Page 1 of 1

WebTV Similar to Prevue Interactive?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 3:04 pm
by kwest93
im wondering did anyone remember WebTV? it was later known as MSN TV. the system to make your TV use the internet while you watch tv.

theme song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpIm8BNe8-o

WebTV Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-sVbegq ... re=related

WebTV Plus Commercial from 1996-98
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0YblbVNPKw

the way it worked used dial-up but it even had a TV Guide there as well. what do you think?

Re: WebTV Similar to Prevue Interactive?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:11 pm
by AriX
Kind of interesting, actually - these people may have been some of the first to deploy an interactive program guide. I love how the revolutionary the commercial makes it sound: "you can see what you're watching, EVEN during a commercial break!". I wonder if there was any relationship with Prevue/UVSG/Gemstar at the time - there probably was, since the latter companies basically owned all of the patents in the space.

The interactive TV concepts are pretty cool as well.

Re: WebTV Similar to Prevue Interactive?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:43 pm
by kwest93
AriX wrote:Kind of interesting, actually - these people may have been some of the first to deploy an interactive program guide. I love how the revolutionary the commercial makes it sound: "you can see what you're watching, EVEN during a commercial break!". I wonder if there was any relationship with Prevue/UVSG/Gemstar at the time - there probably was, since the latter companies basically owned all of the patents in the space.

The interactive TV concepts are pretty cool as well.
well they did partnership with alot of brands and Dish Network. so i bet it was used for competition with Prevue and Directv.

Re: WebTV Similar to Prevue Interactive?

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:10 pm
by joseph_sobora
kwest93 wrote:im wondering did anyone remember WebTV? it was later known as MSN TV. the system to make your TV use the internet while you watch tv.

theme song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpIm8BNe8-o

WebTV Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-sVbegq ... re=related

WebTV Plus Commercial from 1996-98
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0YblbVNPKw

the way it worked used dial-up but it even had a TV Guide there as well. what do you think?
I remember in the mid to late 90s, WebTv and MSN TV was new and it was available at all electronic stores like Circuit City, Best Buy.etc. It's kinda like how Sega started their own internet access for Sega Saturn and Dreamcast in the 90s.

Re: WebTV Similar to Prevue Interactive?

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:09 pm
by kwest93
joseph_sobora wrote:
kwest93 wrote:im wondering did anyone remember WebTV? it was later known as MSN TV. the system to make your TV use the internet while you watch tv.

theme song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpIm8BNe8-o

WebTV Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-sVbegq ... re=related

WebTV Plus Commercial from 1996-98
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0YblbVNPKw

the way it worked used dial-up but it even had a TV Guide there as well. what do you think?
I remember in the mid to late 90s, WebTv and MSN TV was new and it was available at all electronic stores like Circuit City, Best Buy.etc. It's kinda like how Sega started their own internet access for Sega Saturn and Dreamcast in the 90s.
yeah then everyone else started the whole Internet On TV mess:

PlayStation 2 (2002-2007)
PlayStation 3 (Flash Version 9)
Nintendo Wii Opera Browser (Flash Version 9)

Now there's Google TV. a Box Just Like WebTV but with a more modern Interface we use Today.

Re: WebTV Similar to Prevue Interactive?

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:45 pm
by AriX
kwest93 wrote:Now there's Google TV. a Box Just Like WebTV but with a more modern Interface we use Today.
Google TV really isn't very similar to WebTV... All of the technologies are very different, and the purpose is very different (WebTV brings the web to your TV... Google TV brings Internet video to your TV.)

Re: WebTV Similar to Prevue Interactive?

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:28 pm
by kwest93
AriX wrote:
kwest93 wrote:Now there's Google TV. a Box Just Like WebTV but with a more modern Interface we use Today.
Google TV really isn't very similar to WebTV... All of the technologies are very different, and the purpose is very different (WebTV brings the web to your TV... Google TV brings Internet video to your TV.)

oh yeah that's right. but it does have chrome on it.