Tele-Communications Inc duly announced last week that it was to buy a 20% stake in Microsoft Corp’s forthcoming Microsoft Network, paying a whopping $125m for the privilege and valuing the unannounced service at $625m. The deal is not exclusive so other cable television operators will be able to offer the Microsoft Network access. The investment was made by Englewood, Colorado-based TCI Technology Ventures and the vehicle is Microsoft Online Services Partnership. The two are already bes’ friends, allied in the test of int eractive television servi ces in the Redmond area and they also have plans to develop a cable television channel covering computing.
