In tandem with announcements of US and European customers deploying solutions for the broadcast industry based on the Microsoft platform, delivering consumer experiences across PC, TV and mobile, Microsoft will showcase today the latest developments at the Microsoft exhibit in the Topaz Lounge, at the Amsterdam Rai Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Microsoft will showcase four solution areas and across 14 different partner demonstrations: digital content management, search and monetisation, media business management, and digital content experiences.

Microsoft senior director of the media and entertainment business in the communications sector Gabriele Di Piazza said, "Working with the organisations in the broadcast and entertainment world, we aim to deliver insights and innovations through technology, making content immersive and experiential for the consumer while also more easily managed and produced behind the scenes. Consumers can now access this new world of entertainment via the PC, through the TV or on a mobile device, a choice that allows them to enjoy content in a way they never have before."Demonstrations will highlight the growing number of customers including Tesco, Canal+, France 24, ESPN, NBC Sports, ProSieben, Sat 1 and TV2 that are using the Microsoft platform including Silverlight and Internet Information
Services (IIS) Media Services 3.0 to enable rich and compelling consumer experiences globally.

Microsoft will also preview the latest media feature developments planned for Microsoft Silverlight 4, including native multicast support and support for offline digital rights management (DRM) powered by Microsoft PlayReady technology.

The company claims that in three years, Microsoft Mediaroom has become the most deployed Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) software platform, according to data from Screen Digest,
and with nearly 4 million of the total estimated 24 million IPTV subscriber households worldwide. At the current growth rate, Microsoft expects Mediaroom households to pass the 4 million mark in October 2009.

Microsoft will also be showing a number of live Mediaroom services, giving visitors the opportunity to see how global operators are delivering TV experiences on the Mediaroom IPTV and multimedia

platform.

In the 12 months since IBC in September 2008, Microsoft has seen the number of Mediaroom subscriber households more than double from 1.5 million to almost 4 million, of which nearly 2 million are in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, the company said.