Microsoft has launched a beta of its Windows Media Center Internet TV platform. Microsoft's Internet TV initiative was first hyped for the Xbox 360 platform, but it will first show up on Windows Vista machines.
Owners of Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate will be able to access free ad-supported TV content without the need for a hardware TV tuner. Over 100 hours of programming will initially be available during the beta phase including episodes of "Arrested Development" along with music concerts by John Mayer and Snoop Dogg.
Vista users will also have access to news clips from MSNBC and sports highlights from FOX Sports.
Owners of Microsoft's Xbox 360 will be happy to know that their consoles can be used as Windows Media Extenders to view the same content available on Windows Vista.
Microsoft also announced that Linksys, D-Link and HP Windows Media Center Extenders would be capable of streaming Internet TV content to high-definition TVs.