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Microsoft is reportedly mulling over the possibility of launching a new TV channel exclusive to Xbox Live subscribers.
The platform holder is discussing the idea with former News Corporation president Peter Chernin, according to Bloomberg.
Chernin, who runs his own production company, is said to have proposed the idea of raising the online service's monthly fee by up to $2 for access to the programming, which would feature original shows and re-runs.
We reckon there'd have to be some pretty impressive shows on the channel to convince XBL users to part with more cash for their annual subscription. Does it sound like a good idea to you, CVG readers?
So they want Microsoft to pay them roughly $30 million a year for a single TV channel, with most of the programming being re-runs? Good luck getting anyone to watch. To be fair, $2 per year is about what the average price per channel is with my cable package.
SiliconStew on
Just remember that half the people you meet are below average intelligence.
He wants them to raise the LIVE subscription prices by 50% for a lousy TV channel? What the article doesn't say is that when he proposed the idea they laughed until they couldn't breathe.
I could see them having a separate subscription to the channel, though. With services like NetFlix providing a precedent that wouldn't really much of a stretch.
I can't imagine how they'd put a positive spin on a $24 annual hike in the subscription price for the sake of a single TV channel. If it was an optional extra I'd have no qualm and would even look into it myself - and if they brought back consolevania/videogaiden I'd buy a life time contract.
AngryPuppy on
PSN: AngryPuppyEsq
0
Ninja Snarl PMy helmet is my burden.Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered Userregular
edited April 2010
I strongly doubt Microsoft would be so stupid as to build up XBL to where it is today and then charge another 25 bucks a year for a digital video service inferior to Netflix. An optional semi-experimental system to try and compete with Netflix, sure, but not a full-on required payment if you want XBL.
I would also not be entirely surprised if Microsoft's larger goal here is to provide conventional streaming channels for a fee later on to attempt to compete with the cable companies. I know I'd rather pay ten bucks a month for a handful of channels I actually want over paying the cable company that same ten bucks for a nightmarish mess of redundant channels I don't even want.
Fuck a duck, by mentioning consolevania I reminded myself to check out what Rab Florence was up to now and it turn's out that this 'Independent Charles' featurette coming to the UK/Euro Inside Xbox channel is his show.
In the three or so years I've had a subscription, I think I used it maybe a total of twice. Once to realize I suck at Halo 3 multiplayer, and once to play a few rounds of 1 vs 100. Maybe an exclusive demo here or there. I should have cancelled it a long time ago.
This will only make me continue to not want to subscribe to their online service.
I don't understand, how does adding a television viewing channel, even just for a single channel, inconvenience the service? I mean, aside from a price increase, assuming that part is true.
Henroid on
0
The_SpaniardIt's never lupinesIrvine, CaliforniaRegistered Userregular
By contrast Sony is lowering the price of PSN by half!
Sony now pays YOU for playing their games
In Soviet Russia, console plays you!
EDIT: To add something constructive to the topic as well.. I have to agree with the consensus.. If they start charging an extra $25/year, I will cancel. I've already thought that I was being a chump for paying to play online when I have a computer that can play online for free, and a Wii, and could get myself a PS3 if I wanted. So if Microsoft wants to pull something like this I will have no problem bailing out.
remlap13 on
0
Dhalphirdon't you open that trapdooryou're a fool if you dareRegistered Userregular
edited April 2010
it sounds to me from the wording like this will be an optional extra on your subscription and not something you hAVE to pay for
"raising the price by $2 for access" sounds like optional to me.
Dhalphir on
0
HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
Uhh. I pay for online gaming, not TV. I will unsub if this goes up.
Is it because of the concept of TV integration, or is it the rumored price hike?
Let's pretend the price increase isn't true - would this still make you feel you will unsubscribe? If so, why?
Let's pretend there is an optional package you can pay that only increases the price if you opt for the TV service too - would it make you feel you will unsubscribe? If so, why?
I just want to be very clear of why people are against this. You say you pay for online gaming, not TV, which is well and good. But I want to make sure if it's that sort of creed at play, or if it's just a masked "paying more money sucks." If it's the latter, you'd do everyone better by just admitting to it. Because paying more does suck.
