Microsoft Announces Xbox 360 to Get BBC, LoveFilm, Channel 4, Channel 5, YouTube

Microsoft is looking to expand its online TV streaming portfolio and will be adding free services to the Xbox 360 for the first time from the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Youtube and many others across the world by the end of the year.

Part of the new collection will include the movie rental service LoveFilm, Blinkbox, as well as other types of video streaming services including Vevo, Crackle, Muzu and Daily Motion.

“Today’s announcement is a major step toward realising our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy,” commented Microsoft exec Don Mattrick.

“Combining the world’s leading TV and entertainment providers with the power of Kinect for Xbox 360 and the intelligence of Bing voice search will make TV and entertainment more personal, social and effortless.”

It was thought that the BBC iPlayer would come to the Xbox sometime ago, but the Beeb demanded it be available to both Silver and Gold subscriptions something Microsoft wouldn’t do.

Interestingly the announcement issued today didn’t actually specifically confirm whether it’ll be in the form of the full bells and whistles iPlayer or a reduced service.

This is apparently the same for 4OD and Channel 5 – we’ll know more soon when the services hit the Xbox 360 later this year – hopefully when the new dashboard arrives sometime in November.

The new service, which totals almost 40 video sources worldwide across more than 20 countries, will go live before Christmas. Microsoft’s Kinect sensor will also be supported, allowing the couch potatoes out there to access the wealth of TV and Movies without even having to lift the remote.

And there we were thinking Kinect was meant to get you off the couch and active.

Exact release dates, along with precisely what content will be offered by each provider, can be expected over the coming weeks, so watch this space.

Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.