New Microsoft Broadcast TV Platform for Windows Media Center TV Pack

Microsoft keeps rolling out goodies for Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008, all the while leaving a bitter sweet taste in the mouths of users of the Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate SKUs. In this regard, following the finalization and release of Windows Fiji, Microsoft unveiled its new worldwide platform designed to bridge broadcast TV with the Vista PCs via Windows Media Center. Via the Redmond company's Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture (PBDA) platform and Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008, end users running the Home Premium or Ultimate editions of Vista together with a PC-TV hardware solution will be able to enjoy TV services right in their Windows Media Center.

“For the first time, we’re enabling those in the PC-TV community to build tuners and integrate almost any broadcast service into Windows Media Center themselves regardless of geographic location or television standard - we’ve removed a major roadblock by delivering one consistent platform for the industry,” revealed Geoff Robertson, general manager for Windows Media Center at Microsoft.

Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008, formerly codenamed Windows Fiji, is an update to Windows Media Center released exclusively to Microsoft’s OEM partners. Vista users will not be able to enjoy the added benefits of Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 unless they buy new hardware which features the update. Microsoft indicated that manufacturers in UK, Germany and Japan had already started offering PBDA-based tuner solutions.

“The tremendous response we’re already seeing for the platform means PC OEMs, broadcast service providers and tuner-makers can now collaborate and embrace the PC as a first-class citizen for delivering more high-quality free or pay content to consumers in their local markets. This is a major milestone for us and our partners as we continue our efforts to deliver the highest-quality, personalized TV-watching experiences available to people everywhere,” Robertson added.