It appers Microsoft could be gearing up to attempt to compete with the AppleTV as the software power house talked with TV networks to create a new subscription based TV service on it’s Xbox gaming console which would obviously be a direct challenge to Google, Netflix, and of course… Apple reports Reuters. The service wouldn’t arrive for another 12 months, but early discussions are said to be productive.
A scenario being considored by Microsoft is to create a new TV service on it’s Xbox gaming console that would be a “virtual cable operator”. Of course, this isn’t going to be free as Xbox users will have yet another fee to pay to access the networks such as Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC and CNN. They are also considering other options which would include allowing cable subscribers to use their Xbox to watch their favorite shows while interacting with friends on the console, because it’s not like that exists in the form of Twitter or FaceBook.
I’ll tell you this much as an Xbox user, I don’t want to have to pay anymore to use my video game console to it’s full advantage. Microsoft is asking it’s users to pay even more money to use their console to their full advantage. Shouldn’t the Xbox Live cost cover this? You take $60 of my money every year so I can play online with my friends and now you want me to pay even more to watch TV? I think I’ll stick to cable and Twitter to watch my shows while interacting with friends.