Microsoft is allegedly in discussions with Peter Chernin, the former president of News Corp, to launch an Xbox 360-dedicated TV channel.
Controversially, however, Chernin wants Microsoft to raise the monthly price of a subscription to Xbox Live by between $1 and $2 to fund the venture.
Bloomberg reports that the channel would be jointly owned by Microsoft and Chernin and would be exclusive to subscribers of the gaming network.
Were it to materialise, the move would mark a significant step forward for the growing VOD movement that has seen video rental and sales claim an ever growing chunk of revenues on all three current-gen home consoles.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/38629/Xbox-Live-price-hike-to-fund-TV-channel

Microsoft product director Aaron Greenberg has claimed that the death of Live on the original Xbox will allow the firm to add "more features" to 360's service - adding that MS is "definitely aware" of consumer requests for extended Friends' Lists.

Microsoft pulled the plug on Live on the original Xbox last week - but not without some final farewell messages for Halo 2 players.

Greenberg said that the end of the service will allow greater "flexibility" for additions to the 360 online interface in future. That could include a new TV show, according to reports today.

"A lot of our partners talked to us about cutting off Xbox Live support, you kniw, a long time ago, and it was really something that we didn't take lightly," Greenberg told CVG sister mag Xbox World 360.

"We're at that point now where that community has largely transitioned off and onto the Xbox 360, and now, by discontinuing that support, we're able to add more features without necessarily having to support things like that firends list integration where you could see your friends on Xbox1 or Xbox 360. Having that new flexibility will allow us to bring more features to the Xbox Live Community on Xbox 360."

When asked if the new additions to Lie on 360 would include extended friends lists, Greenberg replied:

"We have heard from folks that they want to be able to extend the Friends List. It's something we are looking at. We haven't announced anything but it is definitely something that we're aware of."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=243614?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS

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My, how you've grown. Since the day we learned that PrimeSense was behind Microsoft's Project Natal, we've been under the impression that the 3D camera hardware would be a cute little face with three eyes. So why are we staring at another hammerhead shark? Perhaps because this latest leak isn't real -- or perhaps because Microsoft hasn't nailed down (or rightly doesn't trust testers with) the final hardware. Either way, Multiplayer.it has a host of pictures of an alleged Natal test kit, complete with user manual, and if their sources are legit, it seems Natal will have a motorized tilt function and require additional power (via wall wart) as a result. The better to track your body with, we suppose.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/p...anual-and-all/