Matt Farrington-Smith
11/10/2011 15:57 | By Matt Farrington-Smith, editor, Tech & Gadgets

Microsoft launches Xbox 360 TV service

Xbox 360 users will be able to enjoy on-demand entertainment from BBC, Channel 4's 4oD, Channel 5, LOVEFILM and more.

You become the remote controller, as Xbox 360 beckons in a new era of TV and entertainment across Xbox LIVE in the UK this Christmas.


Xbox 360 to launch on-demand TV service this Christmas. Image Microsoft



Microsoft have announced close to 40 leading TV and entertainment providers - including Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC, Sky, LOVEFiLM, MSN, YouTube, Blinkbox, Zune and Muzu. So you'll be able to enjoy a brave new world of video, movies, TV and music from the comfort of your living room on your Xbox 360 console.



TV highlights

Channel 4 will offer their 30-day 4oD catch-up service, Channel 5 also weigh in with a version of their Demand 5 player, whilst LOVEFILM offer their rental library to all existing LOVEFILM members with a subscription of £5.99 or more.

blinkbox already offer a selection of free TV and movies online (along with some paid content), so we can expect a similar offering when it arrives on our Xbox 360 dashboard.


MSN's Video Player will deliver free full TV series similar to what you can find on http://video.uk.msn.com/

Pete Clifton, Executive Producer, MSN UK said: "We think that our users are going to be thrilled by the combined power of MSN Video Player and Xbox LIVE. This partnership expands our reach and means consumers can access the 'MSN exclusives' content, plus news, entertainment and lifestyle video, AND an extra helping of their favourite classic TV shows such as Top Gear, Doctor Who, Derren Brown, Skins and How to Look Good Naked - all for free to Xbox LIVE Gold members."



Search through TV shows and movies using Bing on Xbox 360. Image Microsoft

Search through TV shows and movies using Bing on Xbox 360



Voice activated

Gone are the days of managing a handful of remote controls, trying to remember what movies are available from what service, and hunting back and forth across television inputs.

Using voice search with Bing on Xbox, easily look across a variety of branded services and play the programming you want without ever raising a finger.

Having trouble finding last night's episode of "The Office"? It's now only a voice command away. Just say "Xbox, Bing, 'The Office,'" and Xbox finds it.



See what your friends are watching. Image Microsoft

See what your friends are watching on Xbox 360's new TV service.


See what others are watching

The Xbox 360 TV experience has designed to be more social and personal.

Share recommendations, and show the Xbox LIVE community what games you're playing, movies you're watching and music you're listening to.

You can also invite them to join in, post your game achievements and info about your favourite movies directly to your Facebook wall from Xbox LIVE.



Coming soon

With all this amazing free content you're probably dying to dive straight in. You can expect the new service to go live on your Xbox 360 as part of the dashboard update - which has a rumoured November 2011 release date.

The Xbox 360 TV experience is free, but an Xbox LIVE Gold membership is required.



Xbox LIVE running on Windows 8. Image Microsoft

Xbox LIVE running on an early version of Windows 8.



Microsoft's "three screens"

When looking to the future Microsoft have long spoken of their "three screens" philisophy; TV, computer, mobile (and the Cloud).

At BUILD (Microsoft's developer conference) Xbox LIVE was shown running for the first time on a range of Windows 8 devices. Microsoft are already implementing a feature called 'Async' into its multiplayer gaming titles, this will allow Windows PCs, Windows Phone and Xbox 360 users to play against each other.

If Microsoft are to fulfill their "three screens" destiny we would expect a full Xbox LIVE experience to arrive on all Microsoft devices in the not-too-distant future.



Follow the editor on Twitter
Like us on Facebook

User Picture
Write a comment...
17Comments
Allan Thompson
23/12/2011 17:39
avatar
@MummRa

Not true.

As long as you are watching a programme which isn't being aired at the exact same second, you do not need to pay TV licensing... I have two laptops, two tv's (attached to my Xbox's) and I do not need to pay TV license. All because of the fact that I am watching programmes AFTER they have been aired. therefor I do not need to pay that fee.

Television has become pointless I watch what I want when I want using my Xbox/laptop and as long as it isn't live, I have no need to pay TV license, or for that programme.

