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MS CES 2008 Keynote: Disney-ABC, MGM Deal; 10M LIVE members; BT IPTV
>> The CES 2008 pre-show keynote with Bill Gates (for the last time) and Robbie Bach ended and no real major announcement has been made for the Xbox360 platform.
Microsoft made a deal with Disney-ABC and MGM for the US video marketplace, released some new numbers (17.7M sold consoles, 10M live members, ...) and announced a deal with BT in the UK for IPTV. At the end there was also a Guitar Hero 3 showdown, but neither Gates or Bach actually played (they did have a GH 'les paul' guitar around their neck tho ;)). And no, they didn't try to connect to Xbox LIVE on stage ... I wonder why ;)
* Robbie Bach announced Microsoft shipped more than 17.7M Xbox 360 consoles (worldwide) and that LIVE just passed the 10 million member mark (gold and silver combined of course), 6 months earlier than Microsoft anticipated. The Xbox 360 console generated 3.58 billion USD during November 2007 which is 1 billion more than Nintendo did on Wii and 2 billion more than Sony did on the PS3. People also spend more on Xbox 360 games than on Wii and PS3 combined. The Xbox 360 console is now on track for the biggest year in video game history ever in the US.
* Deal with Disney-ABC and MGM announced. From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the leading high-definition video-on-demand service, is expanding once again, adding content from two major entertainment partners. Microsoft Corp. today announced at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that Disney-ABC Television Group and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) will be joining the more than 35 networks and studios offering U.S. Xbox LIVE members premium entertainment content via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store.
Later this month, all U.S. Xbox LIVE members will begin to have access to select TV shows and movies from the ABC Television Network, ABC Family, ABC News, Disney Channel and Toon Disney as part of an agreement with Disney-ABC Television Group. More than 500 hours of content, in both standard definition and high definition when available, will be offered including hit ABC Television shows "Lost," "Grey's Anatomy," "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives." Past and current ABC shows will be available on demand, with new episodes arriving on the service the day after they air on television. A variety of award-winning ABC News broadcasts and specials from its unparalleled archive dating back to 1963 and containing priceless interviews, stories and historical moments will be available for download as well.
MGM will be bringing its legendary movie library to the service, with classic films ranging from the "Rocky" series to "Dances with Wolves." Action-thrillers such as "Terminator," "Silence of the Lambs" and "The Amityville Horror," comedies and broad-appeal titles such as "Legally Blonde," "Barbershop" and "Agent Cody Banks," and award-winning films such as "Platoon," "Rain Man" and "The Usual Suspects" highlight the diverse launch lineup. United Artists, an MGM sister company, will be making films available as well. Many titles offered by MGM will be available in high definition.
[/QUOTE]
Full press release: microsoft.com
* Bach announced that BT (British Telecom) will be the first cable provider to allow you to buy an Xbox 360 that can be used as a set-top box for IPTV.
You can also read Engadget's LIVE blog-reporting here.
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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