Microsoft Unveils Digital Broadcast Manager to Power Pay-Per-View Video And Audio on the Internet

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 9, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of Digital Broadcast Manager (Developer Preview), software that makes it possible for companies to sell pay-per-view and pay-per-download content via the Internet. Digital Broadcast Manager rapidly transforms any Web site with digital media content into an e-commerce solution. It offers a secure, easy-to-manage system for distributing digital audio and video content in the Microsoft ÒWindows Media™ Format and makes it easy to create digital media storefronts on the Web. This solution is the next step in the evolution of the pay-per-view industry.

Digital Broadcast Manager was developed in cooperation with pioneering businesses such as House of Blues Entertainment Inc.’s House of Blues Digital and e-Media, Showtime Boxing’s Web broadcaster, that are looking for innovative ways to embrace digital media as a viable e-commerce opportunity. HOB.com (House of Blues Digital), The Home Of Live Music On The Internet™ , is using Digital Broadcast Manager technology as a cornerstone of its digital media business today, offering its Internet concert series line-up via pay-per-view events.

“Microsoft’s Digital Broadcast Manager opened a whole new world for our entertainment business,”
said Stephen Felisan, vice president, House of Blues Digital Inc.
“Using this technology, HOB.com has been able to extend a traditional pay-per-view business model to the Web for our extensive live concert Webcasts. HOB.com is committed to offering customers the highest quality content and ensuring that artists retain control over the digital distribution of their music.”

Companies like e-Media, a broadband e-business builder and streaming network, have also been using Digital Broadcast Manager to deliver large-scale sports pay-per-view events.

“We worked closely with Microsoft for the past two years to ensure this system handles in real time the enormous volumes required by our clients such as Showtime Boxing, Earthcam, Woodstock.com and UFA Sports,”
said Michael Terretta, CTO of e-Media.
“Digital Broadcast Manager enables our clients to collect revenue up front for an event on the Web, and its toolset lets us tailor content and merchandising for individual users.”

In addition to the entertainment arena, leaders in business-to-business e-commerce are also using Digital Broadcast Manager technology to power their digital media business. For example, Milliman & Robertson Actuaries & Consultants ( http://www.cme-online.com/ ) uses Digital Broadcast Manager to sell continuing medical education and for-credit courses online in digital form, based exclusively on the Windows Media Format.

“Demand for digital media e-commerce is exploding and will be as commonplace as selling traditional goods – such as books and CDs – within the next few years,”
said Dave Fester, director of marketing, Digital Media Division, Microsoft.
“The delivery of the Digital Broadcast Manager is a huge step in enabling service providers and partners to create profitable business ventures with digital media.”

The following service providers are participating in the Digital Broadcast Manager Developer Preview and are working with content providers to pilot digital e-commerce activities: INTERVU, e-Media, NextVenue, Network 24 (recently acquired by Akamai Technologies Inc.), ConnectOS Corp., Activate.net Corp. and Loudeye.

Digital Broadcast Manager Features

Digital Broadcast Manager offers digital media e-commerce for everyone by providing a unique, easy-to-use set of features for the following:

  • Converting digital media content into secure marketable products like streamed video events, music download files or music previews

  • Ensuring secure authentication and authorization of customers

  • Managing and responding to customer needs through an integrated report manager to track customer and product sales trends

  • Setting up and managing a digital media storefront on the Web

Availability

The final release of Digital Broadcast Manager is scheduled to be released later this year. Companies may apply to evaluate the Digital Broadcast Manager Developer Preview. For more information or to apply, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/solutions/dbm.asp .

About Windows Media

Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations with unmatched audio and video quality. Windows Media Technologies 4, which includes Windows Media Player, Windows Media Services, Windows Media Tools and the Windows Media SDK, is available for free* download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . The Windows Media Player, available in 24 languages, is the fastest-growing media player. More than 50 million copies have been downloaded to date – growing by more than one every second.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.

*Connect-time charges may apply.

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