UPDATED 14:05 EDT / APRIL 11 2014

Microsoft making big leaps in producing original content for Xbox One

xbox-one-logoXbox Entertainment Studios, the division of Microsoft responsible for producing television content exclusive to its platform, announced that it will produce unique TV content for the Xbox platform.

The original programming for Xbox will start from June with contents from UK’s Channel 4 and the comedians Sarah Silverman and Seth Green. The production will start with football reality show “Every Street United” and “Humans”. Bloomberg reported that Microsoft now has over 12 projects in various stages of development. That includes sketch comedy series from Sarah Silverman and Michael Cera, Seth Green’s Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and another show from the team responsible for Robot Chicken.

Human, produced in partnership with the British broadcaster Channel 4, is the English adaptation of the Swedish series Äkta människor, the version dubbed in French (called 100% Human) is broadcast over the airwaves of AddikTV in Quebec and on waves Arte in France.

The science fiction action takes place in a futuristic world where men buy humanoid robots to perform their chores, educate, and even intimate other activities. While a portion of the population becomes dependent on these robots, others refuse their integration and mobilize against invasion by employing sometimes radical methods. For their part, some robots develop their own personality that leads them to rebel against the established order.

This is the production company Kudos that will be responsible for carrying out the series for the Xbox Entertainment Studios and Channel 4. The series will be broadcast both online and on television in North America through the Xbox and the UK on Channel 4 waves.

Big push to have all-in-one box

In launching the Xbox One, Microsoft is keen to expand the remit of the traditional games console, becoming an all-in-one box that integrates with your TV and takes over your living room. Last year, Microsoft hired former CBS TV executive Nancy Tellem to lead its original content efforts.

Tellem told Bloomberg that Microsoft is open to creating programs based on the rich amount of intellectual property the company already owns. “Whether it’s from a game like Fable or Age of Empires or Gears of War or Forza, which is an amazing car racing game, or Halo. These are the things that frankly if we weren’t attached to Microsoft everyone would yearn to have.”

The agreement with Channel 4, Kudos and others underlines the commitment of Xbox Entertainment Studios offer a premium television programming with global partners and creating compelling interactive content.

One of the other bigger reason why Microsoft seems poised for an entry in television is the announcement of its universal app initiative at recently concluded Build 2014. Xbox One app and game development will benefit from the initiative that will encourage developers to release their work across the entire Windows ecosystem.

These moves just proves how serious Microsoft is in invading your living room and presenting you with the total entertainment package.

Founded last year, Xbox Entertainment Studios is also working on a series inspired by the Halo games on a series of documentaries (including one on the legend of the game) and emission reality.

Original content is the future of entertainment

Original content is a huge deal when it comes to entertainment. Microsoft’s other previously announced projects include a “Halo” television series executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the live event Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, and a “Halo” digital feature project executive produced by Ridley Scott and David Zucker.

Microsoft’s rival Sony is also working on its own shows starting with an adaptation of Marvel-owned comic “Powers”. Netflix launched its original series, “Lilyhammer“, along with original shows like “House of Cards”, “Orange is the New Black”, and recently announced four Marvel comics-based TV series and Hulu debuted “Battleground,” a faux-documentary sitcom about the young operatives of a middling political campaign in Wisconsin.

Amazon is getting into the original content with the first season of its Amazon Originals and just last week Amazon revealed Fire TV, which will show off original programming from Amazon Studios. Adding to the list is Yahoo, which is planning to ramping up its online video efforts on high-end cable TV networks or streaming services like Netflix.


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