Xbox 360 as set-top box: 'not able to receive or record live TV'
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jan 9th 2008 at 5:30PM }
The report describes the subscription-based service (with 12-month contract) as a library of on-demand content – yeah, like this one – that includes "near-live" Premier League soccer matches. "The reason for streaming-only on the Xbox is because currently the console does not have the capability for live TV or enough hard drive [space] for practical downloading of content," a BT spokesman told BBC, seemingly hinting that a firmware update could be in the works to enable live streaming. [Update: BT's current service only offers over-the-air live broadcasts (and not via IPTV); without a tuner, Xbox 360 is not capable of receiving the company's live programming.]
We've finally heard back from MS; their statement is attached after the break:
"Xbox 360 is able to offer the complete Microsoft Mediaroom experience, including both live TV and VOD, when delivered over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. BT Vision is unique in that it does not deliver live TV over IP. It delivers live TV over antenna-based digital terrestrial television (DTT) to a set-top-box. There are currently 13 other service providers delivering commercial TV services with the Mediaroom platform, and each of them delivers a live TV service that could potentially be accessed via the Xbox 360. That said, BT Vision customers can transfer live television content to their Xbox 360 that they have captured on their set top box."
So, there you have it. It's not that the Xbox 360's IPTV experience as shown at last year's CES isn't coming, it's just not coming via BT's implementation.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dizzy @ Jan 9th 2008 5:39PM
so um, are they following the same philosophy of "fail quick, (sorta)learn from our mistakes quicker" J Allard had for the zune and the original Live service? I suppose it has potential, if/when they get the tivo-esque features off the ground
Mr Khan @ Jan 9th 2008 5:41PM
That's pretty much how Microsoft works, though, they let consumers do the Beta testing whenever they first enter some market or other, knowing in the long run they have the cash to survive early mistakes, and then respond to the market accordingly
Certainly not the best strategy, but it seems to be working
Cullen D @ Jan 9th 2008 9:53PM
I resent that. They have very stringent test plans in place BEFORE a product is released. They give the products to people who volunteer to beta test it. I am one of those people. It is not Microsoft's fault if you try installing vista on crap hardware or manufacturers of your parts don't know how to write new drivers
StrangeBum @ Jan 9th 2008 10:11PM
It may not be the best market strategy ever, but I don't mind it. I like seeing the new services as soon as I can. And if it's buggy, oh well, they usually come out with fixes pretty readily, and there are always opensource solutions from third-parties rather than MS themselves.
chris @ Jan 9th 2008 10:20PM
Yeah Cullen D, because that Xbox 360 really is an amazing example of a quality Microsoft product with none of that overheating the Wii suffers from and disc destruction the PS3 is infamous for...
Stephen Parker @ Jan 9th 2008 5:43PM
The current BT Vision box has a digital tuner built in for live TV, they do not stream live TV as far as I am aware. (So with no tuner in the Xbox live TV was never going to happen). This is basically just a way for MS and BT to expand the amount of content that can be offered in the UK since BT has rights to much more than MS Marketplace does.
jabbertrack @ Jan 9th 2008 5:52PM
James,
are you dense?
this is what IPTV is and always has been...
Christopher Grant @ Jan 9th 2008 6:40PM
You're absolutely incorrect. I was demoed a fully functional prototype at last year's CES that featured live television.
jabbertrack @ Jan 9th 2008 7:36PM
There's a difference here, Christopher, between what IPTV really is (which is ALWAYS streaming on-demand content) and what a lot of people think it is. I can't tell what Joystiq thinks it is honestly. In some posts you guys recognize that it's not a DVR "record show" deal but in others (like this post) you're somehow shocked that there is no actual analog/digital "here then gone" signal like broadcast TV or cable.
You can do "live TV" over IPTV but in a sense it's on-demand anyway and that is probably what is going to happen... clicking 'channel-up' will not really switch a tuner's channel but instead will start grabbing a "live" stream of what is currently "on".
The confusion comes from people thinking they can 'record' programs to the 360 when actually there is no need to. Everything is recorded on the server... you click the show you want to watch and it plays.
I think the way it was demoed might have been confusing. I have seen the videos from last year so I get how people could have been mislead. I just thought you guys knew better.
Christopher Grant @ Jan 9th 2008 7:36PM
Precisely, we're not disagreeing here. IPTV = streaming TV. That could be "on demand" programming or, if the carrier is set up to do so, live television. When BT says the 360 doesn't have the capability for live TV, they mean using their current system which does not provide live IPTV. Unfortunately, the product that Microsoft demoed and the product that they've presented is not the same product that BT ships. Why they chose to go with BT as their first partner is beyond me, but I assume there are myriad reasons why they chose them.
StrangeBum @ Jan 9th 2008 10:15PM
@ Chris
Completely irrelevant, I know it's a no-no, but I still love your avatar man. It's easily one of the best MGS flashes on the web and every time I read your comments I can here that voice speaking your words.
