Microsoft is in the early stages of planning a televisions service that can be accessed through devices like its Xbox 360 gaming console. The company has been holding talks with various networks for a service that could end up being like virtual cable or a la carte cable. According to Reuters:
Microsoft Corp has held talks with media companies to license TV networks for a new online pay-television subscription service through devices such as its Xbox video game console, two people familiar with the plans told Reuters.
Microsoft is also exploring the possibility of creating content silos and selling more individual channels directly such as an HBO or Showtime. It already has Walt Disney Co’s ESPN on the Xbox Live online service for example.
This could develop into something huge and game changing. Cable and satellite companies are crap, requiring customers to buy packages containing dozens of channels, most of which are unwanted. If Microsoft sells individualchannels — particularly premium ones like HBO — through Xbox 360 and its future consoles, I’d drop my cable service in a heartbeat. Being able to pick the channels you want would be brilliant.
Integrating the television service with Windows Phone 7 would be tremendous. Microsoft’s mobile operating system will have a difficult time catching up to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Offering premium television through Windows Phone 7 would make the battle easier.
While the service appears to be a year away — if it happens at all — it has a ton of potential. I will dream about features like a la carte channel selection and streaming HBO boxing on a phone, but I fully expect the networks to give the bare minimum.
What do you think of a potential Microsoft television service? What would you want it to have?
This was the next logical step. Frankly, I want my Giants games, the cable news channels, Comedy Central, and the cooking channels for my wife. Otherwise, I'm paying for a whole lot of crap I don't watch.
I wouldn't call dealing with cable networks logical. It's will take a ton of work an negotiations to make this thing fly. I'm hoping…but I won't expect too much. Cable companies still have way too much stroke.
By "logical" I meant streaming television service through the consoles. Frankly, I see this as the first step to a "do it all" system that includes on demand gaming.
It makes sense on paper, but I question if it will be worth the headache. The good news is that Microsoft has shown that it's willing to throw hundreds of millions of dollars at a problem and take initial massive losses in order to get something started.
A la carte would be nice, however the broadcasters are a huge roadblock.
Perhaps subscription based apps will unjam this some. I'd pay for HBO on my ipad so as long as it isn't airplay blocked.
The play would be to offer a small amount of networks — under 30 — favorable terms. If that happened, which ones would you want? Off the top of my head I'd like USA, Comedy Central, HBO, MSNBC, Fox News, Showtime, ESPN, and YES.
Local HD (free OTA anyway), NFLN, Redzone, ESPN,NBATV, and TNT for basketball.
I'll watch other things via Netflix. No ads.
I'd want the local channels too.
I would be interested in a la carte channels. there are a whole bunch of channels i don't watch. i think of the 200 or so channels we have i use on demand the most followed by 20 or so channels. the only thing i'll keep HBO for is the boxing. i'll be done with HBO series after next week, Boardwalk Empire is awesome.
Has Boardwalk Empire started again?? I have been waiting for that, but have only really seen that the first episode is the only one listed. Of course I haven't been looking too hard recently.
@BSU
haha, it's been going since sept. the season finale is next Sunday!
@Tokz
haha well I stopped looking for it in about August, so I guess I will have to check warrez-bb again for episode downloads.
I'd prefer a service similar to what Netflix offers. Pick what you want to watch when you want to watch it. They would have to offer more of course, but that can be done by offering new episodes of shows when they air. Not that I watch anything other than anime now a days anyway.
Don't forget AMC, I need my Walking Dead fix, unless they cancel it then F them.
@irontoes
AMC is becoming one of my 20 channels to watch. Breaking Bad is also good. I also watched it all day on Thanksgiving; they had the Godfather 1 & 2 running all day. I love those movies!
I hear good things about that show, wish I caught it from the beginning. I have a weird problem, if I miss the first few episodes of a new show I almost certainly will not watch it ever. Unless its on Netflix!
You should catch up on Netflix if you get discs in the mail. it's a great show.
I actually didn't get into Entourage until season five or six. I promptly…uh…borrowed the other seasons. It's now one of my favorite shows.
i can't get into entourage to save my life. I guess some shows aren't for me, like Jersey Shore, i can't watch that dribble either.
@Ray
I've wanted to watch Entourage, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Didn't you say you knew the guy that the show was based on or something like that??
Mark Wahlberg? Definitely do not know him. I would hit him up for a loan if I did. Ha!
I was thinking you mentioned someone other than Wahlberg before that you knew who had a character based off of them on the show, I don't remember when this was though so I could just be going crazy and remembering something that was never said.
@irontoes Btw, do you remember Jane Poon…and her sister Tam? Ha!
Damn, that was some funny stuff. Things were more fun when there were like 500 PC manufacturers.
I remember wanting a Robotech computer, just because of the name.
My favorite was when you replied to Jeff (I think that was his name) when he asked us if we had any "little baggies". Remember your reponse?
LOL, I remember that but not my exact reply.
comedy central
espn
tlc
discovery
msnbc
my gf would need about 5 more