Microsoft Expands Its Global Presence in the Broadcast and Film Industries With New Customer Deployments and Partner Solutions

Microsoft Expands Its Global Presence in the Broadcast and Film Industries With New Customer Deployments and Partner Solutions

LAS VEGAS, April 24/PRNewswire/ --

- BBC Worldwide deploying Microsoft Connected Services Framework to
Enable a Dynamic Digital Content Production Work Flow

Today at NAB2006, Microsoft Corp (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced that a new
customer in the broadcast industry has deployed Microsoft(R) Connected
Services Framework to enable the streamlining of internal systems and better
exploitation of its global assets and distribution services. In addition,
Microsoft has reinforced its commitment to its partner ecosystem in the
broadcast and film industries with companies such as OmniBus Systems, North
Plains Systems Corp and Infosys Technologies Ltd that have built or are
integrating new solutions based on Microsoft Connected Services Framework and
other Microsoft technologies. The new customer and the partner services and
solutions follow Microsoft's announcement with Accenture and Avanade last
week that Singapore-based broadcasting giant MediaCorp Pte Ltd. has adopted
Microsoft Connected Services Framework as a key component in its integrated
broadcast system.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

"The current transition from analogue to digital content is driving a
tremendous change in the way broadcast and film industries produce and manage
content. New revenue opportunities arise with the multiple distribution
opportunities for digital content such as through the internet and on mobile
devices," said Maria Martinez, corporate vice president of the Communications
Sector at Microsoft. "To help broadcasters and other multimedia content
producers capitalise on these new opportunities, Microsoft provides the
platform necessary to create a seamless and collaborative digital work-flow
environment, as well as the solutions and services to effectively manage
digital assets throughout the broadcast production life cycle."

BBC Worldwide Ltd is working on a digital strategy that will enable the
streamlining of internal systems and better exploitation of its global assets
and distribution services. As part of this strategy, the broadcaster is
deploying Connected Services Framework as the unifying platform that links
disparate systems and islands of content currently stored in multiple
archives and formats. The initiative will also provide a company-wide view of
all content and distribution channels. In addition to being cost-effective
and quick to deploy, Microsoft Connected Services Framework is scalable,
enabling a phased roll-out while still allowing usual services to customers
to be maintained. The first phase of the project is planned to be completed
in April 2006 and will involve the integration of three disparate product
catalogues.

In addition to building customer momentum in the broadcast and film
industries, Microsoft continues to expand its partner network. At the
Microsoft booth at NAB2006, the Media & Entertainment Group and many of its
partners will be showcasing new solutions based on Connected Services
Framework and other Microsoft technologies through demonstrations or sessions
at the Digital Media Theater. Microsoft partners include these:

-- OmniBus Systems' iTX, a software-only play-out suite of applications,
is basing its work flow on Connected Services Framework. iTX
dramatically reduces broadcasters' capital costs associated with
producing and distributing branded channels. iTX, designed to
operate on standard IT hardware, provides SD, HD, live and Windows
Media(R) streaming solutions that replace the functionalities
previously supplied by video servers, master control, video effects
hardware, logo inserters and character generators.

-- North Plains TeleScope provides the central media management engine
for applications such as video on demand, broadcast automation, video
publishing to the web and data-mining archiving. North Plains is the
first digital asset management supplier to provide Web Parts for
access to a content management solution through Microsoft
SharePoint(R) Portal Server.

-- Infosys Technologies has developed its digital asset management and
intellectual property management solutions using Microsoft Connected
Services Framework and Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights
Management. The solutions enable media companies to better manage
media assets and metadata so they can effectively exploit content
archives and monetise media assets across media platforms.

"Since the launch of Connected Services Framework at NAB2005, we've made
significant strides evangelising the promise that Microsoft technologies hold
for the broadcast and film industries," Martinez said. "Our focus is on
solving today's real problems and preparing for tomorrow's opportunities by
providing an infrastructure that supports business goals and extends the
value of existing and future technology and IT investments."

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 12,000 people in over 55 subsidiaries, delivering products
and services in more than 139 countries and territories.

This material is for informational purposes only. Microsoft Corp
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Web site: http://www.microsoft.com

Source: Microsoft Corp

Jai Ferguson, +1-425-452-5464, or jferguson@webershandwick.com, or Laura Woodward,
+44-20-7067-0519, or lwoodward@webershandwick.com, both of Weber Shandwick, for Microsoft Corp; or Microsoft EMEA Response Centre, +44-870-243-0515, or emearesponse@waggeneredstrom.com; Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO, AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org, PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com; NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft in EMEA, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/emea or the EMEA Press Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at the time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact the Microsoft EMEA Press Office at +44-870-243-0515 or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/contactus. If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft Corp, please visit the Microsoft web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages.

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