XBox 360 To Get Original Internet Television
Mar 31st, 2008 | By James Lewin | Category: Digital Video Downloads, General, Internet TV, Video 
Competition for the next generation Internet television platform is starting to heat up.
Microsoft, seeking to expand offerings on its Xbox 360 console, has reached an agreement with Hollywood firm the Safran Company to produce original shows for distribution on the system. The company represents clients like actor and producer Sean Combs (“Monster’s Ballâ€), actor and writer Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Weddingâ€) and filmmakers Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (“Epic Movieâ€).
The New York Times reports:
In an interview at his office in Los Angeles last week, Mr. Safran said his first round of programs would all be scripted, as opposed to reality shows, and would probably run under 10 minutes. He said he planned initially to focus on genres, like comedy and horror, that appeal to the Xbox 360 audience, which is heavily concentrated from the ages of 14 to 34, and tends to be more male than female. The first shows are expected to be available to viewers by the fall.  Â
The new shows will be available exclusively via the Xbox 360 for a time, then may appear elsewhere.
It has been apparent for a while that gaming consoles were going to grow into more of an entertainment hub then anything else and this is proof of that. I’m curious what sort of content they will end up coming out with. Has to be entertaining enough to get gamers to watch that rather than playing.
C.C. – I agree with you – it’s sort of an inevitable move. It will be hard to get gamers to stop gaming long enough to watch TV, though.
Don’t you think Apple will eventually add gaming to Apple TV? (future revision)
hi