Zeus
11-05-2007, 05:12 AM
Microsoft has added college basketball and various other ESPN programming to its download service for the Xbox 360 console. Xbox 360 owners can buy commercial-free standard definition versions of respective content for $3, while high-def content will set them back $4.5. According to the Associated Press, ESPN is also thinking of ways to integrate the Live community into its telecasts.
The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal when it was announced late Sunday.
Ross Honey, a senior director of the media and entertainment group at Microsoft, said action and horror movies are popular genres for the Xbox Live audience, as are "edgier" animated TV shows like "South Park."
"At the end of the day, most of our consumers are young males," Honey said. "You have a perfect match here."
ESPN already delivers live, streaming sports footage to customers of certain broadband Internet providers.
"Delivering content through Xbox 360 is another way that we can connect fans with the sports they have such passion for," said Matt Murphy, senior vice president of digital video distribution for Disney and ESPN Media Networks. ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Co.
News Source: <A href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9ZRgcdZBVZ4wH5cBEOBwzrO7fBgD8SNA8CO0" target="_blank">AP</a>
The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal when it was announced late Sunday.
Ross Honey, a senior director of the media and entertainment group at Microsoft, said action and horror movies are popular genres for the Xbox Live audience, as are "edgier" animated TV shows like "South Park."
"At the end of the day, most of our consumers are young males," Honey said. "You have a perfect match here."
ESPN already delivers live, streaming sports footage to customers of certain broadband Internet providers.
"Delivering content through Xbox 360 is another way that we can connect fans with the sports they have such passion for," said Matt Murphy, senior vice president of digital video distribution for Disney and ESPN Media Networks. ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Co.
News Source: <A href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9ZRgcdZBVZ4wH5cBEOBwzrO7fBgD8SNA8CO0" target="_blank">AP</a>