MUMABI: MSN TV - the TV arm of Microsoft has partnered with video-on demand service CinemaNow to stream films from the web to the television.

MSN TV had introduced the set-top box MSN TV 2 in October 2004, which fuses web access with TV viewing for dial-up and broadband users.

This new service is expected to be made available to MSN TV 2 subscribers by spring 2005 as part of a free automatic upgrade. This would include support for Microsoft windows media 10 Digital Rights Management technology to ensure that customers can play windows media-protected content.

Microsoft MSN TV general manager Sam Klepper said, “We know people prefer to watch movies and videos in the comfort of their living rooms rather than being tied to their computer screens.”

The MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player enables broadband home-networked subscribers to the MSN TV service to receive digital video, music and photo files on the television through a home network, and also provides e-mail and Internet access via a TV set.

CinemaNow plans to tap the MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player's video streaming capabilities to deliver windows media-compatible movies and television programming from the Internet to consumers' television sets.

CinemaNow provides authorized downloading and streaming of feature films via the Internet with content partners including major distributors such as 20th Century Fox, Disney, MGM, Miramax, Sony and Warner Bros.