Joystiq

Microsoft's streaming television service in the US is still in its infancy, but the company reportedly has plans to greatly expand it in the coming months, even introducing its own programming. Bloomberg reports that Microsoft is currently on the hunt for a television exec to handle said original programming, with two ex-NBC suits named as potential candidates (Marc Graboff and Jess Gaspin).

No details are given on what kind of content the company might provide, though the report says it will be paired with the already existing streaming offerings. Microsoft already dips its toe into original programming via the Xbox Live Dashboard (Major's Minute, Xbox 101, etc.), and hosts partners for promotional tie-in videos (IGN) alongside streaming services like Crackle, HBO Go, and the Zune Marketplace. The company also worked in the past with NBC on the network "MSNBC," though Microsoft later exited the partnership. The Redmond, WA-based company isn't offering any comment at this time regarding the report.

could be a nice try by MS. I don't see it being huge though.

Depends on the money they want to spend and the quality of what comes out of this. Netflix bringing back Arrested Development changed the game.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out. So far they seem to be on the right track with their entertainment offerings.

Microsoft should go this rooute anyway, have their own TV Channel, build up some great TV shows, then have exclusives only on XBL

This. 

Make a Halo TV show MS! Do it!!

Bring back Firefly and make it available in Canada too please.

Interesting. It definitely seems like MS is covering all bases against the likes of competitors emerging threats - Apple TV/Google TV. They may even want to release a SKU for the next xbox that doesn't even play games! Xbox TV for $99 anyone?

MS already has deals with major TV providers here in the UK. You can pretty much use it as a cable box to watch TV, so I don't think they need to go out of their way to release a separate SKU, unless they want to exlusively become a TV service provider, which I don't think is happening.

They seem to want to be known as the ones who truely does everything ;)

Wait, where have I heard that phrase before?

if they succeed will they kick netflix to the curve?