About WebTV® and MSN® TV
MSN TV and WebTV let you send email to friends and family,
and surf the Internet -- all from your TV. The service is now provided
by MSN TV but the hardware is still called WebTV. Please do not send
questions about WebTV to me. All I know is right here.
Looking for MSN TV or WebTV service? Click
here.
Features
With Interactive TV programming you can:
- Play along with game shows, participate in polls, and chat with other
viewers
- Automatically program your VCR with a click of a button
- Search thousands of on-screen Interactive TV Listings
- Join a community of people who share ideas through online Chat.
In order to use MSN TV (or WebTV) you need a TV, a phone line (WebTV
uses your local phone company's call waiting service to let phone calls
come through while you're on the Internet), WebTV service and a WebTV
Internet Unit. Click
here to learn more about the differences between surfing the Internet
with MSN TV vs a computer.
WebTV Service came in three flavors:
- WebTV Personal TV service for Satellite lets you watch what you want,
when you want. Pause live television and instantly replay your favorite
scenes.
- WebTV Plus Interactive service enhances TV with Interactive TV, on-screen
TV Listings, automatic VCR programming, and gives you email and the
Internet.
- WebTV Classic Internet service connects you to the Internet and email
easily and affordably, right from your TV.
MSN TV offers Classic and Plus services.
Click here for more information.
The Internet Unit you need depends on the service you choose:
- For the WebTV Personal TV service, you need a WebTV Satellite Receiver
from EchoStar.
- For the WebTV Plus Interactive service, you need a WebTV Internet
Receiver.
- For the WebTV Classic Internet service, you need a WebTV Internet
Terminal.
WebTV History in Brief
In September, 1996, Sony and Phillips introduced the first WebTV set-top
boxes from WebTV Networks, Inc. They became known as WebTV Classic, sometimes
called the WebTV Internet Terminal. In December 1997, a second generation
of set-top box was introduced, which is known as the WebTV Plus. The new
unit includes a TV tuner and integrates the TV and Web worlds.
In August of 1997, Microsoft Corp bought WebTV Networks, Inc. In December
1998, Microsoft began expanding WebTV Networks' offering by offering television-based
software platform products and associated network services in order to
deliver a complete digital solution for cable system operators and broadband
service providers.
WebTV Classic and Plus service consists of two parts: the WebTV Reference
Design, on which WebTV licensees such as Sony and Philips base their boxes,
and the WebTV Network, a subscription-based online service that is an
essential part of what makes the TV-based Web browser feasible.
Both the WebTV Classic and the WebTV Plus use versions of a proprietary
browser. This browser is secure (128-bit SSL encryption) and supports
most functionality offered by Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Netscape's
Navigator Gold. A key difference, though, is that the WebTV browser manipulates
text and images so that they look better on a TV screen. Without WebTV's
technology, text would flicker on a TV screen and be very difficult to
read.
In January 1999, WebTV Networks, Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp.
announced the WebTV Personal TV service for Satellite. Also, WebTV Networks,
Inc. announced its continued work with industry leaders in advertising,
broadcasting and content creation for the acceleration and adoption of
interactive television. HBO, KCTS-TV, MSNBC and The Weather Channel have
now committed to developing new or extended interactive content and services
&emdash; directly related to their popular television shows &emdash; for
the Microsoft® WebTV Network™ Plus service and the WebTV™
for Windows® feature of Windows 98.
Here is good information about the history
of WebTV Networks, Inc.
Interactive Programming
Much like interactive advertisements that enable advertisers to reach
new audiences and differentiate their offerings, interactive programming
enables broadcasters and content providers to engage viewers in unique,
relevant and useful ways. Interactive television enhances a program with
content and services to create a more engaging, personalized experience
for viewers, allowing them to watch and interact with television programming
on multiple levels.
Content and services can include the ability for viewers to get more
in-depth information on the programs they are watching, voice opinions
through online voting, chat with other show fans, play games, purchase
merchandise on demand and much more. This potential encourages originality
in programming and "appointment viewing" &emdash; shows that viewers make
a point of watching every week &emdash; and thus provides consumers with
a richer, more enjoyable television viewing experience.
Finally, from a press release dated January 6, 2000:
"WebTV is proud to join with EchoStar to deliver the future
of television - today," said Bruce Leak, president of WebTV Networks.
"DISHPlayer with WebTV services gives consumers the ultimate enhanced-TV
experience. From digital video recording and 'live' TV Pause to interactive
programs that allow them to participate with their favorite TV shows,
plus Web surfing, e-mail and e-commerce, one box does it all."
Links
Official WebTV sites:
You can find lots of questions and answers on the webtv.users
newsgroup.
Here's a page of WebTV Keyboard Shortcuts.
Here are some interesting WebTV sites:
Please do not send questions about WebTV to me. All
I know is right here.
Microsoft, MSN TV, WebTV Network, WebTV and Windows are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or
other countries.
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