Today, Microsoft Corp. announced plans to roll out the next generation of TV entertainment on Xbox LIVE, the online entertainment service for Xbox 360. Nearly 40 world-leading TV and entertainment providers, including Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in the U.S.; BBC in the U.K., Telefónica in Spain; Rogers On Demand in Canada; Televisa in Mexico; ZDF in Germany; and MediaSet in Italy, will begin rolling out entertainment services to the console this holiday, in more than 20 countries.
What a coup for XBox. They might have just ended the living room set-top box wars before they began. I don't see Apple or Google announcing this level of partnership any time soon. This really solidifies the opinion I wrote here:
Microsoft has shown that its entertainment business has a cohesive strategy, supported by broad and diverse efforts within the company and partners without.
The fall release just keeps getting more and more interesting. Hopefully it's coming to my beta soon...