Media Center gets thumbs up for British digital TV
By John Lister
Microsoft’s Media Center is now officially compliant with Britain’s digital over-the-air TV system Freeview. While users had already been able to pick up the channels, they’ll now get the full service, including interactive content.
Digital terrestrial TV dates back 10 years in Britain, and 10.5 million homes now have at least one set receiving Freeview broadcasts. When the analogue signal is switched off over the next four years, Freeview will almost certainly become the main source of television for the majority of the population.
This week’s official certification has two benefits for Microsoft. First, it can use the widely-known Freeview brand name, for example in marketing ‘Freeview PCs’. That brand is well established thanks to a long-running campaign by all the major broadcasters. It may well be useful in attracting casual users who’d otherwise be wary that receiving TV broadcasts on a PC might be too complicated.
Secondly, Media Center can now offer full interactive content. This could be a big selling point as the major broadcasters often use the interactive feature for additional content, for example broadcasting a wider range of live events during the Olympics.
The endorsement should also make it more likely Microsoft will be able to make sure Media Center is technically compatible with the high-definition version of Freeview which is expected to launch late next year.
Microsoft was able to earn the official compliance by partnering with Hauppauge, a TV tuner manufacturer which produces standalone Freeview digital recorders. The partnership comes as part of Microsoft’s worldwide push of ‘Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture’, a technical solution to make sure Media Center works with the TV tuners and broadcast system of each particular country.
The announcement comes two weeks after Sony launched a UK device which sits between a TV aerial and a Playstation 3, allowing the console to receive and record Freeview programming.
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