Media Center played a big part in our news at CES this year. Some of the highlights include:

• Sales of Media Center have reached the 6.5 million mark in just three years.
• Digital Cable. Media Center in Windows Vista will also deliver new HD scenarios, including CableCARD support, that will allow people to watch and record premium and HD cable programming on Media Center PCs without a set-top cable box.
• Digital Satellite. Microsoft and DIRECTV announced a multiyear agreement that will mean, among other things, that consumers will be able to use a Media Center PC to enjoy high-definition DIRECTV content.
• Sky Networks. Microsoft and British Sky Broadcasting (Sky), the leading pay-TV provider in the U.K. and Ireland, announced an agreement to create a Media Center PC version of Sky’s forthcoming broadband content service, Sky by broadband. The core service will allow millions of Sky TV customers to access video content via the PC, with hundreds of movies to download and hundreds of sports clips to stream.
• Starz Entertainment Group recently premiered Vongo, a new video download service for broadband that will give subscribers unlimited access to more than 1,000 movies and video selections as well as a live, streaming Starz TV channel, for a monthly cost of $9.99. Movies can be viewed on a Windows-based PC or easily transferred to a next-generation Windows Mobile®-based Portable Media Center.

Over 110 media companies around the world are now providing digital content through Online Spotlight in Media Center including these new services which are available today here in the United States...

• Comedy Central’s MotherLoad. Comedy Central’s MotherLoad features exclusive and dedicated content including video clips from current and classic Comedy Central shows such as “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Additional exclusives and dedicated content include sneak previews, behind-the-scenes exclusives, highlights from thousands of stand-up performances, and newly created short-form series such as “I Love the Thirties,” “Odd Todd” and “Meet the Creeps.”
• mtvU. mtvU is the only 24-hour network dedicated to emerging music and everything that’s great about college. mtvU is the first MTV Networks broadband channel to be distributed in its entirety both live and on demand on via Windows XP Media Center Edition, enabling viewers to program their own channel or just sit back and watch. At the heart of the channel are music videos from emerging artists that can’t be seen anywhere else.
• VH1 VSPOT. VSPOT, VH1’s pop culture and entertainment broadband network, delivers VH1’s best video programming on demand to Media Center PCs. VSPOT’s Music, Moves and Hot Stuff channels offer thousands of music videos, artist interviews, live events coverage, behind-the-scenes access and exclusive in-studio performances, from artists such as The White Stripes and INXS.
• New offerings from America Online in addition to their previously launched Music on Demand service. AOL Pictures (photo sharing) and AOL Radio (streaming radio, including XM content) are now available.

The following companies also announced services which will launch at some point in the future...

• Showtime Interactive. Showtime Interactive allows viewers to explore hundreds of Showtime programs and a wealth of DVD-like video extras such as behind-the-scenes clips, trailers and trivia as well as actor interviews, bios and filmographies.
• Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s GameTap. GameTap is a first-of-its-kind broadband subscription entertainment network that offers more than 300 games on demand plus original programming via a broadband-connected Media Center PC.

You can get the official transcript of the Bill Gates keynote from http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/speeches/2006/01-04CES.asp.

More news on the way...