Some have been asking for me to post more on the new Online Spotlight Services going into Media Center. Microsoft keeps a page with a list here, however it currently only shows launch partners, though the team is working to update.

What is Online Spotlight?
Put simply, Online Spotlight (or called internally, "OnSpot") is a feature in Windows XP Media Center Edition which enables you to tap into a broad range of entertainment and information services that add new features to Media Center, all with a remote control. Imagine having the ability to watch 1,500 films and music videos on demand or download from over 1.5 million songs using just a remote control. Online Spotlight lets you browse through both free and fee-based services online.  I've taken a screenshot which you can see here on the right which shows the Online Spotlight Showcase.

As you can see there are multiple categories including Music & Radio, TV & Movies, News & Sports etc. Even downloadable applications (such as Sonic Primetime or ArcSoft QuickDVD) can be found here.

The beauty of Media Center is any service can build for Media Center using traditional Web tools such as DHTML, scripting, and Web services. CharlieO talks about this regularly in his blog as he tests most of the services.  In Media Center 2005, OnSpot also adds support for Media Center Extender devices, meaning the services you see here can be used on your Media Center PC, or on any TV with a set-top box with Extender technology, or any Xbox with the Media Center Extender Kit for Xbox.

Media Center Services at CES
So without further delay, here is a brief rundown on new services launched at CES, plus a sneak preview of Yahoo's upcoming service in Media Center:

Discovery Networks Interactive Guide
Status: Coming Soon (next 30 days)
Cost: Free

Discovery Networks, parent of the Discovery Channel, TLC, and a host of others has almost finished its next-generation MCE guide which enables you to quickly find large-production specials, regular series and more.  It's an innovative approach which makes it easier to find specials what's on than traditional Program Guides unless you're "surfing". You can view a lineup, preview episodes or watch extra bonus footage streamed in Windows Media. The guide also enables you to customize and auto-tune to the TV stations you get as your browsing the guide, and set Media Center to record shows automatically. We showed the Discovery Guide in the BillG CES Keynote and expect it will go live in the next 30 days.

Fox Sports Net Virtual Coach
Status: Coming Soon (next 30 days)
Cost: Free

Back when I used to be single, a popular diversion in the sports bars and pubs were interactive games you could play during sporting events.  You'd watch the game and with a little wireless box, you'd try to guess the plays beforehand and earn points playing against othersin the bar or online. Fox Sports Interactive Media is bringing the same concept to your Media Center PC.  You'll be able to play "Virtual Coach" as you watch sporting events such as American football live on TV, and compete against others- all for fun.  Personally, I'm really excited about this one as it brings a whole new level of competition to the couch. ;)

KMS Software World Trivia 1.0
Status: Released
Cost: Free Trial, $19.95 USD for full version

While we're on the topic of games and trivia, KMS Software's recently releaed World Trivia is the first in what I expect to be a growing category of family and/or remote-control friendly games for Media Center (hello, Trivial Pursuit?). KMS is hard at work on a number of personal productivity applications. The questions asked are decidedly international and should have a wide appeal with US/North American and UK/European question sets. The UI is slick and a large database of over 5000 questions is sure to keep you going over and over again.  My only wish was that it had a sarcastic host and wacky rounds like in the 90's popular, "You Don't Know Jack" games.

KMS Software Contacts v1.0 
Status: Released
Cost: Free Trial, $19.95 USD for full version

KMS Software is at it again, this time with a new Contacts application for Media Center.  If you have a Media Center setup like my own, the family room Media Center and kitchen phone near by.  Sure, you can use the old family contacts spreadsheet taped up inside the cabinet.  Or with Contacts 1.0 you can use the Media Center to quickly pull up phone numbers for the doctor, the plumber, or the garage door specialist. What's more, you can append pictures of folks into your contacts.  Importing is pretty easy overall, with support for import from Outlook. I only wish they had a Print option for making a nice contact sheet for when it's time to call the power company ;). Keep watching KMS for more.

titanTV Big Screen Program Guide
Status: Released
Cost: Free (signup required)

titanTV, best known to the HD-set as one of the first online EPGs to offer accurate notification of which programs are being broadcast in true HDTV.  The titanTV EPG provides for immediate notification of which programs are in HD, full listings of Over-The-Air primary and secondary digital channels, and extra customization features such as the ability to adjust how many channels and hours are displayed by default in the EPG view.

Another nice feature is the ability to set programs to record directly from their OnSpot service, again using the new SetToRecord feature in the Media Center 2005 SDK.

XM Satellite Radio Online
Status: Released
Cost: 3-day Trial, $3.99/mo for existing subcscribers, $7.99/mo for Internet-only

XM jumped into the online business back in October, launching their service in Windows Media Player 10's Digital Media Mall. XM has just launched a Media Center version with access to 75 XM channels- all 100% commerical free, including a station for popular decades, a bunch of pop, comedy and kids programming, and Opie and Anthony in the morning.  Bit rates are pretty good- 32kbps for low and 65kbps for high-quality. I like channel 27- "CineMagic," which plays soundtracks from movies. For some reason, satellite radio never really appealed to me until I started playing with the free trial for XM Online. Now I'm reconsidering.

Yahoo! TV
Status: Coming Soon (Q1 2005)
Price: Unknown

Remember back when Yahoo! bought Broadcast.com?  Many thought it was a risky move. Well, it looks like they're about to bridge the gap between your TV and your PC in a big way with their new broadband service for Media Center. The new service will tap into their content library providing exclusive content, previews, interviews, and more. While I don't have a ton of details at this time, they were demonstrating their new service in the Microsoft booth at CES and received kudos for their ease of use and broad range of content which they're planning to bring to Media Center users.  I would suspect that they will require some sort of login/signup but no news on fees, if any.

Let's see, that makes digital media powerhouses ABC, AOL, Discovery, ESPN, Reuters, MSN, NPR, XM Radio, and Yahoo all building for Media Center for online entertainment in the past 12 months, and those are just the ones I can discuss right now.  I'll be sure to point out additional services as they become available and/or public.