ANAHEIM, Calif., Nov. 27, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. will highlight momentum and support for the interactive TV (iTV) and cable industries with an extensive presence at the Western Show 2001 in Anaheim, Calif., Nov. 2730 in Booth No. 5031, Hall B. The company will showcase the comprehensive Microsoft® TV platform that enables network operators to deploy new revenue-generating interactive television (iTV) services across the full range of their networks, from first-generation to advanced set-top boxes. The demonstrations will feature a wide variety of content and applications for iTV from both Microsoft and its partners. Building on the recently announced milestone that Charter Communications Inc. has chosen Microsoft TV for advanced interactive TV services to its 1 million subscribers, Microsoft will demonstrate a prototype of the Charter service for the first time. In addition, Microsoft will showcase its Bandies Award finalist
“Movies Now”
application as well as innovative prototypes of future Microsoft .NET-enabled services for the home.
“From our software products that are being deployed today to future services for the television and beyond, well be showing how Microsoft is helping the cable and iTV industries take advantage of new opportunities to expand their businesses,”
said Jon DeVaan, senior vice president for the TV Division at Microsoft.
“Were leading the way to show how solutions such as Microsoft TV help cable operators and others to make money by offering exciting, personalized iTV services that are accessible on a full range of devices.”
DeVaan will speak at the Western Shows Global Summit on a panel session titled
“The State of Finance,”
which will focus on the impact of growing global investments, the most attractive markets, and how the rollout of advanced services will affect the industry.
On the show floor, Microsoft will showcase a complete range of iTV solutions and partners, including the following:
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Microsoft TV customer showcases. Microsoft will showcase real-world cable deployments from across the globe for both first-generation and advanced set-top boxes, including iTV services from TV Cabo (Portugal), Matav (Israel) and Globo Cabo (Brazil). Microsoft will also demonstrate for the first time the advanced iTV services that Charter Communications will deploy as part of an agreement announced earlier this month. Powered by Microsoft TV, Charters next-generation iTV features will include streaming audio and video using Windows Media™
Player, e-mail, an electronic program guide (EPG), Web browsing and content services from digeo inc. -
Microsoft TV platform. Microsoft will demonstrate the complete Microsoft TV software family, which enables network operators to add new revenue-generating services to their businesses. The platform includes client software and server-based solutions for the network operator head end, addressing both first-generation and advanced set-top boxes. The client software is completely customizable and can be deployed across cable, satellite and terrestrial broadcast networks. Featured applications will include a video-on-demand (VOD) advertising application, advanced ad targeting, t-commerce (television commerce), data warehousing and more.
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Interactive TV content, applications and tools. Microsoft will showcase 30 applications from Microsoft TV Developer Program members, including leading broadcasters, application developers and tools providers. The content showcase features interactive programming that is currently being produced for North American audiences. This programming includes PBSs interactive program series
“Life 360,”
a co-production between PBS and ABC
“Nightline”
and co-developed by H Design Inc. and ExtendMedia Inc. in an ATVEF-compliant authoring environment provided by Chyron Corp. It also includes an exciting first look at an enhanced version of
“The Weakest Link”
produced for NBC by Spiderdance Inc. Attendees will be able to join the developer program and preview member-only software and documentation resources in the booth as well. -
Bandies-nominated
“
Movies Now.
” Microsoft will spotlight the
“Movies Now”
video-on-demand service, a Bandies Award finalist in the category of Best Time Shifting Solution. An on-demand application for video,
“Movies Now”
shows how Microsoft TV software can be integrated with VOD systems to deliver rich information to the end user about movies and offer compelling business models for the network operator. -
.NET and XML Web services for the home. Microsoft will also feature innovative interactive TV services built on its .NET platform for XML Web services in the .NET Lounge, an exciting new addition to the Microsoft booth at the Western Show. In the .NET Lounge, visitors will witness the future of interactive services that cable companies can provide to subscribers. Highlighted .NET-enabled services will include SMS text messaging from the television to the cell phone, instant messaging between the television and PC, and the ability to manage photos, music and videos on a variety of devices from the television and set-top box to the cell phone, PC and Pocket PC. These services are designed to create engaging user experiences that will increase subscriber loyalty and enable additional revenue opportunities for a broad range of companies.
Microsoft will be giving away an Xbox™
game console each day of the show to selected attendees. More information on how to participate in the daily drawings will be available at the Microsoft TV booth.
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 interactive 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 industry leaders worldwide that have chosen to work with the platform to deliver or supply 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 the Microsoft .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.
Microsoft, Windows Media and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information about Microsoft TV:
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