Microsoft announced that it has improved its Mediaroom IPTV service to bring more show producers and IPTV networks to its platform.
According to Microsoft, its plan for increasing the value of Mediaroom IPTV contains three parts: increase advertising opportunities, make it easier for IPTV networks to port shows to the platform, and make IPTV more interactive.
The improved Mediaroom platform will let service providers using the service offer targeted, interactive advertising spots and have access to better data in order to target ads to specific groups. Microsoft didn’t elaborate on how that would be possible, but claimed more would be coming soon.
To make it easier to switch from another platform, Microsoft started the Mediaroom Migration program, which should give IPTV providers the tools they need to switch. According to Microsoft, before those providers switch, it will provide them with business and technical workshops to review set-top box portability, network compatibility, and audio-visual interoperability.
Microsoft is also trying to make Mediaroom IPTV more interactive, so the company will show how BBC shows can have a news, sports, and weather overlay during viewing so users can do more than just watch shows while using the service. So if you’re watching a show from the BBC and your wife comes in asking what the forecast will be tomorrow, Mediaroom will now let you pause the show and access BBC weather information, which will be displayed over the paused show. And while you’re at it, you can see what’s going on in the world by accessing the News section by clicking on the widget to the left of the weather widget.
Microsoft has been hard at work trying to improve Mediaroom and its newest additions should help a bit. But these improvements smack of desperation as Microsoft tries to increase the service’s presence. And in a hotly-contested market like IPTV, it will take more than some new ad-targeting and migration tools to make that happen. It will take broader adoption of IPTV, which is in the hands of Microsoft’s partners.
IPTV is getting big … as it grows Microsoft will have a very good chance of being a leader! This is a good move for Microsoft!
I would like to see this in action first-hand but I can’t find on their website if they’re available on the east coast (NYC). Anyone know? Also how much it costs?
Check out http://uverseusers.com/ – they have a map showing availability.
Typical stupid Microsoft. They can’t compete with their crappy products so they desperately try to enter every other market. Give it up Microsoft! All you are doing is stressing the meager brains of your over-challenged engineers. Put them back to work doing what they do best–creating inferior operating systems and web browsers. You would have to boil me in a vat of acid before I would let any Microsoft media product run on my plasma HDTV.
wow. I feel sorry for you. So much hatred…
Yea … No reason to hate … they know how to make money and thats what matters in business … !!!
I actually heard it is pretty good.
man you were in the other TC articles related to MS completely dishing them there! You have a problem Jason, if in fact that is your name.
Did MS put your company out of business or something? So much hatred!
Is this hardware? Does it run on my Windows machine? Does it work with satellite tv?
Nice marketing, but too many unanswered obvious questions.
“its plan for increasing the value of Mediaroom IPTV contains three parts: increase advertising opportunities, make it easier for IPTV networks to port shows to the platform, and make IPTV more interactive”
“But these improvements smack of desperation as Microsoft tries to increase the service’s presence”
how does it ’smack of desperation’ ? These improvements are logical in a technical and business standpoint. stop the hate, TC.
People who don’t like MS bashing should stop visiting TC, gizmodo and engadget. These web sites are filled with Apple fan boys, Googlers whose job is just to bash MS irrespective of whatever they do…
I simply love Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV site, it is a great implementation of Adobe Flash technology!
Great job Microsoft! Go Adobe!
The proper saying is “stinks (wreaks, smells) of desperation”. Desperation cannot “smack.” Is that “lip smack”, “high five smack”, “ass smack”? My point – even bloggers need to use a dictionary, and reading Strunk & White wouldn’t hurt you, either.
omg Don,
Why does every new feature MS issues “smacks of desperation” (whatever that means)?
How come when Google launches a new crap feautre that already exist in the market (e.g. your post yesterday about my location) you start salivating?
Do me a favour, don’t eat so many Apple Koogles. They’re bad for your health and for your integrity.
Good article except for the last paragraph. It was almost like you turned your MS hate switch on. When you were done writing, did you then comment as Jason S? The tone is quite familiar.
Smack of desperation?
Wouldn’t this imply that someone else is in a superior position and msft is catching up. I’ve seen the product in action and it is quite impressive. These changes are intelligent and logical extenstions of the existing functionality.
Yeah think of all those xbox 360s out there that could be set top boxes for this service.
They already are – BT is the first to roll out the 360 Mediaroom client.
You had me until the last paragraph which “smacks of desperation” in an attempt to disparage Microsoft’s efforts.
I love the idea. IPTV plus an uncapped internet connection, reliable access to content when I want it. why wouldn’t I dump my current cable TV provider for it?
… answer those questions, and then point me to a reseller
Because Whole Home DVR is not fully deployed yet – but that will be done in a few months. Btw – you only asked one question. Resellers ->
http://www.ntelos.com/
http://www.att.com/
I found a new IPTV system that can deliver HD quality with as little as 100kbps connection. The player is awesome and it goes fullscreen. No buffering or downloading.
I’m amazed. You have to see it. http://blastiptv.com
Microsoft has been working for quite some time in the television space. Their Mediaroom IPTV software is absolutely amazing. I all absolute bullshit on any of you who think that anyone can architect and develop a client-server IPTV system, working with multiple SOC vendors and set top box vendors to get client software working on set top boxes and with multiple telecom carriers to get the overall system up and running so that it can send high definition television signals on demand over the internet in packets that arrive in just the right order.
I worked with Microsoft’s IPTV team and can say without reservation, they are so much smarter than you Jason S.
Jason S knows shit other than dishing out MS. He must be a proud son of somebody
Come on people stop picking on Jason, we all know and agree MS products stink, from crashing freezing , Blue screen of death and so on..
I hope the MS IPTV will work well as I like to give it a shot and deploy a platform..
Yesterday’s announcement further differentiate’s Microsoft Mediaroom offering from Comcast and satellite TV.
http://twitter.com/iptvtwit