And to be a bit more relevant, yeah I agree with this too about the whole IPTV debacle. I would like to be able to 'tivo' the stuff though and have it stored locally on my 360. That is, if it turns out in the end that it doesn't.
mattclarkie @ Jan 10th 2008 7:33AM
Streaming and On-demand are totally different. And IPTV can handle both. And in fact so can digital Satelite and Cable.
Streaming means that the data is only sent once from a to b, whereas with On-demand, you can always get the data by requesting it to be sent.
IPTV can have a stream of data, and it can provide on-demand, but to stream via On-demand costs more money, as the company has to 24/7 grab the data, digitise it, add it to the server, and then provide it. But then, they would likely add it to the On-demand catalogue, which offsets the cost.
Jake @ Jan 9th 2008 5:54PM
Hang on, so my PS3 CAN do all this, but my 360 can't Hmmm....
Stephen Parker @ Jan 9th 2008 5:59PM
How does your PS3 stream content from BT?
Christopher Grant @ Jan 9th 2008 6:42PM
What are you talking about?
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jan 9th 2008 11:48PM
http://www.krunker.com/2007/08/02/sony-to-release-freeview-tv-tuner-for-ps3/
Freeview is a broadcast RF signal, and the PS3 will receive it and hopefully record it.
B1gC72 @ Jan 9th 2008 11:55PM
dammit SDF, do research before posting! i believe he is referring to the announced PlayTV DVR service for PS3. first of all, it isn't out yet, and second, it's a completely different thing. from what ive read about PlayTV, there is a tuner box that you plug your PS3 that records from cable/satellite/etc. the 360 has IPTV which is on demand streamed TV. there is really no need for the shows to be recorded since you can play them anytime. im under the impression that it is similar to the Joost service.
damn im startin to sound like im on the MDF now instead of the SDF.....
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jan 10th 2008 3:29AM
Yeah. The PS3 Freeview receiver isn't out yet. Neither is the 360 IPTV client. What's your point?
The PS3 can receive IPTV-type streams. Ask anyone who has used location-free TV, used UPnP streaming or has downloaded videos from the PSN store and played them. The PS3, with the new reciever, can also receive (and hopefully record) Freeview digital TV signals.
The original poster was correct. The PS3 can do all these things (it seems) and the 360 cannot (it can only do some).
Mike @ Jan 9th 2008 5:55PM
BTVision has two parts freeview tuner (DVBT) and IPTV ondemand content
You get the BTVison box free as part of the contract you can then use a 360 to get ondemand content and stream recorded content from the BTVistion settop box whihc can record to its HDD from freeview
BTVision iptv is over broadband and the live tv is over an aerial using digital tv
People can rceive freeview using a £20 box so there is no big loss there
Alex S. @ Jan 9th 2008 5:57PM
I like that some no-name chinese company can build me a $20 TV tuner for my PC, but the biggest software company in the world is too lazy to do it on their own hardware.
jabbertrack @ Jan 9th 2008 6:04PM
I'm wondering if that no-name Chinese company can build you a box with all the security these broadcast networks and content providers are DEMANDING in order to provide this on-demand IPTV content without help from Microsoft.
Mike @ Jan 9th 2008 6:07PM
You obviously dont understand the market 80% of uk people have digital tv through freeview, there is no need
The on demand BTVision service offers THESE VERY PROGRAMS on on a 7 day catch system so you can watch a collection of programs 7 days after that have been on tv ondenand whenever you want no need to record it..
Sonys system is a $200 usb addon that is a freeview tv device it is not on on demand system you have to record programs to view them later
Captain Obvious @ Jan 9th 2008 6:25PM
I just want to be able to cancel my $90 monthly bill from DirecTV and have shows available to watch and download on the night they air. I don't have the time to watch more than one or two hour long shows per night. So, $1 per episode, I'm only spending $40 a month (assuming four five-day weeks, because I watch movies on the weekends). At $2 per episode, its $80 a month. Still cheaper than DirecTV.
Of course, I'll have to buy another Xbox for the bedroom, but still...... :)
beans @ Jan 9th 2008 6:29PM
I can't wait until sony and elgato get together to make a little dongle for the PS3 (I would say 360, but seems they're taking a different approach) so I can turn it into a DVR as well.
Rob Accomando @ Jan 9th 2008 6:29PM
If they priced their hard drives like NORMAL F*k'in computer hard drives are (Under $100 for 500GB), then maybe more people would be them, thus having enough space to save some TV.
Mike @ Jan 9th 2008 10:59PM
Wow knock knock you dont need to save the tv its stored on the BT servers so you can watch it later on demand without recording it..
keith @ Jan 9th 2008 6:34PM
I recently got a freeview box, so the partnership with bt is perfect so i can get the four OD stuff et al via my xbox through my telly.
