WebTV Networks Inc. Tuesday announced
President and Co-Founder Steve Perlman, a pioneer in the fusion of
video and telecommunications technologies, is leaving the company at the
end of the month.
Perlman developed the WebTV concept in March 1995 and established WebTV
Networks shortly thereafter with Bruce Leak and Phil Goldman. Perlman will
remain with the Microsoft
Corp.’s subsidiary as a member of WebTV Networks’ advisory board.
With an extensive background in multimedia, graphics and operating system
software, Bruce Leak will become president of WebTV Networks and a member
of Microsoft’s executive staff.
“Bruce will provide the vision and leadership we need to continue to
deliver on the future television experience, and we look forward to his
valuable, strategic input as a member of the executive staff team at
Microsoft,” said Jon DeVaan, vice president of Microsoft’s consumer and commerce group.
Leak was formerly the general manager of WebTV Networks’ service division
and also has served as chief operating officer for the company.
Before WebTV, Leak held management and development positions at Rocket
Science Games Inc. and General Magic
Inc. He began his Silicon Valley career at Apple Computer Inc., bringing multimedia
to the desktop computer as the creator and engineering team leader for
QuickTime and 32-bit QuickDraw.
Microsoft said Perlman planned to take a long-postponed break through the summer and afterward
plans to explore new entrepreneurial endeavors.
Perlman said he was proud of his accomplishments during his WebTV tenure.
“In just four short years, WebTV
has redefined television, not only by integrating the Internet and
interactive programming, but by laying the groundwork for 21st century
television.”
When Microsoft bought WebTV for $425 million in April 1997 industry analysts were
confused by the hefty price the software giant paid for a company that had
only sold an estimated 60,000 set-top boxes at the time the deal was made.
Earlier this month the Federal Communications
Commission deregulated set-top box manufacturing, leaving Microsoft in a great position
to capitalize on current market convergence.
Microsoft completed a tactical $5 billion investment in AT&T Corp. this month that guarantees the use of
Microsoft’s TV software platform in advanced set-top devices.
Microsoft’s is now in position to lead as the software, hardware and
content producer of choice for the burgeoning broadband marketplace.
