ESPN Teams up with XBL to offer on-demand programming

[Peench]

ESPN and Microsoft Offer Sporting Events and Programming On Demand for Xbox 360

New agreement adds weekly events and ESPN shows via Xbox LIVE.

BRISTOL, Conn., and REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 5, 2007 — ESPN and Microsoft Corp. today announced an agreement that will add high- and standard-definition full-length games, television shows and video game programming to Xbox LIVE, the online games and entertainment network on Xbox 360. Effective immediately, fans of all ages can access a growing catalog of marquee sporting events and timely programming, including full-length NCAA college football and basketball games, Summer X Games 13, “World Series of Poker,” “The Contender,” “Madden Nation” and much more on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the leading high-definition video download service.

“Establishing this relationship with Microsoft on Xbox 360 provides an innovative way to reach our target demographic through this dynamic next-generation entertainment console,” said Matt Murphy, senior vice president, Digital Video Distribution, Disney and ESPN Media Networks. “This agreement embodies our mission to deliver the best sports content to fans, and does it through an exciting and robust platform that reaches millions of people.”

Through this agreement, Xbox LIVE users can download a variety of popular events and shows available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace each week, highlighted by the best matchups from the world of college football and basketball.

For video gamers, ESPN content on Xbox LIVE will include the 2006 and 2007 seasons of “Madden Nation,” an ESPN reality series taking fans inside the world of Madden NFL football competitive gaming. Additional programming will include the 2007 “World Series of Poker,” the 2007 season of “The Contender,” the full-length high-definition surfing documentary “Down the Barrel” and some of the best college football bowl games.

“This is a natural fit for us, as so many Xbox 360 owners are huge sports fans,” said Ross Honey, senior director of the media and entertainment group at Microsoft. “We are dedicated to providing our diverse community of Xbox LIVE users the premium entertainment content they want, and partnering with ESPN is a great example of our continued dedication in the video-on-demand space, especially in high definition.”

Currently offering more than 3,200 hours of premium entertainment content from more than 30 studios and networks, Xbox LIVE Marketplace is the only online service offering downloadable movies and TV shows in high definition. More information about the great ESPN content being offered on the service is available here..

Do you think they will put The Office on the marketplace?

[Peench]

Originally Posted by DELTACOMMANDA

Do you think they will put The Office on the marketplace?

We can only hope! What a great series!

[MrCoolDale]

We got a newsletter that came down from Microsoft telling us that they have a new contract that everyone should like. We are only supposed to tell our customers that the elite, in due time, will be much more powerful than any of the other systems because new downloadable content. However, I don't care about protocol...

Microsoft has a new contract with TiVo. The XBox 360 Elite will work as DVR for TiVo and with the DVD Remote for the 360, it will have all the functions of said service. Including the ever popular recording of live TV and setting it to record your shows when you're away. The system will power itself on and begin recording several minutes before the show starts, record for a few minutes after it's done and shut itself down. Of course, you'll still have the XBox Live Marketplace, which just adds to it all.

There is no set date for this service, but we're hearing from corporate that it should be expected sometime late 2008 or early 2009. Apparently Microsoft wants it ready for next Christmas.

*Canadian Translation*
The Elite's got TiVo now, eh?

- theMCD

[Peench]

Wow - that's pretty cool. Is that something that will require a "new" elite or will existing Elites be able to jump right into it?

[MrCoolDale]

The new Elites will have the software preinstalled, it's supposed to be a free download though for everyone that already has one. It'll be in that special download section that only Elite owners can get to.

[Peench]

Weird. I just got an elite last week and haven't noticed anything like that. I'll hafta hunt around!

[mrmain 001]

that's cool

[MrCoolDale]

I don't own an elite, so I can't speak from experience about this special download section. I don't know if it's up or if it's going to be up later.

[Peench]

I'll keep my eye open. Thanks for the heads up!