Just because Microsoft has a renewed focus on games doesn't mean the company has completely abandoned its grand vision of making the Xbox One the ultimate living room device. Continuing to explore other entertainment options, the company announced today a partnership with Sling TV, an over-the-top, television service that "will deliver live sports, lifestyle, family, news and information channels, Video-On-Demand (VOD) entertainment, and the best of Internet video."
For $20 per month (with apparently no commitment, contracts, credit check or hidden fees), Sling TV will offer channels like ESPN, ESPN 2, TNT, TBS, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel. There are also plans to offer add-on packages with other channels for a mere $5 each., as we as a built-in rental movie service.
Although Sling TV will be available on a number of devices at launch, including Roku, Windows, and Amazon Fire TV, Xbox One will be the first dedicated gaming console to host service. As such, all Xbox LIVE members will get an exclusive extended free trial for one month at launch.
”Xbox is onboard as the first gaming console where Sling TV will be available,” said Bassil El-Khatib, vice president of Sling TV. “We created the live Internet TV service for millennial consumers underserved by the pay-TV industry. One of the keys to reaching this audience is being on the devices they use, and we know millions of consumers are turning on their Xbox every day to access content they love.”
As someone who just signed up for an AT&T internet and television package, I'm extremely sad this announcement wasn't made last week. I've been meaning to cut the cable cord for quite a while now, but I could never survive without Property Brothers. While there are decent options for watching sports available without traditional cable packages, I've yet to find a suitable replacement for the other channels like TBS, TNT, and, yes, HGTV. I've always dreamt of a future in which television channels would be offered a la carte, and while Sling TV isn't quite that just yet, it is a promising step in the right direction.
