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Windows Media Center Internet TV Beta Launched

By Robert | September 30, 2007

Microsoft just recently launched the beta version of their Windows Media Center Internet TV platform. If you have Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Home Premium on your computer, you could get a chance to watch the company’s Internet TV. This means you will gain access to free, ad supported TV material without even needing a TV tuner.

With the beta launch, there will be around 100 hours of programs available. This includes concerts by Snoop Dogg, John Mayer and episodes from “Arrested Development”. Sports highlights from FOX Sports and news clips from MSNBC will also be available.

This TV platform was supposed to be launched for Microsoft Xbox 360 customers but, as you can see, it is first implemented on the Windows platform. On the other hand, if you have one of the company’s gaming consoles, you can turn it into a Windows Media Extender and you can view the same content that is available on Windows.
According to Microsoft but not yet tested by users, Linksys’ Media Center Extender DMA2100 ($299), D-Link’s DSM-750 MediaLounge HD Media Center Extender ($349) and Hewlett-Packard’s 42 and 47 inch MediaSmart LCD HDTVs have already included Windows Media Center technology. It seems that the company is trying to deliver the “ultimate experience for every TV set in your home” according to Joe Belfiore, vice president of the company’s Entertainment and Devices eHome Division.

We have an interesting launch here as Microsoft will probably soon add a lot to the 100 hours of initial material available for their Internet TV. This service could be successful because it is free but the company needs to pay attention to the type of ads they implement. YouTube is said to implement 15 seconds ads before each movie, this could instantly mean disaster. The same thing goes for Microsoft’s Internet TV.

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