Thread: Microsoft Set to unveil IPTV service at E3

Rumours are circling that Microsoft are about to unveil an IPTV service called Xbox Live Diamond and next weeks E3 show.

Codenamed Orapa, the service combines Microsofts "Mediaroom" IPTV services and Microsoft?s Xbox LIVE services. Microsoft is likely to demo deeper integration of its Avatar Kinect service along with a new music and video service. Microsoft?s corporate vice president of corporate communications, Frank Shaw, revealed that Xbox will be the company?s entertainment brand earlier this week. Shaw highlighted Microsoft?s investments with ESPN, Netflix and Hulu.

Microsoft has been in talks with media companies to produce the TV service for its Xbox console. Microsoft is proposing a ?virtual cable operator? which will be delivered over the Internet and charged with a monthly fee. The software maker has also suggested that cable companies could use the Xbox as a device to authenticate existing cable subscribers to watch shows and interact with their friends.

Details are still unclear as one Microsoft employee was quoted as saying ?Microsoft is currently in last minute negotiations to secure the necessary agreements in time,?

There has been no mention wether its a US only service which going by Microsoft's track record is most likely.

Of course its US only, like just about everything else.

Its not even new!

MS tried replicating this around the time of Windows 95, with its DirecTV offering, It was never taken up.

It'll still flop this time around, US TV isnt setup in the same manner as we have it over here, theres different cable companies fighting each other (think of the early cable companies before the present merger, but instead of just having 1 company in your area, you could pick from a couple) - Some companies offer some channels, some companies offer different channels.

What MS seemingly are trying to do, is cherrypick the best channels and 'sell' them, but it appears that your need to be with that cable company to view through the xbox.. so theyre turning the xbox into a less featured cable receiver. So, dont subscribe to comcast's cable service? with this you still wont!

As far as it happens over here.. Sky have a deal with them to stream a couple of the channels, but its ultimately less featured than a full sky connection (& youll need to be a current sky subscriber (or get the details of someone who is)).. it offers little extra.

BBC will not allow its iplayer, because MS would charge for access to it, & the BBC remit does not permit that. (which is fine, Ill stick with no DRM methods thanks muchly)
Seems like its going to be another crappy E3 from MS!

If they pick the best content it could work. I don't see Virgin being interested after spending 250 million on TiVo which is fricking awesome. If smacks of another US centric deal I'd love to watch football and movies on the Xbox with mates if I can do that without a sky subscription I'd be happy

Thats the catch.. It wont be 'content only'.. Itll be the channels linked with whatever service they currently pay for from that cable company..

Dont pay your provider to get access to HBO? then you wont be getting it through this.

Re Sky : you can watch footy & films through the sky player thing..
Im linked up with it here. I dont pay for sky films & footy through my normal sky sub, but I linked my gamertag with my parents sky subscription..

Its not as good as a real sky box (no 'Plus' features (recording, rewind, pause etc), and a lot less film choice) - but it'll do for watching Footy - Also, ESPN requires that separate subscription to that.

Havent tried the 'avatar watching with other people' but Ive seen it in single player.. I dunno.

Originally Posted by tcg joey

If they pick the best content it could work. I don't see Virgin being interested after spending 250 million on TiVo which is fricking awesome. If smacks of another US centric deal I'd love to watch football and movies on the Xbox with mates if I can do that without a sky subscription I'd be happy

Whats the big deal with the Tivo anyway? We already have a virgin+ recorder box and the tivo doesnt seem much better than that tbh. BIgger hard drive and not much more from what i can see.