Associated Press
January 24, 2000
Microsoft takes minority stake in Internet video company
REDMOND, Wash. (AP) Microsoft Corp. is taking a $56 million
minority stake in Intertainer Inc., a company that streams video on
demand through high-speed Internet connections.
Microsoft will receive four seats on Intertainer's board,
joining investors that include NBC, U S West and Comcast. Other
terms were not disclosed.
Last June Intertainer announced that it would support
Microsoft's TV platform initiative, which the software giant hopes
will create a Microsoft-based standard for interactive television.
``We have worked with Microsoft for months to port our content
over to their television platform,'' said Jonathan Taplin,
president and co-chief executive of Intertainer. ``We believe this
is a natural fit for our two companies.
The Culver City, Calif.-based Intertainer has more than 50,000
programs available to Internet users via high-speed Internet links
such as digital subscriber lines or cable lines. The privately held
company's videos can be accessed via personal computer or set-top
boxes.
For its part, the Redmond-based Microsoft receives a showcase of
its television platform and additional interactive content for its
own set-top boxes.