PS4 vs. Xbox One Sales, Specs & Update: Microsoft's 'Xbox Originals' TV Debuts on Next-Gen Xbox Platform
Watch out Amazon and Netflix, Microsoft introduced its new TV platform with Xbox One last week, with what the company calls Xbox Originals.
Some would say that the Xbox One has been marked by three phases: its video games, Sports, and now TV. This is Microsoft's second attempt at TV using the Xbox One. Perhaps they have learned from the past.
Xbox Entertainment Studios executives Nancy Tellem and Jordan Levin were scheduled to present their shows at the Digital Content NewFronts last week. The event was designed for media and tech companies, and other digital-content providers to present current projects that they're are working on to advertisers and marketers, the Seattle Times reported.
Hopefully with Tellem and Levin's experience and knowledge, it will carry Microsoft's new TV platform to the next level. Tellem is a former president of CBS Network Television Entertainment Group, and Levin is a former CEO of the Warner Bros. Network, and Co-founder of a production studio, Generate.
Xbox intends to debut a slew of shows as early as June, but they are still trying to figure out who their target audience is. Tellem says that their core audience are its gamers, generally men aged 18 to 34, though there are some women, as well as younger and older people.
Some of the new shows that are slated for June, vary from reality shows, a sketch comedy series, to something produced by Steven Spielberg. Since the Bonnaroo music festival is coming, Xbox intends to offer an interactive component, such as a Skype "Q&A" with bands.
Xbox will also be presenting "Every Street United," a reality show that looks at the world's best street soccer players. As well as debut "Atari: Game Over;" this docu-series will tackle the urban legend that, in 1983, the video game company Atari buried millions of its unsold "E.T." game cartridges.
There is also a sketch comedy show featuring Sarah Silverman and Michael Cera; and a Spielberg-produced "Halo" TV series. More Xbox Originals are slated for 2015.
The Xbox audience is potentially huge, with 85 million Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles sold worldwide; and 48 million people having signed up for the Xbox Live online entertainment and gaming service, the Seattle Times reported.
Currently, consumers and owners of Xbox consoles can sign up for a free Xbox Live Silver membership; or a $60 per year Xbox Live Gold membership: this allows members to access special content and play games online against others.
Levin stated that the video games have been part of the company's DNA for over 15 years, so creating original content for TV is the next evolutionary step.