Hi hc4361,
I am a bit confused, I thought WMP was free anyway? If you meant WMC well done for being able to get it for free at the right time!
I did have to buy a new card as my six-year-old Black Gold TV card wouldn't fit my new computer,only to find that the replacement needed Windows Media Centre to work! (The card offered software and also stated that it worked with Windows Media Centre. It should have said 'only' works with...), So I had to buy that too.
The bundled software was a bit rubbish and I gave Media Portal a try, thank you, but it's a bit too 'flashy' for me (Same as WMC in my opinion) so I've settled for DVB Dream, but if you're saying Media Portal can replace WMC for free, it looks like I've lost out again! :(