NetShow

{{Short description|Internet network broadcasting framework}}

NetShow was Microsoft's original framework for Internet network broadcasting, intended to compete with RealNetworks RealMedia & Vivo (acquired in 1998 by RealNetworks).{{cite web|url=http://www.serverwatch.com/stypes/servers/index.php/15983|title=Microsoft Netshow Server|publisher=ServerWatch|date=December 30, 1999|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910142145/http://www.serverwatch.com/stypes/servers/index.php/15983|archive-date=September 10, 2012}} It was later renamed and marketed under the Windows Media umbrella.

NetShow 1.0 came out in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/2618.asp|title=The Evolution of Rich Media|date=January 17, 2004|first=Russell|last=Shaw|publisher=iMedia}} A newer version, 2.0, was included in Windows NT 4.0 SP3 in 1997.{{cite web|url=https://news.microsoft.com/1997/03/10/microsoft-announces-immediate-availability-of-netshow-2-0-beta-brings-multimedia-broadcast-and-communication-to-the-internet-and-intranets/#sm.000zu2lv414cme1ww291my6tvzk8f|title=Microsoft Announces Immediate Availability of NetShow 2.0 Beta; Brings Multimedia Broadcast and Communication To the Internet and Intranets|date=March 10, 1997|work=News Center|publisher=Microsoft}} Version 3.0 came out mid-1998. The whole product line was renamed Windows Media in October, 1999, four months before Windows 2000 appeared.

The NetShow name is still carried on in the user-agent string in current versions of Windows Media Player, which reports as "NSPlayer".