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.
