Microsoft Unveils the Sports Channel for Windows Media Center

Being in the UK I have not tested this yet but going live today is Microsoft’s new Sport Channel for Windows Media Center

Details from Microsoft, and how about a Sports app for the UK!

Going live today in time for the Men’s College Basketball Tournament later this month, the new “Sports Channel” for Windows Media Center offers a wide range of sports coverage from CBSSports.com, Fox Sports, MSNBC.com and more – all in one place. Coverage includes breaking sports news, interviews of your favorite players, the ability to track your fantasy sports teams, and more.

If you’re connected to the internet, simply launch Windows Media Center on a PC or laptop running Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, scroll down to Sports, and click on the Sports Channel tile.

With the Sports Channel’s “College Hoops” feature, stream coverage and highlights of the men’s College Basketball games in March and April with Windows Media Center. Providing options other than viewing the game live, here’s what you get:

· The ability to watch complete games in condensed form shortly after the live broadcast (condensed form means you get all the game action without timeouts, half time, ball retrieval, etc.)

o Watch the marquee games in the first two rounds, then all games after that including the championship game

· Game Highlights (1-2 min)

o Highlights from every tournament game (63 games total)

· Post Game Interviews (1-2 min)

o Post game interviews as available

· Buzzer Beaters (2-10 min)

o Last few minutes plus of select games with great finishes

This particular effort is the latest in a line of content investments and applications in Windows Media Center aimed at providing new and easier ways for people to find and access compelling content. The Sports Channel joins the NBC Olympics on the Go service and the MSNBC News beta (now out of beta) which both went live last year.