Ashley Talbot (POLYMATH.)
15/12/2011 15:44
avatar

@MummRa.

 

You are wrong.

 

If you are using "your mates" sky, to access the Sky player(better now known as Sky Go. which is a receiver for a broadcasted transmission as it is transmitted.) on your xBox. Then your "mate" will have to pay for a TV licence. Fact.

 

As your "mate" will have two things,

 

1, A broadband connection.

2, A sky subscription.

 

To have both of these installed at your home address and use. You need a TV and a PC.

The fact that you state "your mate" has Sky, Then "he/she" is receiving the transmission of a televised broadcast. The Sky contract proves this.(Why would "your mate" need this if not to watch/record live tv?)  Due to the fact that he is receiving the broadcast he will not be able to prove he is not using it to watch. So he needs to and must have a Tv Licence, not to have one in this case is a criminal offence. Subject to £1000 fine.

 

In short if you or anyone owns a TV, PC or Mobile phone and live in a separate dwelling you must have a black and white or colour TV Licence for your address, even if it's a tent. Unless you can prove you do not watch any broadcastings on any of these devices. Which is impossible to do. (As a quick home visit will establish) Unless you are blind, then you might just qualify for up to 50% off.

 

To ignore this is not only stupid, It is also like i said earlier very unfair. towards the rest of us who do pay. For that is the main part why the cost is so high.

 

I think in future before you post, you should know the law. Before you post that you and your mate are breaking the law.

MummRa .
07/12/2011 16:36
avatar
@Dark Flow

that's not true - you need a TV licence to watch tv AS IT IS BEING TRANSMITTED.

I use SKY player on my Xbox (for free - you just need a mate with sky and no xbox) and as long as I don't watch live Television I don't need to pay.

Alan Dawson
30/11/2011 00:17
avatar
I love the use of the word "Free" - but its not really free is it - you have to pay for a microsoft live subscription. I object to paying for something I'm already paying for with my TV licence fee and my Sky TV subscription. I would rather power up my PC and watch it all for real "Free" TV. so despite all the hype - my XBox is resigned to be being a games console only
Mr S1mz (MR S1MZ)
29/11/2011 15:29
avatar

After being a playstation fan for many yrs . . . . . .discovered xbox.  Changed over approx 8 yrs ago and have had absolutely no reason to go back for the reasons :

 

PlayStation / SONY  Server keeps messing everybody about .

 

The amount of hacking that goes on is very worrying ! ( i can only imagine).

 

Also the game cheating ( entering areas you shouldn't be able to and not being penalised for doing so ). Totally destroys the game and the concept of competition......

 

Oh and the hand controller is well dated......not as comfy as my xbox controller..

 

XBOX  / Microsoft i think is the way forward. . . . new features continuously coming at us.... and as regards the comment earlier about being charged to go online.....40 quid for 12 months ( gold )  is excellent value for money. . . and at least they warn you when the servers are being updated or worked upon, not like Playstation, they just crash or not tell you anyway.......... so i keep being told  !  

So yes...looking forward to the tv side of it....should be good !

 

 

Liam gate
29/11/2011 13:58
avatar

@bilal aslam, an xbox has more ram than a ps3, so a 360 can run more software. And as for the blue ray player, sony loses money for ecery ps3 it produces, so whats the point in that?

stewebabe Uk (sandman)
29/11/2011 00:44
avatar

What I would like to know is are the free tv channels such as Channel 4 / 5  and such  airing without  advertisements in between the shows as they do at the moment, If there are no advertisements then this would be a great and useable service.

who would want to get advertisements for there pleasure.

 

And if there is a payment / subscription service where you would not get advertisements I would be all for that .

 

The only reason I don't watch  catch up on 4/ 5  4od and such like are the advertisements, If I want to know about such things I would Go and seek them out.

