Neowin: TV is Microsoft's for the taking, if it wants it

[Neowin]

When Microsoft announced the Xbox One last year, it heavily promoted the TV-centric features of the device. Microsoft actually had a grander vision for television, however, one that appears to have ultimately been scrapped.

Prior to Microsoft’s Xbox One reveal, reports surfaced that the company wouldn’t unleash one new Xbox console, but two: The Xbox One as well as a set-top box more focused on TV content than gaming. Further reports indicated Microsoft wanted to create its own subscription TV service, potentially called Xbox Live Diamond (a step up from Xbox Live Gold), but problems with channel operators torpedoed the plans. The Xbox One still ended up with significant television capabilities, including several streaming apps and the ability to control existing cable and satellite set-top boxes, but what shipped lacked the grandeur Microsoft had planned.

On the computer front, Microsoft has practically abandoned TV entirely. The company’s Windows Media Center software is essentially dead, as it now only exists as an add-on pack for Windows 8 Pro and lacks significant updates since its Windows 7 iteration. While third-party TV tuner software still exists, most lack the quality found in Media Center, which mostly received raved reviews when it launched. Part of the problem can be placed on consumer habits, as TV tuners haven’t exactly become a hot commodity, but the market appears to have shifted to an area where Microsoft can still compete – and perhaps compete even better: hardware.

Read the rest of the article.

This article is brought to you in partnership with Neowin.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/56324-neowin-tv-is-microsofts-for-the-taking-if-it-wants-it.html

 

[wastedkill]

Pfft tv subs are decaying pretty fast and for good reason plus no one wants a tv sub with microsoft and their box fettish.

if Microsoft partnered with netflix which made netflix miles better and with more up-to-date content and more content then I would gladly accept that! They do it for crappy cod DLC so why not stuff like netflix? netflix is 10billion times better then crappy cod DLC!!!!!!!

Microsoft could actually really benefit from a deal with netflix.

 

[theBest11778]

Eventually (sooner rather than later,) even Netflix will be obsolete if they don't stay ahead of the curve. Someone, probably Google, will be launching a 100% streaming TV service that will be commercial free, and you only pay for what you want. Probably by channel, but possibly by show. For example you only watch Comedy Central, and really nothing else. You'd end up playing like $1 a month (just using that for an example.) Or if only ONLY watch South Park $.25 per new episode. There would be a minimum subscription fee $10/mo sounds right, but gives you access to that channels entire recorded library.

I know this is in the works as I've recently worked in the Cable industry. Everyone's freaking out when something like that hits the market and people will be paying less than $20/mo and get exactly what they want, and nothing else. Commercials will eventually die as the channel is directly paid for by the customers (like HBO.)

MS could do this too if they wanted, but they'd really need squash the networks in the world and make them realize they're all becoming irrelevant. Time to adapt or die.

 

[gamoniac]

Eventually (sooner rather than later,) even Netflix will be obsolete if they don't stay ahead of the curve. Someone, probably Google, will be launching a 100% streaming TV service that will be commercial free, and you only pay for what you want. Probably by channel, but possibly by show. For example you only watch Comedy Central, and really nothing else. You'd end up playing like $1 a month (just using that for an example.) Or if only ONLY watch South Park $.25 per new episode. There would be a minimum subscription fee $10/mo sounds right, but gives you access to that channels entire recorded library.

I know this is in the works as I've recently worked in the Cable industry...

Interesting... That will change the landscape.