Microsoft Corp. plans to offer pay TV service through Xbox Live by teaming up with Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc., according to a report.
Such an arrangement would give the software giant access to more than 26 million pay TV subscribers, helping to significantly grow its Xbox Live service, which already serves 35 million members around the world.
Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft is in talks with nearly two dozen providers of music, sports, movies and TV shows in the United States and Europe and may announce an expanded Xbox Live Streaming service as soon as next week, a source told Bloomberg, which reported that Microsoft plans to offer pay TV through Philadelphia-based Comcast and New York-based Verizon.
Microsoft offers Web-connected gaming, streaming video content like television shows and movies as well as other features on its Xbox 360 video game console.
At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in June, Microsoft revealed plans to expand access to live TV programming on Xbox 360 to more providers in the United States and around the world. U.S. Xbox Live subscribers already can watch Netflix, Hulu and YouTube on the Xbox 360, and Microsoft announced at E3 a partnership with Ultimate Fighting Championship to deliver live matches and other content.
