Microsoft Unveils Digital Broadcast Manager System

Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia) unveiled its new Digital Broadcast Manager, a product that makes it easy to manage and sell digital audio and video content.Over 25 content and application service providers (like House of Blues Digital, NASCAR, e-Media, iBEAM and NaviSite) have said they will adopt Microsoft's solution.

Today's announcement comes on the heels of other companies that are making media management and e-commerce systems for digital media content. The system allows users to track and sell content including per-viewstreamed video events (such as concerts and sporting events), pay-per-download music tracks and live webcasts.

"Digital Broadcast Manager delivers the first turnkey solution to unlockthe potential of digital media e-commerce," said Dave Fester, general managerof marketing in the Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "We're gratified bythe support of more than 25 content and application service providers thatjoin us today in pioneering the next wave of e-commerce on the Web."

Unlike other Microsoft tools, Digital Broadcast Manager has a price. It has an activation fee of $495 and a usage fee of $0.10 per transaction, billed monthly.