I think people are complaining because it would suck to make you pay for access to something you don't even want in the first place. If it's free, or even optional then I don't see a problem with it. But yeah, for an extra 24 bucks a year I'd probably cancel my sub and just start buying more PS3 games.
I haven't paid full price for Live before and I don't plan to start with streaming television. Besides, how would it work with current subscriptions? Will it just be another tier? Xbox Live Platinum?
Shady3011 on
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HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
edited April 2010
Where are you getting the "extra 24$" from? It says extra $2.
Henroid on
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Dhalphirdon't you open that trapdooryou're a fool if you dareRegistered Userregular
After getting a PS3, I feel like what I pay for Live is a bargan for that product. At most, I might start suspending my live account during the summer when I'm not playing much, but I can't imagine not having Live.
I couldn't care less about whatever they're adding, but I feel the same way about a lot of what Live can do.
EDIT: Also, when they raise the price they'll discontinue the old 13 month cards, and they will be cheaper at eBay/Kmart than they are now. Worst case, I'd stock up on the old cards.
LaPuzza on
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HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
edited April 2010
Oh you mean over the course of a year.
Y'know, even though I've been unemployed for the past year and have been having to scrounge up money, another $24 over the course of a year isn't that bad.
I think from the general gist of the comments here it seems clear that MS would be a silly goose to actually raise the cost of subscriptions across the board just for this. But then again, the whole point of the Xbox has always been to slowly get MS to control your living room. Live is about more than just video games, after all...
They've been making moves towards becoming a full content provider for at least this generation. Part of that would probably involve streaming "channels" like this. Cable companies argue against a la carte pricing of channels because, frankly, if everybody who didn't give a shit about sports or Disney didn't opt to get ESPN or the Disney Channel, they couldn't afford to provide them (the licensing fees for those channels are exponentially higher than, say, Animal Planet). So everyone shares those costs.
If MS keeps moving in the direction it has been, I wouldn't be surprised to see price hikes like this without any choice to opt out. After all, the service is more valuable, right?
Ultimanecat on
SteamID : same as my PA forum name
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HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
edited April 2010
They've got Netflix integration right? I don't have a 360, I know next to nothing about Live.
Henroid on
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Dhalphirdon't you open that trapdooryou're a fool if you dareRegistered Userregular
edited April 2010
I would like to see Live stream very game-focused shows. And not crappy shows like the ones that go on normal pay TV. I'm talking like professionally commentated Starcraft games, or streamed tournaments of CS, or whatever it may be.
I would like to see Live stream very game-focused shows. And not crappy shows like the ones that go on normal pay TV. I'm talking like professionally commentated Starcraft games, or streamed tournaments of CS, or whatever it may be.
Do you honestly believe the programming would be anything BUT Xbox 360-related stuff? You can forget Starcraft and Counter-strike; promoting those don't make them any money.
I would like to see Live stream very game-focused shows. And not crappy shows like the ones that go on normal pay TV. I'm talking like professionally commentated Starcraft games, or streamed tournaments of CS, or whatever it may be.
Do you honestly believe the programming would be anything BUT Xbox 360-related stuff? You can forget Starcraft and Counter-strike; promoting those don't make them any money.
MS Money. They'd have a station of nothing but Bill Gates getting a pie in the face if it provided enough eyes to charge more for ads/licensing/hardware
LaPuzza on
0
HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
edited April 2010
It'd make them money in that they're charging $2 extra but giving something entertaining. Advertisements via the channel, well no shit it'd be MS controlled.
So, it's a response to PSN's The Tester and Pulse, then?
That's all right, I guess. Just another thing to ignore. I can't imagine why anyone would care about this sort of thing. Are shows like the Tester even popular? Does anyone actually watch Pulse?
Beck on
Lucas's Franklin Badge reflected the lightning back!
You guys say you'll unsub.... But you won't do it. Buncha babies. You'll continue to pay for it... Even though you hate it. Because at the end of the day... What else can you do? Do you want to continue to play online games? Do you want to watch Netflix? If the 360 is your only console then you've got no choice.
urahonky on
0
HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
edited April 2010
While I'm sure some people will unsubscribe, I think for the most part people are just blowing some steam. At the end of the day, they'll realize how much they actually value the service. And maybe they'll give the new function a shot.
