REDMOND, Wash., March 18, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today launched Web Events 3.0, a major upgrade to its popular streaming media Web site. The updated site is available now at http://webevents.MSN.com/ .
Web Events features a new, highly efficient design that makes it easier to find, watch and listen to more than 700 offerings from the top Internet video, radio and other media sites from around the world. Participating content providers make up an impressive roster, including Bloomberg Financial News, broadcast.com, CNN, Forbes Digital Tool, Fox, Hollywood Online, House of Blues, MUSICVIDEOS.COM, National Public Radio (NPR), MSNBC, Warner Bros., The Weather Channel, the World Wrestling Federation, ZDTV and many others. MSN
™Web Events enables an exploding number of Microsoft® Windows® Media Player users to easily access timely and relevant content in a rich and innovative format.
The Internet is rapidly evolving to encompass more streaming audio and video offerings, but it’s often hard to locate the streaming audio and video on a particular Web site. Also, with an abundance of content now available through streaming media, users need better tools to find what they want. The MSN Web Events site, the only streaming media directory linked by default from Internet Explorer 5, is the online seeker’s answer to quickly finding audio and video clips of breaking news, webcasts of concerts, live programming from top radio stations and more.
Web Events is considered to be one of the top news, entertainment and information sites on the Web, accessed by over 1.5 million users in January 1999.
“Web Events 3.0 is the latest example of how Microsoft is providing industry leadership in streaming media technology,”
said Brad Chase, vice president of Windows marketing and developer relations at Microsoft.
“With a roster of premier content providers and innovative radio personalization features, Web Events now provides visitors with quick, easy access to the most compelling streaming audio and video news, entertainment and information links on the Internet.”
“We are pleased to be extending the distribution of our programming through broadcast.com’s participation in the expanded, newly redesigned Web Events,”
said Todd Wagner, chief executive officer for broadcast.com.
“Web Events shows the breadth of content and myriad of radio stations that broadcast.com offers to users of the Windows Media Player, including high-bandwidth content.”
“The opportunity the new Web Events site offers the BBC is very interesting,”
said Matthew Karas, technical director, BBC News online.
“Web Events and streaming media in general offer the BBC, the world’s premier news gathering service, exciting new platforms with which to reach an even broader global audience.”
The new Web Events provides easy navigation to each of its 16 content categories, with headlines that link to streaming content on dozens of top Internet sites. Every Web Events page has been upgraded, and visitors can now personalize Web Events with time zone and Zip code information to make it even easier to find great content. Additional features include regular updates to the headlines of the latest live and on-demand audio and video offerings, as well as the debut of a weekly HTML newsletter featuring the best of upcoming streaming events.
One of the most innovative features introduced on Web Events is an all-new customizable Radio Station Guide, easily accessible from the new Windows Radio toolbar in Internet Explorer 5. The Radio Station Guide has 10 buttons, similar to those on a car radio, that are initially preset to leading Internet radio stations: the BBC, Bloomberg, CNN Interactive, House of Blues Internet Radio, LAUNCH.com, MSNBC, MUSIC CHOICE, NPR and ZDTV. Users can personalize the buttons with a click of a mouse to their favorite radio stations, selecting from the more than 300 radio stations currently available and the dozens of new radio stations joining each week. Finding and enjoying the best in radio broadcasting couldn’t be easier or more convenient. Stations interested in joining the Radio Station Guide can sign up at http://windowsmedia.com/ .
Content Providers Take a Shine to the MSN Web Events Makeover
Top ICPs are providing content to MSN Web Events. They include AENTV.com, AltContent, Altpress.com, americaone.com, audiohighway.com, the BBC, Bloomberg, Borders.com, Boxingonline.com, broadcast.com, cbs.com, CBS Sportsline, CNET, CNN.com, CNNfn, CNN/SI, Cyber Radio, DVD EXPRESS, Endangered Species News, Faith and Hope Network, First Auction, Forbes Digital Tool, Fox News, Fox Sports, globalspaguide.com, globalskiguide.com, Hard Radio, Healthanswers.com, Hollywood Online, House of Blues, IndigoCity.com, INTERVU Inc., ITV.Net, J-Bird Records, ktv-i.com, LAUNCH.com, Launch Radio, Microsoft Seminar Online, MotoWorld Network, MountainZone.com, MSNBC, MuchMusicPresents, MUSIC CHOICE, MusicTV, NPR, OnHealth, Pepsi World, Raveworld, Signal Online, Soltv.com, Superbuild.com, TalkSpot.com, The Auto Channel, The Cyber Station, The New Music, The Weather Channel, Top Secret Recipes, totaleclips.com,
TTalk.com, TV Interactive, Virtual-OR, Warner Bros., westerns.com, windows2000.com, WON.net, the World Wrestling Federation, XOOM.com and ZDTV.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Windows and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
For online information:
Visit the Microsoft Web site at http://webevents.MSN.com/
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