China Gets First Taste of Anytime TV

Guangzhou Digital Media Group launches the first Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV
service in China; becomes the first cable operator worldwide to deploy
Mediaroom services and the first Mediaroom customer to offer Mediaroom Anytime
TV.

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today
announced that Guangzhou Digital Media Group has formally launched Zhujiang
Digital, a connected TV service powered by the Microsoft Mediaroom Internet
Protocol television (IPTV) platform. This is the first Mediaroom-enabled TV
service to launch in China and the first time Mediaroom has been delivered
over a cable network anywhere in the world.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
The new service, available to residents in the Guangzhou region of China,
also includes the first deployment of the Mediaroom Anytime feature set, which
will take time-shifted TV to the next level in China. Announced at 2009
International CES, Mediaroom Anytime will let subscribers access previously
aired shows from their Interactive Program Guide and immediately restart
currently airing programs without any preplanning or prior digital video
recording (DVR).
"This is an exciting moment for consumers in China and a significant
milestone for Microsoft and the IPTV industry as Guangzhou Digital Media Group
becomes the first deployment of the award-winning Mediaroom platform over a
cable network," said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the
Connected TV Business Group at Microsoft. "It also heralds the arrival of the
latest in connected TV and the first Mediaroom-based service in China,
enabling residents in the Guangzhou region to enjoy TV on their terms and
watch the shows they want on their schedule."
At a launch ceremony on Monday, Jan. 12 in Guangzhou City, presided over
by the CEO of Guangzhou Digital Media Group, Yang Yuhua, and attended by
Microsoft's Rodriguez, Guangzhou Digital Media Group outlined its plans for
the new service, including a commitment to connect its total of 2.5 million
subscribers within three to five years.
"With the launch of Zhujiang Digital Interactive TV service, the Guangzhou
Digital Media Group is delivering a personalized and connected alternative to
existing TV services," Yahua said. "Powered by the Microsoft Mediaroom
platform, the new service will allow residents in Guangzhou to enjoy their TV
when they want it, without missing a thing as well as rich interactivity."
From launch, the Mediaroom-powered service will include the following key
features: -- High-definition content for live, recorded and on-demand TV
-- Mediaroom Anytime, which can be used to access previously aired shows
from the Interactive Program Guide and immediately restart currently
airing programs without any preplanning or prior DVR recording
-- Powerful video-on-demand features enabling users to view shows whenever
they want

Guangzhou Digital Media Group also has taken advantage of the capability
within Mediaroom for rich interactivity and the ability to seamlessly blend
Web content and services with broadcast TV. The company has already engaged a
number of local enterprises to develop interactive TV applications to
complement the TV viewing experience. The applications being developed will
enable Guangzhou Digital Media Group to offer its viewers new ways to
communicate, share media and personalize the TV experience. Locally built TV
applications that will be available at launch as part of the service include
the following: -- Local news Web sites on TV provide information from
government Web
sites displayed on TV.
-- Local sports and entertainment multimedia news lets viewers watch video
clips, view pictures, vote on favorite shows and check text messages
via the TV.
-- Local government e-mail service enables subscribers to view e-mails
sent out by local government.
-- Information service allows subscribers to check their local social
security information.
-- TV e-commerce permits customers to pay their phone bill or traffic
tickets through the TV.

The Guangzhou Digital Media Group plans to use the new Mediaroom
Presentation Framework to launch a number of other innovative applications in
the future, including online shopping and the ability to search for local
information such as the latest on restaurants, hotels, entertainment and
traffic news.
Microsoft Mediaroom has a global customer base of service provider
customers including AT&T, BT and Deutsche Telekom, delivering connected TV
services to nearly 2.5 million subscriber homes worldwide.
Guangzhou Digital Media Group (http://www.gzcatv.net), formerly Guangzhou
Radio and Television Network Limited, is the largest cable TV operator in
Guangzhou City. Guangzhou Digital Media has about 2.5 million cable TV
subscribers, with about 1 million broadcasting digital TV subscribers.
About Microsoft Mediaroom
The award-winning Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)
and multimedia software platform is driving the future of television by
enabling broadband service providers to deliver new connected TV and
entertainment experiences to consumers worldwide. Microsoft Mediaroom provides
new ways for consumers to experience TV as part of their connected, digital
lifestyle, while also creating new business opportunities for broadband
service providers, hardware manufacturers, content creators, advertisers and
application developers. Over 20 of the world's leading service providers
across four continents have selected the Microsoft Mediaroom platform to drive
their digital TV services. More information on Microsoft Mediaroom and the
opportunity to deliver the best in TV plus all your media in one place is
available at http://www.microsoft.com/mediaroom.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

pr.mspx./ /CONTACT: Weber Shandwick for Microsoft, +1-425-452-5400,
mstv@webershandwick.com