Innovative new technology will bring new cable TV services to Windows Media Center-enabled PCs, powering secure, whole-home distribution of premium TV programming

Ceton Corp., a Seattle-area technology company, today announced the development of the next-generation Ceton cable TV card for Windows Media Center-enabled PCs. PCs incorporating the Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card will be able to natively support high-definition pay TV including premium cable TV channels, without the need for a separate cable set-top box, including playing or recording up to six simultaneous high-definition TV channels using a single multi-stream CableCARD™ and single RF connection.

The Ceton solution also enables standard- and high-definition cable programming to be securely distributed from a Media Center PC to multiple TVs throughout the home via Media Center Extenders while preserving the encryption and digital rights of the content. The Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card was developed using Microsoft Corp.'s broadcast TV platform capabilities in Windows Media Center and conforms to the CableLabs® OpenCable™ OCUR and DRI specifications.

"PCs running Windows Media Center are a great platform for enabling a wide variety of really useful whole-home entertainment options," said Gary Hammer, president and CEO of Ceton Corp. "The Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card for Windows Media Center-enabled PCs not only brings pay TV functionality of the set-top box inside the PC in an easy-to-set-up and very cost-effective way but it also enables unique capabilities such as whole-home distribution of premium HD TV content with up to six tuner support with a single multi-stream CableCARD."

"Microsoft is pleased to see Ceton deliver this new hardware solution built on the robust capabilities of Windows Media Center and its broadcast TV platform," said Geoff Robertson, General Manager of Windows Media Center for Microsoft. "Ceton's digital cable tuner will bring multi-stream pay TV services to Windows Media Center-enabled PCs and multiple connected Media Center Extenders."

The Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card for Windows Media Center-enabled PCs is expected to be available bundled with Windows Media Center-enabled PCs from leading manufacturers in 2009.