Prior rumors that Microsoft will offer pay television services through Comcast and Verizon appear to be true.
Respected news source Bloomberg reports that its sources have confirmed the upcoming services, saying that an announcement as early as next week.
In addition, Microsoft is expected to sign deals with HBO (as previously reported), Sony Picture Entertainment's Crackle streaming service, Bravo, Syfy, and Lovefilm UK, among the "almost two dozen" companies it has been talking to for content in the US and UK.
According to the sources, Comcast and Verizon's plans will be similar to that offered by AT&T's U-Verse service, in that customers will have to have an existing television cable account in order to access the content on the console.
Entertainment has been a primary focus for Microsoft's Xbox team this year, saying at E3 that 40 percent of all activity on the console is "non-game."
Game consoles have been a viable source of viewers for streaming services as well, with a recent report suggesting that half of Netflix's streaming users watch content on the devices.
"According to the sources, Comcast and Verizon's plans will be similar to that offered by AT&T's U-Verse service, in that customers will have to have an existing television cable account in order to access the content on the console."
Then what is the point of getting it over your Xbox if you already get it on your TV?
I currently watch all my tv through my Xbox. I have a cablecard so my PC acts as my DVR so I can record four shows at once with unlimited storage and not have to pay $15 a month for Comcast's DVR. The Media Center interface is also much nicer than the standard cable box. The only thing you can't do with Media Center and a cablecard is VOD. So I still have to have a cablebox and a monthly rental fee for the box I rarely use just for VOD. If this deal allows you access to Comcast's VOD content, I'll happily get rid of my cable box and go 100% Xbox. Why not just use the cable box for live tv? As I said, the Media Center interface is orders of magnitude better, plus it's nice being able to watch tv while still online waiting for friends to show up for online gaming.
I'm confused. Does that mean I'd have to subscribe to Cox (my local cable provider) in order to get Comcast over X-Box Live? Or that, because Cox IS my local cable provider, I can't get Comcast at all? If that's the case, seems pretty pointless...
You have to Comcast to get Comcast over Xbox Live.
If there is not a special deal it seems pretty pointless to me too because the only difference is your using your Xbox box instead of your cable box.
To me this seems like Comcast and Verizon trying to weasel ther way into markets it is not already in by using other internet providers cables, while still charging the same price as a normal TV subscription.
The simple reason I would use it is because I have an Xbox in a room without a cable box. They might also extend this service to their Windows 7.5+ phones to watch cable on the go...
I concur with Evan. The 360 will offer an entry into markets not available to them at present. It's a smart move and I think Microsoft is trying to position their console into that all powerful all accessible entertainment medium to tap as large and audience and life cycle as possible. I buy into the eventual death of the console and seeing moves like this only cement that thought. I'm neither for nor against it just yet, but I'm interested to see what happens.
I do think that Comcast and Verizon will have to come up with a unique and valued (at least appearing so) pricing structure for this deal though, cable rates aren't the same everywhere.
Then what is the point of getting it over your Xbox if you already get it on your TV?
That's exactly the point Mircosoft is trying to make?
Read between the lines in the article, and realize this is the first step to becoming a cable company (or entertainment provider) themselves.
If there is not a special deal it seems pretty pointless to me too because the only difference is your using your Xbox box instead of your cable box.
To me this seems like Comcast and Verizon trying to weasel ther way into markets it is not already in by using other internet providers cables, while still charging the same price as a normal TV subscription.
I do think that Comcast and Verizon will have to come up with a unique and valued (at least appearing so) pricing structure for this deal though, cable rates aren't the same everywhere.