Xbox Live Move Closer To TV Content Deals
After a recent announcement of their intention to move further into the online TV market on their Xbox Live gaming service, Microsoft are thought to be edging towards signing some official deals to bolster their range of content.
Leading this pack of reported pay-TV and subscription-based content (including movies and TV shows) is thought to be European movie rental and online streaming service LoveFilm, which currently operates in the British Isles, Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Sweden in a similar business model to American market giant Netflix, but owned by online shopping service Amazon.
Reports from business news company Bloomberg has claimed that Microsoft are in negotiations with no fewer than 20 different providers to become sources for TV series, movies, sports, and music for users of the subscription gaming platform in Europe and North America. These plans that were confirmed by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer a few weeks ago (at the time quoted as up to ’hundreds’ of potential candidates) as the company intends to develop their Xbox 360 games console into a more all-round entertainment hub, with plans to start by launching ‘Xbox Live TV’.
The move with LoveFilm will be one aimed primarily at the market in the countries that it already has a presence in, but that seems to be the only potential deal reported that has a focus on European users. Bloomberg’s reports suggest that Microsoft’s other upcoming content deals may include HBO, Time Warner, Sony Pictures, and NBC Universal, with the selection of TV networks and movie studios giving an indication of the range that Microsoft want for their new service, adding to existing deals with Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, and Sky (British Isles).
With a suggested potential audience of 35 million Xbox Live ‘Gold’ subscribers around the world, there is a big audience range for a committed ’Xbox Live TV’ service to tap into, but will they be able to successfuly become a big name in online streaming, or at least move ahead of their games console rivals?
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