Showtime to offer Vista-friendly videos

TV network Showtime today announced that it would debut its own direct-download store. The service will enable viewers purchase permanent copies of episodes from the channel's current programming -- such as Sleeper Cell and Weeds -- for playback on a home computer or a portable media player such as Creative's Zen Vision:W. The network store is one of the first designed with Windows Vista in mind, according to the company's partner ExtendMedia: videos bought through the store will remain accessible through Microsoft's Media Center interface found in the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of the new operating system, according to Electronista. The company has yet to release pricing information, but plans to reveal full details at next week's CES expo in Las Vegas with an anticipated launch in late January.

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Other story tags: digital music/video