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Microsoft Exploring New Internet Video Push
New Xbox 360 options may include HBO, Showtime
Microsoft's already fairly well positioned for broadband video, thanks to their Xbox 360 game console -- which in addition to having a growing array of broadband video options (rentals, Netflix, PC-to-living room streaming, and soon Hulu) is now being used as an IPTV set top by AT&T and Telus. According to Reuters, Microsoft's now also in talks with media companies over licensing for a subscription TV service that would most likely be delivered over the Xbox 360. Reuters says several options are being discussed:
quote:
The maker of the Windows operating system has proposed a range of possibilities in these early talks including creating a "virtual cable operator" delivered over the Internet for which users pay a monthly fee. Other options include using the Xbox to authenticate existing cable subscribers to watch shows with enhanced interactivity similar to how pay TV operators have sought to do over the Web, said these people. Microsoft is also exploring the possibility of creating content silos and selling more individual channels directly such as an HBO or Showtime.
However, as is usually the case, the cable and broadcast industry's fear of cannibalizing traditional cable service could result in sub-par offerings. The most common tactic so far (used by the cable industry's TV Anywhere platform(s) and services like HBO Go) is to only allow consumers with cable subscriptions to access Internet video content. Apple previously tried to cook up a subscription cable service, but restrictive licensing instead produced a rather droll Apple TV pricing model instead.
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zipjay
join:2003-03-11
South Williamson, KY

zipjay

Member

my only fuss

the only fuss i see with consoles doing everything a swiss army knife can do is that they will wear out faster... think about it.. theres people still using playstation 1s that work just fine but thats because you play games on them thats ALL
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: my only fuss

The thing that's most likely to wear out on a console is the disc drive. Streaming would actually reduce the use of the disc drive. I do think there is a limit to these things at least until the PS4 and XBOX 720 come out in a few years.

jbsharpeii
AMD
join:2001-12-22
Chesterfield, VA

jbsharpeii

Member

Re: my only fuss

my only fuss is that this is driving the cost of the consoles up. PS4 retail msrp $999.99!?!?!?

MalibuMaxx
Premium Member
join:2007-02-06
Chesterton, IN

MalibuMaxx

Premium Member

Re: my only fuss

Its only cuz they can do everything now...
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned) to jbsharpeii

Member

to jbsharpeii
said by jbsharpeii:

my only fuss is that this is driving the cost of the consoles up. PS4 retail msrp $999.99!?!?!?

Based on what? Both the PS3 and XBOX 360 do more than they did when they first came out and are cheaper. The PS3 is HALF the price it was 4 years ago.

One thing that made the PS3 so expensive was the blu-ray drive which has dropped dramatically in price and will continue to drop by the time the PS4 comes out. I doubt either new console will sell for more than $400.

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

battleop

Member

Re: my only fuss

By the time the PS4 comes out that will probably be a non issue. Either the drives will be a dime a dozen or it's going to be download only content.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Cable not blocking these services; Hollywood wants cut

Cable is not blocking any of these online services. They are offering their alternatives, TV-Anywhere type offerings. What is limiting these online services competing with Cable is Hollywood content companies that don't want the gravy train deals with Cable to go away. They have a nice steady stream of income coming from the Cable companies and they don't want to trade it for an a la carte way of getting their money from online services that want to pay by the piece sold to consumers. Therefore they refuse to license their content.
jjeffeory
jjeffeory
join:2002-12-04
Bloomington, IN

1 edit

1 recommendation

jjeffeory

Member

Re: Cable not blocking these services; Hollywood wants cut

I agree with the second part of your post, but some cable companies are blocking these services indirectly through caps. Caps will limit the usefulness of these services through effectively preventing the customer from being a cord cutter to watch ALL of the shows that would like.
crucialcolin11
join:2004-09-12
Roseville, CA

crucialcolin11

Member

Re: Cable not blocking these services; Hollywood wants cut

said by jjeffeory:

I agree with the second part of your post, but some Cable is blocking these services indirectly through caps. Caps will limit the usefulness of these services through effectively preventing the customer from being a cord cutter.

Agreed these caps are killer. Perfect example is comcast with its 250gb cap.

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Re: Cable not blocking these services; Hollywood wants cut

Name one public utility that offers true all you can eat service.

TheCapn
@sbcglobal.net

TheCapn

Anon

Xbox 360

One thing that will hamper the Xbox 360 compared to others will be the Live subscription requirement. Right now to use Netflix on the Xbox 360 Live is required. Why should I pay more to use Xbox 360 when I can get streaming content like Netflix free with other devices?

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

battleop

Member

Re: Xbox 360

I've got all 3 consoles and rarely turn on the 360. I just don't see where XBox live really does THAT much over the PS3 to justify buying the 360 over the PS3. In my case I bought the console that all of my friends use which is the PS3.

BTW The 360 that I do have was given to me because it wouldn't boot up to the dashboard. I spent about 2 hours one evening and got it working. Now I keep it around for those 360 only titles that I want to play or for when someone gives me a game and they were not sure wich console to buy for.
dagg
join:2001-03-25
Galt, CA

dagg

Member

Re: Xbox 360

i suppose in the long run the only real reason for one console over the other these days are exclusive titles and/or which system you have friends on.
i only know 2 people with a ps3, everyone else went xbox and since i wanted to play online with my friends, thats what i got.

