Microsoft tenuously introduced a sketchy outline of a streaming live TV service Monday. The service will be offered on its Xbox gaming platform, offering few details about what it would actually stream, whether it would be packaged in content bundles or how much it might cost if the service is presented on a subscription basis.
The company announced the service at the E3 conference, promising more domestic and international content partnerships and vowing to "change living room entertainment forever."
"Consumers will enjoy news, sports and their favorite local channels, all just a voice command away on their Xbox," said the company, pointing out that Microsoft already works with some of the world's largest TV operators to bring live television to Xbox Live in the U.K. with Sky TV, in France with Canal+, and in Australia with Foxtel.
Current Xbox Live subscribers have access to Netflix, Hulu Plus and ESPN (ESPN only if they're already subscribers through a pay-TV operator), and Microsoft said a UFC channel would be coming soon to the gaming platform.
Microsoft said it would integrate voice search with Bing on Xbox and Kinect that will enable users to use their voice to tell their Xbox what entertainment content they are looking for, enabling faster access to content on Xbox LIVE, whether it's a game, a movie, or a soundtrack. Look for it in the fourth quarter.
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