
MSN works best for:
- Those looking to boost income without changing their current content workflow
- Creators with evergreen content (e.g., DIY, cooking, tech, lifestyle, crafts)
- Channels with clear rights and brand-safe material
How it works:
- Share your YouTube channel with AIR for a fit check
- AIR handles onboarding and approval
- Your videos get distributed to MSN.
- You earn starting from day
AIR x MSN: Real Creator Results
These are not projections or promises. We already have real-world results from creators who partnered with AIR to distribute their content on MSN:
#1. DIY Channel: 17M Views from Old Tutorials
This creator didn’t upload anything new. We took their back catalog of DIY tutorials, distributed them on MSN, and the result was over 17 million new views in just 3 months, turning old content into brand-new earnings thanks to online video distribution.
#2. Cooking Channel: 3x Revenue in One Month
Before MSN, this creator earned about $410/month on YouTube. After their videos went live on MSN through AIR, their monthly earnings jumped to $1,300+ in the first 30 days (more than triple their usual revenue).
#3. Lifehack Channel: +1.8M Views in Under 60 Days
With content tailored for practical tips and hacks, this channel saw explosive reach once repurposed for MSN’s lifestyle and feed surfaces. 1.8 million views came in fast without posting anything new.
#4. Tech News Channel: +$1,500 from the Back Catalog
The creator's recent uploads weren’t the stars here. Instead, their older tech explainers and update videos generated over $1,500 in new revenue, showing that even less recent content can perform on the right platforms.
While you continue your YouTube workflow as usual, AIR adds MSN as a second lane that monetizes your back catalog and future uploads without taking over your brand, your channel, or your audience.
What’s your back catalog really worth?
AIR’s distribution experts turn your existing uploads into new income across the world’s top platforms. Get a free fit check today.
Now that we understand why MSN is gaining traction, let’s compare it to other video distribution options.
TOP 7 Alternative Video Distribution Platforms
Beyond MSN, several other platforms offer creators unique ways to expand their reach and boost earnings. Each one brings its own strengths, depending on your content type, goals, and regions. Let’s break down the top contenders and how they stack up:
1. Rumble: The "YouTube Alternative"
Rumble is a video content distribution platform that positions itself as a free-speech-focused YouTube competitor. It also syndicates videos to MSN, Yahoo, and NewsBreak, giving creators a broader reach beyond its own audience.
→ Strengths:
- 51 million users in October 2025.
- Fastest-growing alternative to YouTube.
- Offers monetization from day one.
- Includes its own ad network + syndication.
- Loyal user base in certain niches (e.g., politics, commentary).
→ Weaknesses:
- CPM is variable and often lower than YouTube.
- Platform visibility is still limited vs. mainstream platforms.
- Syndication terms aren’t transparent (you might not know where your video ends up).
→ Best for: Niche creators, particularly in commentary, politics, or viral formats.
2. Facebook / Meta (In-Stream Ads & Reels)
Meta's video monetization tools include In-Stream Ads for longer videos and Reels monetization for short-form content. It’s integrated with Facebook Watch, Pages, and the main feed.
→ Strengths:
- Huge audience reach (2B+ users).
- Reels are highly discoverable; monetization options have improved.
- Potential for virality is higher.
→ Weaknesses:
- Monetization is unstable and algorithm-dependent.
- In-Stream Ads require meeting minimum requirements (e.g., 5K followers, 600K watch minutes).
- The reels revenue share model is still being tested.
→ Best for: Short-form creators, meme pages, and creators already building community on Facebook.
→ MSN comparison: MSN offers more stable monetization, no thresholds, and avoids Meta's algorithm roulette. However, Facebook can also generate a substantial revenue stream and is one of the best video distribution platforms. So, consider both.
3. Yahoo News / AOL Video (Verizon Media)
Yahoo News and AOL Video are part of Verizon Media’s content network. Like MSN, they surface video content across news, homepage feeds, and email.
→ Strengths:
- High native traffic.
- CPMs are competitive, sometimes equal to or above MSN levels.
- Good for repurposing content in news or lifestyle niches.
→ Weaknesses:
- Closed partner network; harder to access directly.
- Audience skew is slightly older (35+).
- No self-serve access; requires syndication deals.
→ Best for: Lifestyle and news content that fits with editorial or curated feeds.
