Microsoft Works on Xbox TV Service
Guess what. Soon, you won’t even need that cable box of yours. All you will ever need for anything is your Xbox. That’s Microsoft’s policy and they are sticking to it.
According to Reuters, Microsoft is apparently working an a cable-like online subscription service for the Xbox 360. Because the Xbox is already capable of sending signals to a TV in HD, this service would basically be a replacement for HDTV.
Many analysts believe that this is a move to combat the release of Google TV. For those of you who don’t know, Google TV is a service that integrates the web and your TV service on any internet ready television. Specifically, the service is supported by Sony, creators of the Playstation 3, and it advertises an unprecedented amount of connectivity between television, computer, phone, and gaming console. However, Google TV only offers a way to hook up many electronic devices. Microsoft’s plan is to make the Xbox the only electronic device you need.
The Xbox can already browse the web, get Netflix, and interface with Windows-based phones. With the Xbox TV service, which will come as a slight extra fee tacked on to Xbox live, you can use your Xbox to watch television without even switching inputs. According to Reuters, Microsoft wants its TV service to either A, compete with major cable companies by offering more channels at a cheaper rate or B, interface the Xbox directly and your existing cable company. This of course would also interface with all Xbox peripherals, including the Kinect, which should allow you to control your TV watching with gesture based commands and voice recognition. It is unknown if Microsoft is working on a phone-to-TV interface, such as Google TV is offering.
The cost for supplying this service is actually very little on Microsoft’s end, which would translate into low fees on the consumer end as well. An Xbox can already stream media from your computer, get Netflix, browse the web, play games, act as a social hub for facebook, myspace, twitter, and other social networking sites, and much much more. It is faster and has more capabilities than even the most advanced cable box or DVR, and adding the ability to record programs and rewind live TV is actually only a software concern. In essence, you could get all of your media in one box, your Xbox.
However, there is apparently a worry that this will undermine the current cable TV industry. Currently, networks receive money from TV services who are paying to offer their channel in their plans and advertisers who are paying to get their ad shown on that particular channel. Despite the fear that digital TV offerings will reduce networks’ revenue streams, the competition is looked at as favorable to both the networks and consumers alike. Reuters quotes one anonymous senior media executive that plans to charge more for interactive advertising. He also said that it is probably possible to work with digital TV distributors like Microsoft to still make money comparable to the current dual revenue stream, or more.
Many consoles can already stream downloaded media to whatever TV they are hooked up to, but this is one of the first instances of a fully functional TV service being offered via a video game console. Supposedly, the service won’t be available for another year or so, but come that time we should all be able to watch HDTV with controller in hand.
The only problem that we can foresee, is what happens when consoles get an upgrade? For example, let’s say Microsoft comes out with the Xbox 720. Will that also offer the same paid TV subscription service, or will you have to buy a totally new plan?
(25 votes, average: 2.80 out of 4)
Post a Comment to Microsoft Works on Xbox TV Service