WebTV was developed by the company Diba Inc in collaboration with Zenith electronics. This initial model had a modem and microprocessor built in to the television set. This new technology allowed you to surf the internet on your television, by using a remote control. The companies Sony and Phillips later released a WebTV unit that was sold separately from the television set.
The WebTV network was bought by Microsoft the following year(1997). One added feature of WebTV is that it allows the user to pause a live broadcast or replay any portions of it. WebTV technology now consists of a unit known as a "set-top" box which integrates the use of TV and internet. Then you must pay a monthly fee in order to use the internet. The WebTV box costs under $100.