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Microsoft talking with Verizon and Comcast for Live TV features coming to Xbox
Ricardo Trejo
Back at E3 we got our first look at what the next iteration of Xbox Live would look like this fall — live tiles and all. And what really excited a number of people was the announcement of a Live TV feature heading to the console. While yes, we have Hulu and Netflix taking care of our entertainment needs, sometimes we just want to catch the local news or simply catch a game in progress that isn’t supported by the ESPN Xbox channel. Details about the upcoming feature have been next to none… until now.
Digiday is reporting that Microsoft has been in deep talks with Verizon and Comcast about plans to work together in bringing television to the masses via the Xbox 360:
While details are still emerging, the talk is that consumers could subscribe to Comcast or Fios TV packages directly through their Xboxes, without the need to install a set-top box. And given that most Xboxes are Web-connected, the partnership could result in a more sophisticated programming guide and other bells and whistles, such as better targeted advertising. The partnership may even incorporate the technology from Kinect, Xbox’s wildly popular gesture-based gaming platform.
According to Digiday sources, the deal with the two cable giants is really close and a smart one too. Microsoft doesn’t seem to be one who wants to disrupt the way the world functions, but rather become a gear in the overall machine of television broadcasting.
The story also went on to mention that Microsoft could also be in backrooms with tv manufacturers like Samsung to implement Windows software for easy connectivity to Xbox and its services.
“They are in a very good place right now,” said Dario Raciti, director of Zero Code, OMD’s gaming division. “If there is a time to expand Xbox, it is now.”
Streaming content has been the mortal enemy of television as it takes away the power of neilson ratings, as well as traditional tv advertising, however it appears that the Xbox may not be the harbinger of death afterall — instead choosing to work alongside the cable menace — becoming the new set-top box of the future.
