P>AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Sept. 8, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. announced today that NDS Group plc, a News Corp. company and existing Microsoft® TV platform partner, plans to increase its support for the Microsoft TV platform by joining the Microsoft TV Interactive Broadcast Tools Partner Program. The announcement means that NDS’ advanced toolkit for developing Enhanced TV content is slated to support the Microsoft TV software platform, thereby enabling the creation of mainstream Enhanced TV using the industry’s current production tools.
NDS, one of Europe’s leading providers of open-access software and interactive applications and developer of the hugely successful Sky Sports Active, plans to incorporate support for the Microsoft TV platform in its toolkit, NDS Value@TV. The toolkit, used by a significant number of broadcasters worldwide, is a comprehensive and easy-to-use solution for European and other broadcasters wanting to create Enhanced TV content as it supports both DVB and PAL.
NDS Value@TV is a completely versatile toolkit enabling professionals to create and deliver HTML easily on cable, satellite or terrestrial systems. It allows broadcasters to create some of the highest-demand applications for enhanced broadcasts including interactive programming, home shopping and interactive sports.
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Building Microsoft TV platform functionality into our already successful NDS
toolkit is another step toward enabling broadcasters to create fun, exciting programming easily and efficiently,
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said Gadi Tirosh, director of marketing interactive solutions at NDS.
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The future of TV is all about delivering the best content possible to the consumer, and the Microsoft TV platform allows broadcasters to do exactly that, regardless of the hardware or delivery mechanism they are using.
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The Microsoft TV Interactive Broadcast Tools Partner Program offers members exclusive and up-to-date information about the newest Microsoft TV platform innovations, the latest Microsoft TV software updates, access to a networked community of Microsoft TV Solution Providers, discounts on training events for tool developers, co-marketing opportunities with Microsoft, and a Tools Developer Kit (available in the third or fourth quarter of 2000 at an additional cost).
Other leading television production system providers involved in the Microsoft Interactive Broadcast Tools Partner Program include Chyron, Harris Corp., VizRT, Avid Technology Inc. and Associated Press Electronic News Production System (ENPS), Grass Valley Group, Norpak, and Vertigo Multimedia.
These tool providers support the Microsoft TV platform by offering content creators such as broadcasters, cable channels, production and post-production houses, and journalists the ability to easily generate interactive programming that is compliant with interactive programming standards. Having the best tools from one of the most advanced and recognizable production system providers in the industry allows broadcasters and producers to easily differentiate their programming and their brand as well as attract and retain new viewers.
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We are pleased to be able to work closely with NDS to help them include interactive capabilities in their products,
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said Alan Yates, director of marketing for the Microsoft TV platform.
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This latest announcement further extends our already strong relationship with NDS and is another example of Microsoft working with the leaders in the television industry to make Enhanced TV easy to implement for broadcasters and a reality for consumers in Europe and around the world.
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