Microsoft has confirmed that original TV programming on Xbox Live will arrive early next year, following pre-launch promises for Xbox One fans.
Speaking during the Variety Deal makers Breakfast event, Microsoft's president of entertainment and digital Nancy Tellem confirmed that the original schedule had shipped but promised that the company would launch the delayed programming "in the first quarter [of 2014,] at minimum second quarter."
Previously, Microsoft had announced deals that will see Steven Spielberg direct a live-action episodic series based around its best-selling Halo first-person shooter franchise, a TV show tied to the upcoming game Quantum Break which will be directly affected by player's choices, and a football show dubbed Every Street United.
The move comes as Microsoft looks to position the freshly-launched Xbox One console at the centre of home entertainment. Unlike its predecessor, which launched with a focus on gaming, the Xbox One includes an HDMI pass-through input which can be used to watch TV from a set-top box, supports Blu-ray movies and a wide range of stream able content both from Microsoft itself and from companies like Netflix and the BBC.
Microsoft is not the only company looking to create exclusive content for its streaming services, either: Netflix recently enjoyed critical acclaim for political drama House of Cards, which is available exclusively through its streaming platform.
Microsoft has not yet indicated whether the shows will be available free of charge for those paying an Xbox Live Gold subscription fee or will require additional payments. It has, however, stated that both Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners will be able to stream the content.
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