Someone (EBOWARRIOR)
22/10/2011 07:55
avatar
I still cannot see why we cannot surf the web with the xbox 360, i love my xbox and i am going to go cuddle it now.
mark b (markb1978)
14/10/2011 22:56
avatar
great but the only thing i will use is love film, im not a sky customer and did have sky player but way too expensive. the only real thing i want microsoft to do is when the triple core smart phones come out  how about mobile xbox
Paul Briffett (briffster)
13/10/2011 01:35
avatar

"The Xbox 360 TV experience is free but an Xbox Live Gold membership is required." So it's not free then :/

bilal aslam (bilcriks)
12/10/2011 14:46
avatar
the only thing on Xbox is good is kinect the online gaming is same on ps3 there is not a difference i noticed on PSn there are thousands of games to download and play , and PS home is amazing like a real world . and if you talk about gaming PS3 has best exclusives ever and the games are so detailed microsoft cant develop these games because xbox cant run these big games . and blu ray on ps3 has another plus point.


Ashley Talbot (POLYMATH.)
12/10/2011 11:39
avatar

@ ian dawes,

Xbox TV service means I will have to buy a UK TV License
No, Nothing to do with xbox. While it is not a nice expense to pay out, you should be paying your uk tv license if you have a mobile phone, pc/laptop or television. The cost of the "bills" to everyone is a lot higher because people attempt to bypass in paying.
Simon Robinson (reffing gud)
12/10/2011 10:45
avatar
@Andy Brown. In life you get what you pay for. The PS3 is free but online gaming is far far superior on the xbox. Xbox can improve services and functionality at a quicker rate as they have a bigger budget. The reason PS3 give their online service away free is because if ps3 customers were forced to pay the same as xbox customers then the PS3 customers would leave in droves because who would pay for something that isn't the best out there and the best online console gaming is definitely not on the PS3 and I doubt it ever will. This isn't an opinion it's a fact!
Colin Robinson (Brit Born n Proud)
11/10/2011 00:36
avatar
I'd like to know when Blu-Ray is coming to the X-Box 360?
Ashley Talbot (POLYMATH.)
06/10/2011 16:32
avatar
This was the only thing missing on the xbox , it is now the ultimate home entertainment system.
Sorry, i do not agree. However, What if we could have a slimed down version of  the new Windows 8, with full internet Explorer 9/10, Hotmail/ MSE/Messenger which could be installed onto an xbox, (if it can be done for something as small as a mobile then why not?) well then we might be taking a whole new concept in a different direction. Tv now days have greater capabilities than some user's pc/laptops. With not every user needing/using about 45% of the tools/software preinstalled with existing operating systems. Some user's just have a want/need/desire for the perfect combination of being to be able to play games,watch movies, chat to friends/family, find information fast(browsing) and pay bills or shop.  If the xbox could be harnessed to become a surrogate for a new computing experience the opportunities would truly then be a "life without walls". This would create a complete new market for Microsoft/xbox, and keep Microsoft ahead in the game. Evan if it meant a whole new xbox launch with the software built in, I say you would not be able to make enough for demand.
andrew Lee
06/10/2011 15:38
avatar
Now, the question is, will Australia and New Zealand finally get the voice commands we are STILL waiting for? It was quite a let down not getting the full package while we still paid the full price. Come on Microsoft, fix it!
Alexander Kay-Bradley
06/10/2011 13:13
avatar

This was the only thing missing on the xbox , it is now the ultimate home entertainment system.

Report
Please help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a message violates theCode of Conductplease use this form to notify the moderators. They will investigate your report and take appropriate action. If necessary, they report all illegal activity to the proper authorities.
Categories
100 character limit
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

more on tech & gadgets

Scroll upScroll down

latest tech and gadgets videos

msn tech and gadgets poll

What's the best phone on the market right now?

Thanks for being one of the first people to vote. Results will be available soon. Check for results

  1.  
    15 %
    HTC One X
    1,176 votes
  2.  
    35 %
    iPhone 4S
    2,629 votes
  3.  
    25 %
    Samsung Galaxy S2
    1,895 votes
  4.  
    3 %
    HTC Sensation XE
    206 votes
  5.  
    3 %
    Samsung Galaxy Nexus
    232 votes
  6.  
    7 %
    Nokia Lumia 800
    495 votes
  7.  
    5 %
    Sony Xperia S
    360 votes
  8.  
    5 %
    BlackBerry 9900
    403 votes
  9.  
    1 %
    Motorola Razr
    105 votes
  10.  
    1 %
    Orange San Francisco
    97 votes
  11. Skip to results

Total Responses: 7,598
Not scientifically valid. Results are updated every minute.

hot on msn

popular searches