Microsoft launches EPG for Windows XP Media Center PCs

Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. today launched its latest offering for the Indian consumer - the Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) for Windows XP Media Center PCs which will allow Indian users to control their TV entertainment experience.  EPG is an on screen interactive guide to television programs which for the first time in India will allow viewers to navigate, select, discover and record shows across more than 80 TV channels in the country. The service will be integrated into the Windows XP Media Center PCs and will be available to users for free.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Rishi Srivastava, Director, Windows Client Business Group, said, "TV as an entertainment medium provides limitless choices to the consumer today. Presently their TV consuming time is undirected and cluttered. We believe that the Electronic Programming Guide will help consumers take control of their entertainment experience by helping them watch their favorite program any time, any where."

The Microsoft Windows XP Media Center PC combines the functionality of a PC, TV, Radio, DVD player & Media Player, and serves as a home entertainment hub. Microsoft was the first company to bring an integrated PC platform to the market, which also provided the ability to Pause Live TV.  EPG adds to this functionality, by serving as an electronic search engine which promises to make life simpler for everyone from the avid TV watcher to the occasional TV viewer.

EPG helps TV viewers look for their favorite shows by typing in key words like the name of the program / movie, actor, time, day and date. Not only this, but the guide also provides viewers with a short description on the program start time, duration, censorship classification and genre. To make the guide easier to scan, viewers can hide channels that are not included in their TV service package or the ones that they do not watch regularly. Combined with the DVR (digital video recording) capabilities of Windows XP Media Center, viewers will be able to search for and record a single program or an entire series, with just a press of a button. Users can even burn these recordings to create your own collection of their favorite movies, television series or a sporting event. 

Discussing Microsoft's expectations from the launch of this product, Mr. Rishi Srivastava, further added, "We believe that Windows XP Media Center combined with the electronic programming guide will be a huge success in India. Consider this, for Rs. 30,000 a consumer can now buy a PC that also provides an unmatched TV viewing experience." "Our partners have sold more than 80,000 units of Windows XP Media Center PCs since its launch nine months ago - with our focused sales & marketing strategy, and an improved product proposition with services such as EPG, we are confident of doubling this number next year."

Microsoft also announced that that it will launch an awareness campaign comprising advertising and below the line activities to build the category further and spur demand. The company will also partner with additional OEMs, content partners, and other companies in the digital entertainment industry to catalyze the growth of this segment. Currently Windows XP Media Center PCs from HP, HCL and Sahara are available at more than 300 reseller outlets across 30 cities in the country

Sourced From : Text 100 Public Relations Consultancy