Former News Corp president wants Xbox TV channel?

From its humble HD-DVD-playing beginnings, the Xbox 360 has grown into a full-fledged set-top box that pulls down HD content from Netflix, the Zune Store and Sky TV (for Ireland and the UK). Now, rumors indicate an Xbox TV channel might be next in line. Bloomberg writes that former News Corp. president Peter Chernin discussed the possibility of adding regular exclusive programming to the console at an April 12th meeting with Microsoft, and reportedly suggested a $1 to $2 increase in Xbox LIVE monthly fees to cover the additional cost. However, since Microsoft apparently hasn't formally responded to the proposal, this may just be another pipe dream -- from the man who thought we'd pay $30 per movie for on-demand HD, no less. 'Course, with all this talk of Hulu going paid, we suppose just about anything is possible.

[Coke Posted Apr 23rd 2010 4:22AM]

No firsts please

[tech404 Posted Apr 23rd 2010 4:47AM]

@Coke it would be pretty sweet

[Teslanaut Posted Apr 23rd 2010 4:28AM]

Man it's expensive to be an Xbox owner.

[Padilla7921 Posted Apr 23rd 2010 4:46AM]

@Teslanaut

man this would be completely optional.

[PhaseDMA Posted Apr 23rd 2010 8:00AM]

@Padilla7921 As every month passes Microsoft is and will continue to find it harder and harder to justify charging any amount for online access much less charging more when everyone else provides strong services for free.

[SteveAlmighty Posted Apr 23rd 2010 8:27AM]

@PhaseDMA

Why? Being a PS3 and 360 owner I find the XBL to be a much better service. The PS3 might be free, but it's always been buggy for me and I've run across more cheaters on that network. I pay for XBL because there is a set standard that their games have to meet and nine times out of 10 it works great.

[thanatos465 Posted Apr 23rd 2010 7:46PM]

@SteveAlmighty
you dont have a ps3, I have yet to run into anyone cheating on PSN or modding their PS3s


360 fanboy acting like he has a Ps3

I hove both really and both have their ups and downs

[UnsilentMajority Posted Apr 23rd 2010 4:44AM]

Good Microsoft., ignore this silliness. Get me my IPTV U-verse now!!!! Its already been 3 years after all.

[dragonfli Posted Apr 23rd 2010 8:06AM]

@UnsilentMajority It is already IPTV - with Microsoft Mediaroom - it just requires their crummy VDSL service to connect to the U-verse TV servers.

[UnsilentMajority Posted Apr 24th 2010 2:36AM]

@dragonfli

Ya I have the VDSL. Still no build for my xbox, at least not unless I missed something. Not sure why it took at&t so long to let this happen. Their VDSL network is private... ;/

[Mike Vick Posted Apr 23rd 2010 5:00AM]

All these little costs add up! But I still love the xbox. I am a little bit sad because the ps3 looks the better deal... Add me on xbox live!!!

[iHeartSony Posted Apr 23rd 2010 5:26AM]

@Mike Vick you aren't kidding. I just renwed my Live membership and I really can't see myself paying more than $50/yr.

[JBDragon Posted Apr 23rd 2010 11:05AM]

@iHeartSony

If your paying $50 NOW your a sucker!!! You should be able to get it for under $40 a year anytime and even cheaper if you keep a look out and buy it then for when you need it. Hell you can be paid up on LIVE for up to 3 years which I've been and so I don't even worry about when it's going to expire. Find a great deal and buy a couple GOLD cards and enter them in.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted Apr 23rd 2010 12:56PM]

@JBDragon I bought 4 years ahead last year when sears had them for $20. Check out cheapassgamer and you'll find when it's on sale.

[Phenom Posted Apr 23rd 2010 1:21PM]

@iHeartSony Yeah - add dealnews - xbox360 thread to your RSS reader - you'll kick yourself for paying full price for points or gold cards in the past!

[tekguy Posted Apr 23rd 2010 8:18AM]

Please keep your paws off this news corp.

[antistatic12 Posted Apr 23rd 2010 8:48AM]

Wow I wish they would bring this to my region in Australia we dont have this, only the Zune movies.....Hulu would be nice..... a channel dedicated to Kangaroos would be nice too.....

The Dingo ate my xbox.....luckily choked on my nun-chuck controller....maybe the wii does come in handy...

[JonathanRN Posted Apr 23rd 2010 9:32AM]

How come Sony can give it's online service out for free, yet Microsoft has to still charge for it? Seriously.. does anyone know a good answer? If they want a wider audience (and i'm assuming that's what they are going for by adding all these other services), they are going to need to find some other way to pay for Xbox Live.

[Bipolarbear Posted Apr 23rd 2010 10:11AM]

@JonathanRN

It's honestly a better service that's why. As much as I like PSN the party sytems and VOICE MESSAGES (cmon Sony) are a great feature. Add that up with frequent updates, extensive movie libraries and the largest network on earth, the price seems justifiable. You get what you pay for IMO.

[LANjackal Posted Apr 23rd 2010 11:09AM]

@JonathanRN Xbox LIVE makes Sony's PSN look like a joke. That's why.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted Apr 23rd 2010 1:04PM]

@JonathanRN "If they want a wider audience"

They're already getting a wider audience! As of February, they have over 23 million subscribers, which is up from 17 million in 2009. I'd say 5 million new subscribers in a year says people are willing to pay a few dollars a month.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/press/2010/0205-whittenletter.htm

[LANjackal Posted Apr 23rd 2010 11:10AM]

I'm not about to pay $12+/yr for a channel I'm never really gonna watch. Get lost, Chernin.

[Bratan Posted Apr 23rd 2010 11:15AM]

@LANjackal
Yeah F U Peter!!!

[joquarky Posted Apr 23rd 2010 12:25PM]

@LANjackal

If you have cable, you're probably already doing that.

For example, ESPN costs most cable subscribers $24/year whether they watch it or not.

[Meekermoloko Posted Apr 23rd 2010 12:00PM]

Peter Chernin ... it's time for you to retire.

It just shows he only cares about himself when we goes from News Corp. to Microsoft to shove out his schemes. Those two companies have polar opposite ideals.

[Meekermoloko Posted Apr 23rd 2010 12:03PM]

@Meekermoloko

And by "when we goes" I mean "when he goes" ...

Man, I wish we could edit. If only for a minute after we post something. Or did I mean "he" again....? ;)

[DerekUGA Posted Apr 23rd 2010 11:05PM]

Hey @sshole, you already spam my 360's dashboard with stupid interview clips and useless info, don't start thinking you can charge us more for a useless channel that only the most diluted 360 fanboys would care about. Here is your one chance to realize you are driving people away by charging for something that should be free. You should be PAYING US to watch an Xbox channel. Stop living by your bottom line and pilfering our pockets so you can upgrade from a Ferrari to a Lambo, @sshole.