Microsoft Corp. announced today it
is conducting a series of Web content delivery tests with U.S. broadcasters
and cable programmers using TV broadcasting technologies.
The trial will test the broadcasting of data to Windows 98
broadcast-enabled PCs over the vertical blanking interval (VBI) portion of
a television signal. The VBI delivery system will allow broadcasters to
transmit Web pages to the PC, which then stores the content on the hard
drive for later viewing.
Microsoft is conducting these VBI trials with 12 participants, including
Capitol Broadcasting Co. Inc., Citytv, Cox Broadcasting, The E.W. Scripps
Co., Guthy-Renker, KCTS-PBS, MuchMusic, New England Cable News, Oregon
Public Broadcasting, The Paramount Stations Group, Sinclair (SBGI), and
WFLA-TV.
In addition to Windows 98 PCs, later this year Web TV set-top boxes
equipped with WebTV Plus software upgrades will also be able to receive
these types of broadcasts.
Future trials will involve testing the performance of synchronizing
Web-based content with television programs.