Microsoft introduced a range of new content for Windows Media Center in Windows Vista. The Redmond company recently hinted at new materials being served to users of Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate, the two SKUs that come with Windows Media Center. In this regard, Internet TV is the materialization of Microsoft's promise. Internet TV will debut in Beta stage on September 28, and will be available via Windows Media Center in the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista. According to the Redmond company, the content will be offered at no charge.

"Adding to the wealth of content available on PCs running Windows Media Center in Windows Vista (available in Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate), Microsoft also launched a beta test of Windows Media Center Internet TV, which will offer more than 100 hours of ad-supported entertainment from MSN Video, including full-length shows, music concerts and movie trailers", Microsoft revealed.

The beta release of Internet TV will go live as a new feature in Windows Media Center starting tomorrow. Essentially, Internet TV will allow users of Windows media Center in Vista to access television and video content without a TV tuner. "The Internet TV beta allows Windows Media Center users to enjoy free high-quality television from some of their favorite studios and networks in Media Center, directly over the Internet," explained Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president, Entertainment and Devices eHome Division, Microsoft.

Internet TV is ad-supported via a YuMe advertising platform, this also being the reason why the service is provided for free. The high-quality video content is optimized for a broadband streaming infrastructure. Microsoft additionally revealed that Internet TV is by no means limited to Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate, being also available on Xbox 360 and Windows Media Center Extenders.

"The content available in Internet TV comes from MSN Video, with more than 100 hours available at the start of the beta period, including the following: full episodes of TV shows such as the critically acclaimed "Arrested Development"; full-length music concerts by artists such as Chris Cornell, Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Pink, John Mayer and the Pussycat Dolls; high-quality movie trailers from major movie studios; the latest news segments from MSNBC and sports clips from FOX Sports," Microsoft added.