The seventh largest MSO, Verizon Fios announced today it will be offering 26 channels on Xbox Live beginning next month. In October, Microsoft announced live TV offerings from Comcast and Verizon. The Verizon-issued release described the advantage for Fios customers who are also Xbox-ers: “For the first time, these customers will be able to integrate their TV experience with voice and gesture commands through Kinect for Xbox 360.” If your an Xbox Live user you’ll need a Gold membership to go along with your Fios subscription. Here’s what the partnership will offer:
FiOS TV customers will have access to an app on their Xbox consoles, which will become available for download next month. Once customers download the Verizon FiOS TV app on their console, they can begin watching live streaming FiOS TV channels – without the need to pay for another set-top box. Customers must subscribe to both FiOS TV and Internet services. Initially, 26 FiOS TV channels will be available, depending on the customer’s TV package. Customers who order FiOS TV and Internet service will receive the “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” game and Xbox LIVE Gold Membership token within 30 days.
The future of the set top box:
This is a major announcement because it may be the beginning of the end to the rather dull set top boxes that most TV subscribers have. The release mentions that there will be no need “to pay for another set-top box,” which in the future will hopefully be true as long as Fios and other MSOs like Comcast (who will also be offering channels eventually) lower the monthly subscription to reflect that you’re not renting a box from them.
One of the major reasons the set-top box has innovated slowly is because it ends up being a packaged-in subsidy to your subscription. With an amazing box like the Xbox controlling what delivers your linear content this could save you money and improve the experience. Another recent innovation of this realm has been the addition of Slingbox to Boxee. Remember though, if this will ever make sense for the masses prices need to go down in addition to more channels being made available.
Social TV via Xbox Live:
There are tons of opportunities to type to friends and followers while watching but not a seamless way to speak with fellow viewers globally. Being able to integrate the “TV experience with voice and gesture commands through Kinect for Xbox 360,” will encourage live conversations around TV (if you’re an Xbox Live user, you already know how easy it is to chat with your fellow gamers) if you so choose.
The true global digital living room is possible by bringing Kinect and Live to TV. Imagine how much fun TV writers could have potentially incorporating crowd-sourced Kinect gestures and even more so, imagine how TV advertisers could truly make their spots interactive. It’s still unclear on what these integrations will allow but just look at any Kinect game and imagine ways it could enhance those parts to our television experience that you wish weren’t passive.
