Microsoft Unveils New Content Alliances

LAS VEGAS, January 7: During his opening address at the 2008
International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which officially kicks off today
in Las Vegas, Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft Corp., announced several
partnerships, including a tie-up with NBC Universal for this year’s Beijing
Olympics.

In his 11th CES opening keynote address, Gates looked at the
evolution of the “Digital Decade,” highlighting the expansion of Windows-based
PCs, broadband networks, mobile phones and digital media devices.

“Since I first started talking about the Digital Decade in
2001, the speed with which digital technology has become central to the way we
work, learn and play has been amazing,” Gates said. “But in many ways, we are
at the very beginning of the transformation that software will enable. During
the next Digital Decade, technology will make our lives richer, more connected,
more productive and more fulfilling in profound and exciting ways.”

Among the initiatives announced during the address was a
partnership with NBC Universal for the 2008 Olympic Games. NBCOlympics.com on
MSN will be the official U.S. online home of the 2008 Summer Olympics in
Beijing. Online viewers will have access to more than 3,000 hours of live and
on-demand content. NBCOlympics.com on MSN will be available free and powered by
Microsoft Silverlight technology, a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for
delivering high-quality video experiences on the web.

“With Microsoft’s cutting-edge technology and MSN’s enormous
reach, we will be positioned on NBCOlympics.com to enable Olympic fans to
tailor their Olympic online viewing experience—they can watch Olympic
sports content when and where they want,” said Gary Zenkel, the president of
NBC Olympics. “An on-demand Olympics means online viewers will be able to
return to their favorite Olympic moments over and over or watch a performance
they may have missed for the first time.”

Microsoft also announced deals for Disney-ABC Television
Group and MGM to provide downloadable content to the Xbox 360. Under the
agreement with Disney-ABC Television Group, all U.S. Xbox LIVE members will
soon have access to select TV shows and movies from the ABC Television Network,
ABC Family, ABC News, Disney Channel and Toon Disney. More than 500 hours of
content, in both standard definition and high definition when available, will
be offered, including Lost, Grey’s
Anatomy, Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. Past and current ABC shows will be available on
demand, with new episodes arriving on the service the day after they air on
television.

Under the agreement with MGM, Xbox 360 will offer the
studio’s movie library on demand, including such titles as Rocky, Terminator, Legally Blonde, Silence of the Lambs and Barbershop. United Artists, an MGM sister company, will also make select films
available on demand.

—By Mansha Daswani