Today, Microsoft has announced that they are planning to bring roughly 40 new television and entertainment providers to Xbox Live by holiday 2011. Some of the highlight services include the already rumored HBO Go, Bravo, Comcast, Crackle, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in the U.S., BBC in the U.K. and many more.
“Today’s announcement is a major step toward realizing our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy,” said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Combining the world’s leading TV and entertainment providers with the power of Kinect for Xbox 360 and the intelligence of Bing voice search will make TV and entertainment more personal, social and effortless.”
This is rather huge news for Microsoft that should give them a substantial leg up on their competition (read also: Sony). By having so many new providers to partner up with — joining an already lengthy roster of established partners — Microsoft’s Xbox 360 will become a one-stop-shop for all your entertainment needs, be it gaming, movies, TV, music, etc.
However, do note that services such as HBO Go, for example, will require that you already have an HBO subscription to take advantage of them on Xbox 360. HBO is not all of a sudden free if you have an Xbox Live Gold membership.
Finally, here’s the complete list of providers — both present and future — who have partnered with Microsoft.
- ABC iView – Australia
- AlloCiné – France, Germany, Spain, U.K.
- Antena 3 – Spain
- Astral Media’s Disney XD – Canada
- AT&T** – U.S.
- BBC – U.K.
- blinkbox – U.K.
- Bravo – U.S.
- BSkyB** – U.K.
- Canal+* – France, Spain
- Channel 4 – U.K.
- Channel 5 – U.K.
- CinemaNow (Best Buy) – U.S.
- Comcast – U.S.
- Crackle – Australia, Canada, U.K., U.S.
- Dailymotion – Available in 32 markets
- EPIX – U.S.
- ESPN** – U.S.
- Facebook** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
- FOXTEL** – Australia
- GolTV – Spain
- HBO GO – U.S.
- Hulu – Japan
- Hulu +**– U.S.
- iHeartRadio (Clear Channel) – U.S.
- Last.fm** – U.K., U.S.
- LOVEFiLM – Germany, U.K.
- Manga Entertainment – U.S.
- Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment/Real Sports – Canada
- MediaSet – Italy
- MSN with MSNBC.com – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, U.K.
- MUZU.TV – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K.
- Netflix**– Canada, U.S.
- Rogers On Demand Online (RODO) – Canada
- RTVE – Spain
- SBS On Demand – Australia
- Syfy – U.S.
- Telefonica – Spain
- Televisa – Mexico
- “The Today Show” – U.S.
- TELUS** – Canada
- TMZ – U.S.
- Twitter** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
- UFC – Canada, U.S.
- Verizon – U.S.
- VEVO – Canada, U.K., U.S.
- VimpelCom** – Russia
- Vodafone Portugal** – Portugal
- YouTube – Available in 22 markets
- ZDF – Germany
- Zune** – Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K., U.S.
