TV and powerpoint presentation running together on a Plasma screen

If running two windows won't work, you will need a special video card (which is probably expensive).  However, try Ultramon http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/ and see if it provides you with the features you want.

Callandor,

Why would I need a special video card, and how am I going to connect such a card up to a standard vga input that the plasma screen has?
What I am looking for is a software program which will show the output of the tv card and a program running on the desktop.
If you run a google search for "xp split screen" you get loads of stories about something microsoft was going to do with split screens but I can find no further information about it. That's why I though I'd ask some experts on here.
If microsoft is looking into it then you can bet someone out there sells a product that can do it as they must have copied someone else...
Often I have walked down the street and seen some dentist or bank with a big screen in the window with some football or baseball game running alongside a rolling presentation. This may or may not be a powerpoint presentation, but I knoe the two can run alongside each other someone.
I will check your link, thanks

It wasn't until you mentioned the displays at the bank or dentist that I connected what you are looking for.  I thought you were looking for a professional movie editing-type screen, but you're after something much simpler.   This product might be along the lines of your needs (it's free to try): http://wareseeker.com/Business-Finance/av-manager-display-system-single-versio-5.5.zip/5d7af77f1

callandor,

I had a read of the details of that product but it was not clear if I could do what I need to, I sent them an email and will let you know
If you have any other ideas let me know too

callandor,

unfortunately, that software cannot do what I require as well as being expensive at $800

Another user posted this question a while back but was unsucessful to despite someone sayiong the problem is easy to fix.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Multimedia_Programming/Video_Editing/Q_22631513.html?sfQueryTermInfo=1+screen+split

Consider Ultramon - this thread seems to address what you want to do, but you will need a script (provided in the thread): http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/forum/messages.asp?Topic=2741&tmpl=

Hi,
in refs to>What I am looking for is a software program which will show the output of the tv card<< as in TV on the desktpp with the PPT playing?
>> and a program running on the desktop.<<
I'm a little puzzled by the TV though<< please expand on that.
 do you want to run live TV on the desktop?
Which you can do with the TV card you have and have that transferred to the TV via clone mode? with the PPT playing alongside

If i understand you a simple workaround is to play the live TV in it's own PVR and the PPT in VLC, then on the TV you'll see the two screens<<
but that is NOT what you want because you wish to keep the tabs hidden?
refs to>>so just having two carefully sized window boxes with X and _ buttons in the corner won't do.<< use skin type media players that have no buttons or X,
To split a screen is actually using two video clips of the same format !!!!
 I've seen this in the Red Bull air races playback, they merged 2 clips side by side so that one played along side the other, Side by Side
example here done in flash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro3o-ld0CWw
3rd party tool
Video Screen Splitter, Video Split Screen, Video Wiper
http://www.colorado-video.com/screensplitters.html

VLC will play in skin mode and any stop play tabs dissappear during play. WMP also plays in skin mode
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_screen_(filmmaking)
I think what you're after may not be that simple or even possible playing two different formats
 one being TV and one being a PPT.