→ MSN comparison: While they are extremely popular, MSN has an even broader reach and a faster monetization setup through partners like AIR. Yahoo syndication often depends on third-party networks.
4. Snap Discover / Spotlight
Snapchat offers two distribution paths: Discover (curated channels) and Spotlight (short-form TikTok-like feed). Monetization varies.
→ Strengths:
- 900 million monthly active users in 2025.
- Extremely high CPM rates in the U.S., especially for curated Discover content.
- Popular among Gen Z users.
- Short-form vertical videos perform well.
→ Weaknesses:
- Hard to get into Discover unless partnered.
- Spotlight monetization can be inconsistent.
- Less value for long-form or traditional YouTube-style creators.
- You need to have 50,000 followers + 10 million Snap views; or 1 million Spotlight views; or 12,000 hours of view time in the last 28 days to be eligible for Snapchat’s Monetization Program.
→ Best for: Short, catchy videos (DIY, comedy, entertainment).
→ MSN comparison: MSN accepts both short-form and long-form, while Snap favors vertical-only. MSN monetization is more inclusive and has no revenue threshold, but Snapchat is more popular among younger audiences and can potentially earn more.
5. NewsBreak
NewsBreak is a localized news and video app used by tens of millions of Americans. Focused on regional, lifestyle, and how-to content. It can be a great option if looking for a video distribution platform.
→ Strengths:
- 50 million active monthly users in the US.
- Fast-growing mobile platform.
- High engagement for how-to, local news, and lifestyle videos.
- Some syndication with Yahoo and MSN.
→ Weaknesses:
- Monetization is not always transparent.
- Platform reputation varies among creators.
- Requires adaptation to localized content formats.
→ Best for: U.S.-based creators with lifestyle, how-to, or regional content.
→ MSN comparison: MSN offers broader global reach and stronger monetization benchmarks. However, if you’re targeting only the U.S. audience, NewsBreak might be a better fit.
6. Roku Channel / Amazon Freevee / Tubi / Pluto TV (FAST Platforms)
These are Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) platforms offering curated video and TV-style content. They’re growing rapidly as cord-cutting increases. See them as potential online video distribution platforms, especially if your long-form content is high-quality & cinematic.
→ Strengths:
- High CPM potential (TV-level ads).
- Massive growth in U.S. households.
- Often accessed through smart TVs and devices.
→ Weaknesses:
- Requires TV-ready content (long-form, horizontal).
- Harder for YouTubers to break in without repackaging.
- Distribution handled via partners or aggregators.
→ Best for: High-quality, long-form content creators (e.g., docu-series, tutorials).
→ MSN comparison: MSN has a lower entry barrier, works with Shorts and long-form, and pays from day one, but if your content is a perfect fit for the FAST platforms, they could unlock premium ad deals.
7. DailyMotion: The Veteran in Global Video Hosting
DailyMotion is one of the oldest video-sharing platforms, often seen as YouTube’s quieter European cousin. With a strong presence in France and parts of Europe, it offers monetization and syndication opportunities for creators.
→ Strengths:
- Established presence in European markets.
- Partner program for monetization.
- Content can be syndicated across media partners.
→ Weaknesses:
- Smaller global audience compared to newer platforms.
- Monetization terms and CPM rates are often lower and less transparent.
- Lacks the algorithmic discoverability of YouTube or Facebook.
→ Best for: Creators with a European audience, or those seeking to distribute archived content to secondary platforms.
→ MSN comparison: While DailyMotion is more traditional, MSN offers broader reach, stronger CPM performance, and hands-off onboarding through AIR, making it a more scalable income source.
Final Verdict: Who Wins?
A strong distribution strategy doesn’t stop at one platform. It spreads your content across multiple high-opportunity channels to maximize reach and revenue. Whether that’s MSN for evergreen tutorials, Snap for short-form bursts, or NewsBreak for lifestyle pieces, the smartest creators don’t just pick one; they diversify.
AIR builds tailored, hands-off strategies that align with your content type, language, and audience goals. From onboarding to payout, AIR handles the entire distribution process for you.
MSN is one of the strongest plays right now, but it’s just one piece of a smarter, multi-platform plan. Let AIR help you get the most out of the content you’ve already created across all the right surfaces.
Want to see if your channel is a fit for MSN & alternative platforms?
Send your channel for a fit check and start earning with the same videos today.