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jan 9th 2008 8:31PM
People are misconstruing what MS was trying to do. They think the 360 will be a set top box. It isn't, it's a device that can view IP-streamed video. Which, BTW, it already is, since they Xbox Marketplace exists. How many have watched South Park on their 360 already?
This whole announcement was a serious snoozer.
Mike @ Jan 9th 2008 10:46PM
They download it its not streramed
Mike @ Jan 9th 2008 10:56PM
I think a lot of people are ignorant to what the current BTVision service is and what it offers.
I live in the UK and have broadband and a freeview PVR, 80% of people already have freeview so the live tv aspect is not important.
What this service does offer is on demand content for music, movies, tv shows, sports which the majority is NOT shown on the live tv freeview service... for example premiership football matches will be available on demand shortly after they finish.
So from my point of view most internet providers have contracts, so i can just switch to BT and get all this on demand content..
Ruben @ Jan 9th 2008 11:27PM
Apparently some of you dont get what the true purpose of this is.
This is meant to change peoples mentality while watching TV. Instead of asking yourself "What is on TV", you will ask "Which show do i want to watch.""
You will no longer have to flip through channels to find something to watch. You merely select a show that you want to watch, and you are presented with a list of all the episodes your provider happens to have stored. Click and watch.
As for live content, if the provider has the infrastructure to stream live TV, then watching a live show will involve you selecting a show, waiting until it is now airing, and clicking play. You can still pause it, rewind it, etc. But now you can start it whenever you want, be it when it is airing or an hour after it has started. But in the end, you are watching the show you want to watch.
BT just screwed up (or intentionally didnt want to take away from their set top box end) by not having the option to watch live shows via streaming. It still doesnt take away from what the ultimate vision of Mediaroom is, and if you think about it, its a very original concept and a new way to watch TV.
Ruben @ Jan 9th 2008 11:28PM
Apparently some of you dont get what the true purpose of this is.
This is meant to change peoples mentality while watching TV. Instead of asking yourself "What is on TV", you will ask "Which show do i want to watch.""
You will no longer have to flip through channels to find something to watch. You merely select a show that you want to watch, and you are presented with a list of all the episodes your provider happens to have stored. Click and watch.
As for live content, if the provider has the infrastructure to stream live TV, then watching a live show will involve you selecting a show, waiting until it is now airing, and clicking play. You can still pause it, rewind it, etc. But now you can start it whenever you want, be it when it is airing or an hour after it has started. But in the end, you are watching the show you want to watch.
BT just screwed up (or intentionally didnt want to take away from their set top box end) by not having the option to watch live shows via streaming. It still doesnt take away from what the ultimate vision of Mediaroom is, and if you think about it, its a very original concept and a new way to watch TV.
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jan 10th 2008 3:32AM
"a very original concept"
It's not original at all. Comcast has had on demand video for over a year and DirecTV has had it (sent over the internet via IP no less!) for months.
And in the end, it's not even 360 exclusive, BT is trying to get this working with all devices out there. Freeview boxes will likely have it in no time.
This whole announcement is a huge snoozer.
The Pugman @ Jan 10th 2008 6:08AM
@Chris,
"Why they chose to go with BT as their first partner is beyond me, but I assume there are myriad reasons why they chose them. "
Because they're the largest telecoms company in the UK, they're willing to do the work to get it into 1,000,000 homes on launch, they already have thier own ODTV service (and the rights), and they wasnt described as "difficult to work with" by Major Nelson on the Engadget Podcast, unlike some of the potential US providers.
As a BT custoner I for one am excited by this, whatever it turns out to be, and I'll wait untill it actually arrives before I knock it.
mattclarkie @ Jan 10th 2008 7:42AM
BT on demand isn't streaming On-Demand. It downloads either the whole programme, or a buffer to a partition on the HDD, and then plays it back. This is because the bandwidth on the connection 2meg/s reserved for vision, really isn't good enough. This is the real reason the HD VBox only has SD content. I expect that 1gb of space would be reserved in the 360, because people would be pissed if they paid for the programme, and they have it ruined by break-up and signal loss.
mattclarkie @ Jan 10th 2008 7:47AM
I forgot to add, what makes it OD unlike the Live Market place, is that you can watch the show before it has fully downloaded. With the current XLM you have to wait for the show/video to fully download, whereas with BT OD you just have to wait for it to buffer enough of the show for smooth playback.
mattclarkie @ Jan 10th 2008 7:48AM
I forgot to add, what makes it OD unlike the Live Market place, is that you can watch the show before it has fully downloaded. With the current XLM you have to wait for the show/video to fully download, whereas with BT OD you just have to wait for it to buffer enough of the show for smooth playback.
J @ Jan 10th 2008 1:20PM
goin' to get the papers
get the papers