Microsoft debuts ad-supported internet TV for Vista
updated 04:10 am EDT, Thu September 27, 2007
Internet TV beta for Vista
Complimenting its Media Center Extender announcements, Microsoft on Thursday announced a beta release of Internet TV for its Windows Media Center customers, featuring news from MSNBC, Fox Sport clips, and a variety of other ad-supported content. Expected to go live on on the morning of Sept. 28, 2007, the Redmond-based company said that U.S. users of Windows Vista Home Premium edition and Windows Vista Ultimate edition will find the new beta release of Internet TV with over 100 hours of programming. The service will allow users to enjoy a range of television and video content on their PCs and TV sets without a TV tuner in their PC. The streaming video content will be supported by an advertising platform provided by YuMe and will be available to viewers for free.
The content available in Internet TV comes from MSN Video and will include full episodes of TV shows such as the critically acclaimed "Arrested Development;" full-length music concerts by artists such as Chris Cornell, Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Pink, John Mayer and the Pussycat Dolls; high-quality movie trailers from major movie studios; the latest news segments from MSNBC; and sports clips from FOX Sports.
Internet TV, the company said, has been designed for both the TV and PC screen, and features high-quality video optimized for broadband streaming. Viewers can enjoy the high-quality videos on announced Extenders for Windows Media Center as well as the company's own Xbox 360 consoles and PCs running Windows Media Center in Windows Vista (available in Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate).
