<html>
<title>table test!</title>
<style>
  .bgFtr
    {
       Alpha(style=1,opacity=25,finishOpacity=100,startX=100,finishX=0,startY=1--,finishY=0);
       background-color:red;
    }
</style>
<body>
<table style="width:500px; backgroud-color:black">
 <tr>
    <td class=".bgFir" collspan="3">
        just a test!
    </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td></td>
    <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td></td>
    <td></td>
 </tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>