 | |
 Homepage | |
Type of site | Video hosting,podcasting |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Created by | Microsoft |
| URL | channel9.msdn.com (Archived) |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | April, 2004 |
| Current status | Inactive |
Channel 9 was aMicrosoft website for hosting videos and podcasts created by employees of Microsoft.[1]
Launched in 2004 when Microsoft's corporate reputation was at a low,[2] Channel 9 was the company's firstblog. It was named after theUnited Airlines audio channel that lets airplane passengers listen to the cockpit's conversations unhindered; the site published conversations among Microsoft developers, rather than its chairmanBill Gates, who had historically been the "face" of Microsoft.[2] This made it an inexpensive alternative to Microsoft'sProfessional Developers Conference, then the main public platform where customers and outside developers could speak to Microsoft employees without the intervention of the company'sPR department.[3] The Channel 9 team produced interviews withBill Gates,Erik Meijer, andMark Russinovich.[citation needed]
On November 5, 2021, it was announced thatMicrosoft would merge Channel 9 intoMicrosoft Learn.[4] The move was completed on December 1, effectively rendering the original site defunct. However, past videos from the former site can still be seen there.[5]
Channel 9, however, was not a community website and did not host any content made by the community.[1] That had not always been the case. The site once hosted discussion forums,[6] as well as awiki based on Microsoft's ownFlexWiki. The wiki had been used to providead hoc feedback to Microsoft teams, such as theInternet Explorer team.[7]
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