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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

Press Freedom

I visited MSNBC last year (I think) to be interviewed and was surprised to discover that to reach it I had to go onto the Microsoft Redmond campus and check in at a normal Microsoft reception desk - that was the first hint I had that there may be more oversight than just ownership involved. A recent development confirms that MSNBC can't be considered in any way independent.

While it's not editorial control that's being exercised, MSNBC.Com has decided that non-Windows users are no longer welcome on its site - their technical help tells you that "MSNBC video is unable to support the Macintosh or other operation systems (sic)." Now, Windows Media 9 actually plays just fine on my Mac (as does Real and Quicktime) and I have no problems with other sites like the BBC, so all I can assume is that MSNBC is being used as another weapon in the fight to protect the Windows monopoly.

posted at 5:13 AM (UK) | |