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

battleop

Member

Re: Xbox 360

If you had to choose only one then go with what your friends have if you are interested in online play with thoes friends. If I didn't care about online play I would probably still pick the PS3 because of it can do BlueRay and 3D since I am in the market for a new Tv and I am going to spend the extra money on a set that can do 3D.
amungus
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
America

amungus to TheCapn

Premium Member

to TheCapn
I'm not renewing Live. Got a couple months left, but I've used it maybe twice since Netflix finally got an app on PS3 (didn't want the disc).

Only reason I ever had "gold" "live" for the 360 was for Netflix when it first came out, mostly just to see it, and it was convenient.

My PS3 is getting more use now, but the 360 may end up being a media center extender someday. Might as well keep it at least for that, but certainly don't see any need to pay for their online service again.

Canezoid
End of line
join:2001-02-16
Powder Springs, GA

Canezoid to TheCapn

Member

to TheCapn
said by TheCapn :

One thing that will hamper the Xbox 360 compared to others will be the Live subscription requirement. Right now to use Netflix on the Xbox 360 Live is required. Why should I pay more to use Xbox 360 when I can get streaming content like Netflix free with other devices?

Doubt it, there are plenty of fanboyz/girlz out there that will support that gaming community & I don't think people are renewing their subscriptions based on the Netflix access. They just like XBL better & with some subscription cards renewing at 13 months for $49.99, that's just not a big deal.

We have both here and other than being able to access streaming ESPN3 on 360 now, I don't really care which one I play games on.
br0adbanddoc
join:2001-12-31
Wilkes Barre, PA

br0adbanddoc

Member

360 is my favorite "Appliance".

I think that if Microsoft is able to pull off an "a la carte" service that it might change the way that people purchase TV in a large way. I know that the Xbox systems that I have in my house have changed the way that we watch movies and sporting events with Netflix and ESPN respectively. I know we don't get ALL of the content that's out there, but its nice to have everything more centralized with regards to choosing what we want to watch.

Also, if Microsoft can build the "a la carte" service so it may be used on a PC as well using a unified/centralized login, that in my opinion makes a lot of sense.

However, that being said, I'm not sure that everyone, everywhere is going to want a set top device attached to all TVs in their house. Even the Xbox is clunky when it comes down to power usage as I see mine use between 150-175W at peak. Who wants to have a device that's using the equivalent of 3 non CFL lightbulbs running all the time that they're watching TV? Now, if Microsoft can partner with TV vendors and incorporate their service into an App, that might be a different thing.

There are just so many things that need to be ironed out to make this work, sorry if my rambling gets in the way of this thread. =/
alfnoid
MVM
join:2002-02-18

alfnoid

MVM

What about Media Center??

I don't have an xbox, but would be interested if it came to media center. I watch all my netflix through it and have all my movies organized through the media browser plugin/addon for media center.

I don't see much of a reason why they can't operate the same way netflix does through media center.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

cableties

Premium Member

Nice idea but LIVE...

(rant)

I understand Microsoft's money-pig, the subscription and DLC base. But the points system is really a shill.
Microsoft told the LIVE members that complain of Live's cost that it is needed-overhead for maintenance, updates, .... Then they raised it $10 more annually. ($59.99/yr for Gold LIVE).
What you didn't hear was how much advertising is pumping into LIVE (commercials, forced Dashboard default...you don't get to delete guides nor set a default like to my friends...), revenue from Twitter, Facebook, Netflix, ZUNE purchases, and content (DLC, full games, sports...). And get this, $1.2BILLION in revenue generated last year. You know damn well they won't drop the subscription fees...only raise them, and use the excuse, "we added (useless) content!"

LIVE should be free. The information there isn't pushing all titles, updates and news either. He with the most bucks get the front page. (OMG, the Kinect...enough...DISkinect!!

Used to be, all my friends would have an xbox. So I got one and we had Xbox parties. Then, LIVE showed up and you didn't have to leave home. Play folks around the globe (if they are up, or you are up that late). Now, my list of 40 friends is shrinking. Folks are out of work. Kids are now in college. Friends don't buy the same titles. Same old titles too. Tastes change (I prefer co-op over multiplayer, teamwork over loners, puzzles over gore).

(/rant)

Never forget, RRoD!
sameshtdd
join:2006-01-04
Teaneck, NJ

sameshtdd

Member

Re: Nice idea but LIVE...

Actually Live is Free if you do not want Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, ESPN3, Kinect Video chat and online multiplayer.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Nice idea but LIVE...

said by sameshtdd:

Actually Live is Free if you do not want Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, ESPN3, Kinect Video chat and online multiplayer.

Kind of the point. Except for ESPN 3 and Kinet video you call get all those other things for FREE with a PS3.
UnnDunn
Premium Member
join:2005-12-21
Brooklyn, NY

UnnDunn to cableties

Premium Member

to cableties
I suppose it was only a matter of time before the "Live should be free" whiners showed up.
Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
Aptos, CA

Ulmo

Member

Sounds reasonable

I'm pretty anti-Microsoft due to their crappy products, but conceptually this product is sound, and will probably benefit involved companies except insofarasmuch anybody else has superior direct competition (PS3, etc.).

As for the Hollywood vs. the world issue, the sooner we can get rid of delivery companies being the people who choose what we watch and update to a model where the last mile is data delivery only and all the entertainment choices are made between customers and producers, then the better. We don't need "networks" other than those networks that shovel data around.