Windows Vista Media Center TV Pack 2008 (Fiji) – no BBC/ITV HD yet…

Windows Vista Media Center TV Pack 2008 (Fiji) – no BBC/ITV HD yet…

Last Month According to, arstechnica.com the much rumored Fiji update has been named Windows Vista Media Center TV Pack 2008 and has gone RTM (Release To Manufacture).

VMC TV Pack 2008 (Fiji) is an update to the current Media Center on Vista aka “Media Center Edition +1″. However from reports on The Green Button Community, it appears that this update is only available via OEMs and it requires a re-install of the OS before you can install it! There was speculation that this may be offered as one of the Windows Vista Ultimate Extras, but this still remains unconfirmed.

According to arstechnia.com some possible features of the TV pack include:

Microsoft has been very quiet about Fiji, which is expected to be available for editions of Vista that include Windows Media Center. According to leaked screenshots, the software giant has included a built-in updating engine dubbed “Windows Media Center Update.” The final version is also supposed to include new HD recording preferences, better ability to control the tuners, and the replacement of DVR-MS with WTV.

Microsoft disappointed Fiji testers when it revealed that planned DirecTV support would not be in the product. It is unclear if support for DirecTV will come in Vista SP2 (unlikely) or in Windows 7. While Fiji has RTM and will arrive on new OEM machines, it is also not clear when the new build will be released publicly.

In addition to this it has been said (but not confirmed ) that BBC and ITV HD are NOT supported (no HD for UK free-sat) which is a big blow to me and all the other UK users!!! Freesat HD in Vista *SHOULD* be supported by now…

Similarly the inclusion of Messenger (like there was on Windows Media Center 2005) is not confirmed, but i hope that it is included…messenger in media center was a handy feature, however i believe there already is a messenger plug in for Windows Vista Media Center.

Until the Windows Vista Media Center TV Pack 2008 is officially released, there is only speculation to what is actually included in the new version of media center…as is the cost Microsoft are charging us for this privileged…i wunder how the Open Source offerings compare now…its just the lack of support for BBC ITV HD Freesat is a major bummer!