Apple continues to innovate their 2013 product line, including Apple TV. Microsoft has officially announced that they are discontinuing their MSN TV service, formally WebTV. In this round, at least, Apple can claim itself the victor.
Microsoft has officially decided to end MSN TV. As of September 30, 2013, the tech giant is discontinuing once-popular service. The issued the following statement on their website:
“WebTV (later called MSN TV) started in 1996 with the goal to bring new people 'online' and to give those already online an easy, hassle-free means of accessing the internet from the comfort of their homes. Later, MSN TV 2 was released with vastly greater power and features. Since then, the web has continued to evolve at a breathtaking pace, and there are many new ways to access the internet. Accordingly, we have made the difficult decision to end the MSN TV service on September 30th, 2013. We are working with our customers to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible.”
Microsoft acquired the struggling WebTV in 1997, after it paid a cool $425 million for the company. WebTV were innovators in the mid-90’s, as the corporation was the first of its kind to widely offer internet services through a person’s television.
With other companies like Apple in the game, Microsoft watched helplessly as they lost their market penetration.
Apple, on the other hand, has succeeded through their countless innovations. According to a recent CNET report:
"Apple is reportedly near a deal with Time Warner Cable that would bring new a significant influx of new channels to the computer maker's set-top box, Apple TV, for subscribers of the cable television service. Last month, Apple TV lassoed Time Warner Inc.'s HBO GO and Disney's WatchESPN apps."
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