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Why is Microsoft jumping on the TV bandwagon when cable tv is on the way out?

Shrike_Priest said:
Streaming services are kicking live TV's ass over here.

The public service channels are all online and have been for a while, most people I know watch them online. Most of the basic terrestrial channels have websites with the majority of their shows online. And most cable companies are offering streaming services now. Then you have Netflix which really made a splash when they launched in October. HBO Nordic (streaming only) definitely made an impact too, but people were annoyed that they demanded a 12 month subscription so they haven't taken off too well.

Cable boxes are definitely going away over here.
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Yeah, streaming is growing crazily fast. Sky, BT, etc are all now offering streaming services on top of the traditional stb. Although I am pretty jealous that y'all get HBO, we don't get that here in the UK.
 
Outdated thinking, but it might be a smart move anyway.

It's sort of like how Android did well in part because carriers love it (because it gave them a pretty good amount of control compared to iOS).

Live cable TV is on its way out, but it's also an absolutely huge moneymaker for cable companies, who - like cell phone companies - are terrified of being turned into the dumb pipes they're one day destined to become, and want to be able to charge you for content and not just for bandwidth. And they'll wield whatever power they can to make that happen.

Microsoft's television stuff might help them a lot if it also lets them get in bed with cable companies and get on their good side. The Xbox One doesn't threaten cable monopolies with disruption in the way that Apple TV or Google TV do.
 
AkuMifune said:
Everyone is cutting cable. The cable companies will find themselves in Blockbuster territory if they don't act ahead of the curve.

Anchoring your system to a dying service, that usually ends well.
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I remember seeing a study posted on GAF that showed while "everyone" says they plan on cutting cable very few actually do.
 
It's a classic case of skating to where the puck is, rather than where the puck is going. Ballmer's favorite tactic.
 
I don't watch live tv anylonger but my 60+ parents do. Most of the guys and gals at work don't watch tv and the ones who do wouldnt know what a Xbox One was even if I filled up half their livingroom with one.
 
I think its a smart move but not for the current implementation. I think the idea of overlaying on your cable box is a horrible solution as google tv has demonstrated.

Cable TV is going away but the idea of the channel guide and dvr are not going away anytime soon. As the streaming services come on board I am going to assume they will be able to directly plug into the guide they showed so xbox one is ready for the tv of today and tomorrow.
 
Tobor said:
It's a classic case of skating to where the puck is, rather than where the puck is going. Ballmer's favorite tactic.
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Yep. This whole console feels like Ballmer's grand vision finally unveiled to crickets because people moved on from the world he is living in years ago. Horrible overlays is the most outdated thing they could have gone with and the rest of the features amount to an advanced remote control. MS does not seem to understand the problems people have with cable. I am much more interested in seeing Apple's solution whenever they decide to reveal it.
 
Perkel said:
Who watches TV now beside sport channels or one/two shows ?
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Which is why it was smart for them to grab the NFL deal, I suppose.
 
LyleLanley said:
I remember seeing a study posted on GAF that showed while "everyone" says they plan on cutting cable very few actually do.
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You don't really need a study to tell you that technology, as it is today, is going away from people watching live TV in their livingrooms.
 
Smart.

Someone earlier made a mention of going were the puck is instead of were it is going.. Well they are actually doing both. They are doing live TV, while at the same time doing on demand services. Netflix, hulu say hello.. Lets not forget working on making their own content (Halo series).

It is obvious they want people to get ostumed to Microsoft interface for the TV watching experience, so that when cable goes away(very long freaking time), they are the natural evolution.
 
Being able to turn on my TV with my Wii U is pretty great, but i don't need all of my devices to interact with the tv. I imagine "taking over the living room" was a hot topic in most developer's offices the last few years.
 
TV actually works exactly the opposite to the way they've built this machine for me.

I only watch live TV when I have nothing recorded on my PVR AND no games to play. Both of which kind of negate the point of this feature.
 
mattiewheels said:
Which is why it was smart for them to grab the NFL deal, I suppose.
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The NFL deal isn't even offering the Sunday ticket. If I could buy a One hook it into my box and get all the games with the ability to have the same angles that the broadcasters do when replaying plays that would be coo. As it stands without the sunday ticket this whole thing is worthless anyway

Smart.

Someone earlier made a mention of going were the puck is instead of were it is going.. Well they are actually doing both. They are doing live TV, while at the same time doing on demand services. Netflix, hulu say hello.. Lets not forget working on making their own content (Halo series).

It is obvious they want people to get ostumed to Microsoft interface for the TV watching experience, so that when cable goes away(very long freaking time), they are the natural evolution.
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Every device offers demand services. It's no differentiator.
 
