15 September 2008

We’ve removed a major roadblock by delivering one consistent platform for the industry

Geoff Robertson, general manager for Windows Media Center at Microsoft Microsoft has introduced a worldwide platform for broadcast TV on the PC called Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture (PBDA). Using the recently released Windows Media Center TV Pack, the new platform enables the PC-TV hardware ecosystem to integrate virtually any free or premium TV service into Windows Media Center.

The PBDA platform replaces the existing Broadcast Driver Architecture (BDA), which has been Microsoft’s standard for digital video capture on Windows operating systems for many years. The idea is that now PC OEMs and tuner-makers need not rely as heavily on Microsoft to specifically enable and support the ability to output broadcast services on a one-off basis. Instead they can develop and ship TV tuners for Windows Media Center to target a broader set of TV standards and markets.

“For the first time, we’re enabling those in the PC-TV community to build tuners and integrate almost any broadcast service into Windows Media Center themselves regardless of geographic location or television standard – we’ve removed a major roadblock by delivering one consistent platform for the industry,” said Geoff Robertson, general manager for Windows Media Center at Microsoft. “The tremendous response we’re already seeing for the platform means PC OEMs, broadcast service providers and tuner-makers can now collaborate and embrace the PC as a first-class citizen for delivering more high-quality free or pay content to consumers in their local markets.”

PBDA-based tuner solutions have already been launched in Germany and the UK, as well as AVerMedia’s tuner solution for protected digital terrestrial television in Japan.

“We are excited to be a launch partner for Microsoft’s PBDA platform,” said Allan Yang, president of AVerMedia. “PBDA has enabled us to quickly and cost-effectively bring to market A320, a PC-TV tuner solution for Windows Media Center that meets the Japanese broadcasting industry’s requirements for strong content protection. The resulting system performance delivers a surprisingly responsive user experience, and the response from our customers has been phenomenal.”