The Money Programme • Coming to Your Screen • Microsoft's New Vista • BBC2

This BBC "Money Programme" episode documents the high-stakes launch of Microsoft Windows Vista, offering behind-the-scenes access to the company’s marketing, development, and executive strategy. It explores the scale of Vista’s rollout, the internal pressures at Microsoft, and the cultural moment surrounding its release.

Highlights

[00:00:09] *Vista’s Global Launch Begins*
The episode opens at the Vista launch event in London, with Bill Gates attending.
Vista is described as one of Microsoft’s most expensive and ambitious products, costing $10 billion to develop.

[00:01:30] *Inside Microsoft’s UK Team*
Cynthia Crossley leads the UK Windows business and prepares for the launch.
Her team strategizes how to make Vista’s complex features relatable to everyday users.

[00:04:08] *Design and User Experience Challenges*
Jenny Lam’s visual design team refines the new Start button and interface.
The team balances innovation with user familiarity, removing the word “Start” to improve intuitiveness.

[00:06:02] *Leadership Transition and Legacy*
Bill Gates announces a two-year transition plan to step down from daily operations.
Steve Ballmer prepares to take on Gates’s technical responsibilities amid rising competition from Google.

[00:13:00] *Marketing Push: The “Wow” Campaign*
Mike Sievert and UK teams develop the “Wow” branding to evoke excitement.
Retailers and agencies brainstorm immersive demos and prize campaigns to drive engagement.

[00:22:00] *Final Launch and Public Reaction*
Vista launches globally on January 30, 2007, with events from London to the Great Wall of China.
Despite fanfare, some consumers balk at upgrade costs and question Vista’s improvements over XP.