Rumors are surfacing about Microsoft possibly introducing a Xbox Live TV subscription service at this years Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).
As Electronista reports, Microsoft might be showing off its Xbox Live TV subscription at E3. Codenamed Orapa, this service will use a “virtual cable operator” to stream content from the Internet.
Microsoft is reported to introduce a “Xbox Live Diamond subscriber” which will basically be a subscription service that includes the Xbox Live Gold features and streaming tv service.
Microsoft is reportedly in “last-minute” mode as the company is trying to get this going by E3 which takes place next week.
Xbox Live Diamond is expected to be like a pseudo-cable channel that would stream tv shows, so it wouldn’t necessarily be live. This would be powered by Microsoft’s IPTV-based Mediaroom system. If Microsoft does introduce Xbox Live Diamond during E3, it is still unknown when we will be able to use it.
We reported back in April that Microsoft was reportedly in talks with major TV networks about having its Xbox Live service stream TV channels in the United States. “Microsoft Xbox is very interested in delivering great entertainment to consumers, entertainment in the broadest sense. From our perspective, gaming and TV are going to coexist.”
This would be a very smart move on Microsoft’s part. Xbox LIVE subscribers are eating up more than 2 billion hours a month using the console’s entertainment hub. Let’s see what Microsoft has to say about this at E3.
