Microsoft TV Taps Former ReplayTV Executive to Be Director Of North American Business Development

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 8, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that M3 Sweatt has joined the Microsoft® TV Platform Group as director of business development for North America. Sweatt comes to the Microsoft TV senior management team from ReplayTV Inc., where he was vice president of business development. Sweatt’s new responsibilities include developing and strengthening the platform group’s relationships with leading network operators in the United States and Canada.

Sweatt has more than 10 years’ experience working for companies specializing in cutting-edge entertainment and television technologies. Most recently, Sweatt led the business development team at ReplayTV, where he was responsible for identifying and evaluating alliances and partnerships worldwide. Before joining ReplayTV in 2000, Sweatt held a number of high-profile positions at media and television technology companies, including Pinnacle Systems Inc., where he was director of the desktop products group. Before that, Sweatt held senior management positions at Autodesk Inc., The 3DO Co. and Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology Inc.

“Microsoft TV is proud to have someone like M3 Sweatt driving our North American business development,”
said Alan Yates, vice president for sales and marketing, Microsoft TV Platform Group.
“M3 has gained the industry knowledge as well as the respect of many individuals in the industry through his years working in entertainment and technology. We are confident M3 will succeed in building on Microsoft TV’s leadership. Through his relationships with important network operators and hardware vendors, we believe M3 is well-placed to help us show operators why Microsoft TV can provide the best software for enabling Enhanced TV services.”

“I’m excited to be working with such a strong and talented team at Microsoft TV,”
Sweatt said.
“Microsoft TV has the right approach, business model and software to be a key enabler of the interactive TV industry. What appeals to me most about working with Microsoft TV and its industry partners is the chance to help build this industry, giving network operators the opportunity to offer the best solutions for bringing Enhanced TV services to consumers.”

Sweatt joins a well-established and active business development team led by Michael Cuneo. Microsoft TV has established relationships with key network operators in the United States and Europe, including industry leaders such as AT & T Corp., UPC, TV Cabo Portugal, Rogers Cable Inc. and THOMSON Multimedia SA. The business development team’s primary focus is on driving strategy for new alliances with cable operators, as well as continuing to build on relationships with those industry leaders that have chosen Microsoft TV.

About the Microsoft TV Platform

The Microsoft TV platform is a standards-based, client and server software family that enables network operators and their partners to deliver the most compelling Enhanced TV services to consumers. The platform supports a range of TV devices — from current and next-generation set-top boxes and digital video recorders, to integrated television sets, entertainment appliances and other computing devices. Through the platform, network operators and hardware providers can team up to offer consumers an unparalleled range of services, from e-mail and Internet on TV to interactive programming, electronic program guides and digital video recording.

Microsoft TV also creates significant new economic opportunities for network operators and the more than 1,000 companies worldwide who have chosen to work with the platform to deliver or supply the services, programming, hardware and software for the interactive TV industry. Microsoft TV supports open standards and is backed by the technical expertise, support and broad third-party developer community Microsoft is known for. It is an integral part of Microsoft’s .NET vision of empowering people through great software — any time, any place and on any device. More information about the Microsoft TV platform can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/tv/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies 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.

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