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In conjunction with the hotly anticipated holiday release Xbox 360, Microsoft announced an agreement with Cable Television Labratories, Inc. (CableLabs) that will pipe high definition digital cable programming through Windows Media Center-based PC's without the need for a set-top box add-on.

The Media Center PC's are capable of supporting a CableCARD module, allowing consumers access to one-way high-definition cable programming throughout the home on compliant network-connected devices like the Xbox 360.

"This agreement is an important milestone for our customers who want access to high-definition digital cable content on their PCs and a major step toward enabling a solution for the delivery of that content," said Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president of the Windows eHome Division at Microsoft.

The OpenCable architecture allows for multiple digital rights management (DRM) systems to be used in the device and ensures content providers of protected delivery of content to the PC. Microsoft(R) Windows Media Digital Rights Management is the first major DRM system to complete the due diligence necessary for approval by CableLabs.

CableLabs will host interoperability events to enable vendors working on products based on these specifications to test products in CableLabs facilities and conduct more formalized certification testing.