You guys say you'll unsub.... But you won't do it. Buncha babies. You'll continue to pay for it... Even though you hate it. Because at the end of the day... What else can you do? Do you want to continue to play online games? Do you want to watch Netflix? If the 360 is your only console then you've got no choice.
This guy speaks the truth. I haven't even touched multiplayer for over a year. My subscription is still intact.
amnesiasoft on
0
Ninja Snarl PMy helmet is my burden.Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered Userregular
edited April 2010
I think lots of people are just overreacting. Microsoft could charge extra for plenty of bits on XBL and they don't because they know it'd obviously be a bad move. They could easily charge even a pittance for Netflix access, but they don't. Putting a mandatory extra charge on XBL Gold for just a single channel is a clearly terrible move.
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Battle.net: Fireflash#1425
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I could see them having a separate subscription to the channel, though. With services like NetFlix providing a precedent that wouldn't really much of a stretch.
I would also not be entirely surprised if Microsoft's larger goal here is to provide conventional streaming channels for a fee later on to attempt to compete with the cable companies. I know I'd rather pay ten bucks a month for a handful of channels I actually want over paying the cable company that same ten bucks for a nightmarish mess of redundant channels I don't even want.
If I wanna watch TV, I'll watch TV. Oh wait, TV fucking sucks.
Sony now pays YOU for playing their games
I don't understand, how does adding a television viewing channel, even just for a single channel, inconvenience the service? I mean, aside from a price increase, assuming that part is true.
In Soviet Russia, console plays you!
EDIT: To add something constructive to the topic as well.. I have to agree with the consensus.. If they start charging an extra $25/year, I will cancel. I've already thought that I was being a chump for paying to play online when I have a computer that can play online for free, and a Wii, and could get myself a PS3 if I wanted. So if Microsoft wants to pull something like this I will have no problem bailing out.
"raising the price by $2 for access" sounds like optional to me.
Is it because of the concept of TV integration, or is it the rumored price hike?
Let's pretend the price increase isn't true - would this still make you feel you will unsubscribe? If so, why?
Let's pretend there is an optional package you can pay that only increases the price if you opt for the TV service too - would it make you feel you will unsubscribe? If so, why?
I just want to be very clear of why people are against this. You say you pay for online gaming, not TV, which is well and good. But I want to make sure if it's that sort of creed at play, or if it's just a masked "paying more money sucks." If it's the latter, you'd do everyone better by just admitting to it. Because paying more does suck.
I couldn't care less about whatever they're adding, but I feel the same way about a lot of what Live can do.
EDIT: Also, when they raise the price they'll discontinue the old 13 month cards, and they will be cheaper at eBay/Kmart than they are now. Worst case, I'd stock up on the old cards.
Y'know, even though I've been unemployed for the past year and have been having to scrounge up money, another $24 over the course of a year isn't that bad.
They've been making moves towards becoming a full content provider for at least this generation. Part of that would probably involve streaming "channels" like this. Cable companies argue against a la carte pricing of channels because, frankly, if everybody who didn't give a shit about sports or Disney didn't opt to get ESPN or the Disney Channel, they couldn't afford to provide them (the licensing fees for those channels are exponentially higher than, say, Animal Planet). So everyone shares those costs.
If MS keeps moving in the direction it has been, I wouldn't be surprised to see price hikes like this without any choice to opt out. After all, the service is more valuable, right?
Do you honestly believe the programming would be anything BUT Xbox 360-related stuff? You can forget Starcraft and Counter-strike; promoting those don't make them any money.
MS Money. They'd have a station of nothing but Bill Gates getting a pie in the face if it provided enough eyes to charge more for ads/licensing/hardware
That's all right, I guess. Just another thing to ignore. I can't imagine why anyone would care about this sort of thing. Are shows like the Tester even popular? Does anyone actually watch Pulse?
You know, Microsoft can keep telling themselves this, but to me it's just another box that plays games.