Dreams-Visions said:
ITT: we discern people who watch sports from those who don't in seconds.
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Will the xbone switch over at the start of the game/match/race itself... or at the start of the program, which is normally an hour+ beforehand, full of bullshit ex-pros talking shit? One of these would be potentially useful, although nothing an app on a phone couldn't alert me to.
 
commedieu said:
You don't really need a study to tell you that technology, as it is today, is going away from people watching live TV in their livingrooms.
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I understand that's where it's heading but I don't think we're very close to a large portion of the country cutting cable.
 
Smart damn move. If you're doing entertainment, don't do it half way. Why can't they be a serious game system as well as a serious entertainment device?
 
LyleLanley said:
I understand that's where it's heading but I don't think we're very close to a large portion of the country cutting cable.
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I'm going to assume that 20-35 year olds are the bracket that care more about streaming, and the olders are the ones who still relish having a cable signal. That came straight out ta my ass, but possibly MS knows that an older audience relies on cable, and they're trying to wrap them up along with the kids using Hulu on Xbox One.
 
I watch sports all the time, I'd say 90% of the TV I actually watch is sports. The features they tied to sports couldn't be more outdated. I don't think I know anyone who watches TV without a phone/tablet/laptop close by.

Hell, most of the people I see at live sports events are on their phones instead of paying attention to the game they paid money to see. Everything they're offering on XB1 is already at our fingertips and I don't have to clutter up the screen to see it.
 
LyleLanley said:
I understand that's where it's heading but I don't think we're very close to a large portion of the country cutting cable.
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A lot of people do cut the cable, and services like HBOGo/Netflix/Redbox thriving are all examples of this progress; Cable and its limitations aren't the center of entertainment anymore. In 7 years, at the end of the XboxOne cycle, less people will have cable tv. And even less outside of the USA. Yet, its the core features to revitalize the world of entertainment.

Zen_Arcade said:
I watch sports all the time, I'd say 90% of the TV I actually watch is sports. The features they tied to sports couldn't be more outdated. I don't think I know anyone who watches TV without a phone/tablet/laptop close by. Hell most of the people I see at live sports events are on their phones instead of paying attention to the game they paid money to see. Everything they're offering on XB1 is already at our fingertips and I don't have to clutter up the screen to see it.
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Pretty much. Tv's on, fantasy football is on Ipad(so other people can watch the tv). Microsoft's new consoles #1 feature is alt-tab.
 
For those stating cable is on the way out...where do you get your internet from? Cable is tied to internet by most providers and both are 'discounted' if you opt for only one. Everyone I know has a bundle deal and a cable box under at least one tv in the house.

Sure people can dvr and watch later...but wouldn't that also be viewable in b1? Also sports are usually watched live for best effect...pulling up fantasy stats during a commercial break would sound good to me.

While other methods are gaining ground cable is far from being dead.
 
SenjutsuSage said:
Smart damn move. If you're doing entertainment, don't do it half way. Why can't they be a serious game system as well as a serious entertainment device?
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I agree with this completely. If you read GAF, it almost sounds like the Xbox One won't be able to play games. The games are coming, but seeing a big push as an entertainment box is great. You either get the TV stuff now or at e3. Hopefully, they saved games for e3, but I think a lot of assumptions are on here (just like I'm assuming that they are saving games for e3).

I'm surprised so many people don't watch LIVE sports. To me, its the only show I have to watch live or I get easily spoiled.
 
Wait...HBO Go still requires a cable subscription, right?
 
It's the most irrelevant feature announced for next gen so far. I haven't watched television in years and have no desire to go back to it whatsoever.
 
ShinAmano said:
For those stating cable is on the way out...where do you get your internet from? Cable is tied to internet by most providers and both are 'discounted' if you opt for only one. Everyone I know has a bundle deal and a cable box under at least one tv in the house.

Sure people can dvr and watch later...but wouldn't that also be viewable in b1? Also sports are usually watched live for best effect...pulling up fantasy stats during a commercial break wpuld sound good to me.

While other methods are gaining ground cable is far from being dead.
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If you don't watch cable at all, the increased price of the Internet only package is still a better deal. I dumped cable years ago.
 
I think it's bold and interesting. It doesn't really appeal to me but I can see how they are trying to lay the path to something new. I'm intrigued to see how it works out.
 
I'm not a robot whose life exists around maximum efficiency.
People have remotes.

It's not that big of a deal to use them. You don't even have to get up or move or anything.

People already have access to everything at all times. We have phones and laptops and computers and video game consoles and tvs (live and recorded and ways to download tv) and don't have time for commercials or time to breathe. We're fully connected as is. Entirely connected.

Yes, it takes five seconds of my life away to switch from one product to another, but turning 5 seconds into 1 second is not important to me.
 
I don't know that outdated is even the right word for it because there was never a point at which this would have been a decent feature to center a console on.
 
Depends o the adoption rate. It feels like a very smart move, but it entirely depends on how well other broadcasting companies work with MS. I'm talking UK/Europe, if MS get their foothold there they will knock it out of the park.

I like Halo TV series,but MS better fucking bring the games like never before.
 
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