Original video content coming to Xbox Live

by Ross Miller { Mar 31st 2008 at 9:00AM }

Microsoft has announced that Hollywood producer/talent producer Peter Safran has signed a deal with the company to produce original content for Xbox Live (via The New York Times). The first shows will scripted (i.e. not reality shows), run under 10 minutes in length and are expected to come out in the Fall.

Said Scott Nocas, Xbox Live's global marketing manager for programming: "We definitely look at this as the first of many." The shows, according to Safran, will be exclusive to the service for a time and might then appear elsewhere. Safran also said that some of the content would be supported by advertising.

As noted by the NYT, Safran represents Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Nia Vardolos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and the directors of Epic Movie. Safran said he expects to recruit "established filmmakers" but was not planning to seek out major movie stars.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: breakingnews, video, video-marketplace, xblm, xbox-live, xbox-live-video-mark..., XboxLive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jomolungma @ Mar 31st 2008 9:06AM

I was just saying this morning... what if my 360 had even more crap on it? looks like someone was listening

samfish @ Mar 31st 2008 9:08AM

Oh good, original low-brow content. Just what we need!

...says I with my avatar.

dark_inchworm @ Mar 31st 2008 9:31AM

That picture gave me an erection.

I am a sad, sad boy.

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 31st 2008 9:31AM

I'm underneath Daisy.

logemerson @ Apr 1st 2008 12:07AM

Cleverly left out are Safran's masterpieces: "Jiminy Glick in Lalawood," "Meet the Spartans," and the fantastic "Rocketman."

Roofie @ Mar 31st 2008 9:23AM

If the price is right (free) then I'll check it out... maybe. Maybe the price would be them paying me.

Tiptup300 @ Mar 31st 2008 8:47PM

Honestly, do they expect this to succeed. Although potentially better, I like how the tv stations just choose what I should watch when, if I had the choice I would over-watch everything and hate tv.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Mar 31st 2008 9:26AM

Interesting thought, but there is always a conundrum with this idea, as in video game movies: You have to put enough money and talent to grab an audience and you have to have an audience to draw in money and talent. Simply doing it half-assed only works if it's so bad it becomes a cult hit. Professional webisodes are fun, but I don't see them serving any purpose but teasers for a full blown show any time soon.

They'd do better just to have an RSS reader for podcasts. I know that's what I want out of my PS3. Token efforts like this aren't exactly breathtaking.

samfish @ Mar 31st 2008 9:54AM

You put too much* thought into that post, borland. Hurry up and make a dick joke like the rest of us and cleanse your soul.

*too much = more than zero.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Mar 31st 2008 10:13AM

Samfish, making dick jokes is hard, degrading work and my head turns purple with the effort. Besides, I'd just be a johnny-come-lately with sloppy seconds offered as a reward. Cleaning up this messy topic is all that should be done.

There is no protection however, from the pregnant pause that will follow this post.

E.J. @ Mar 31st 2008 11:13AM

Wow, borland. Just... wow.

Look at the size of that thing.

riggs @ Mar 31st 2008 11:57AM

haha...johnny-come-lately....

see that wasnt hard was it?....haha...hard.

Abuzar @ Mar 31st 2008 2:05PM

"Wow, borland. Just... wow."

That's what she said!

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 31st 2008 9:27AM

What would happen in Joystiq: The Series?

samfish @ Mar 31st 2008 9:30AM

It'd be a porno, but with blow up dolls and the occasional barnyard animal.

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 31st 2008 9:33AM

Oh I get: Joy-Stiq.

I deserve "pun"ishment for that.

nick @ Mar 31st 2008 10:11AM

I looked this guy up on imdb. He has produced some real crap in the way of comedies.... Over Her Dead Body?! That was absolutely one of the worst films released this year.

OMGOMG @ Mar 31st 2008 11:53AM

So The Hills will be on there? Yes! Scripted TV FTW!

Dave @ Mar 31st 2008 1:28PM

Too bad they don't take this opportunity to bring back shows that deserve a second chance--like Firefly, Jericho, etc. I'd pay for that content.

Leobebes @ Mar 31st 2008 4:43PM

Firefly is on XBOX Live, if you didn't already know.

Dave @ Mar 31st 2008 5:59PM

Yep. Thanks, though. I meant they should take the opportunity to resurrect dead shows--as in make new episodes and air them exclusively on XBox Live. You'd have fans lining up to buy XBoxes solely to see the new content.

Leobebes @ Mar 31st 2008 6:36PM

That would be pretty hard to do, since these kind of slots they are suggesting most likely have limited budgets to start out with. They would have to pay the original cast and continue to make some pretty good special effects with a 15 minute show budget.