Microsoft Declares "A new Era in TV" with Xbox Live

Microsoft has announced a slew of new partnerships to bring telly and video to the Xbox 360 and is heralding it as, "A new era in TV".

Cutting to the chase, the official announcement states that, "Microsoft announced close to 40 world-leading TV and entertainment providers – including Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC, Sky, LOVEFiLM, MSN, YouTube, Blinkbox, Sky and Muzu – will be launching entertainment services to Xbox LIVE the UK this Christmas. By partnering with the world’s leading entertainment providers, millions of people will see first-hand that TV entertainment is more personal, effortless and social on Xbox 360."

The full list is at the foot of this very story.

“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,” said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft.

In fact, the company is fully upping the ante against the PS3 (which currently offers LoveFilm, the BBC iPlayer, ITV and 4OD players) by stating that, "Xbox 360 is the first console to offer access to the world’s greatest TV properties, including BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and LOVEFiLM in the U.K...."

That list of providers is here:

Entertainment Partners on Xbox 360 (Existing and New)

· ABC iView – Australia

· AlloCinι – France, Germany, Spain, U.K.

· Antena 3 – Spain

· Astral Media’s Disney XD – Canada

· AT&T** – U.S.

· BBC – U.K.

· blinkbox – U.K.

· Bravo – U.S.

· BSkyB** - U.K.

· Canal+* - France, Spain

· Channel 4 – U.K.

· Channel 5 – U.K.

· CinemaNow (Best Buy) – U.S.

· Comcast – U.S.

· Crackle – Australia, Canada, U.K., U.S.

· Dailymotion – Available in 32 markets

· EPIX – U.S.

· ESPN** – U.S.

· Facebook** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets

· FOXTEL** – Australia

· GolTV – Spain

· HBO GO – U.S.

· Hulu – Japan

· Hulu +**– U.S.

· iHeartRadio (Clear Channel) – U.S.

· Last.fm** – U.K., U.S.

· LOVEFiLM – Germany, U.K.

· Manga Entertainment – U.S.

· Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment/Real Sports – Canada

· MediaSet – Italy

· MSN with MSNBC.com – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, U.K.

· MUZU.TV – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K.

· Netflix**– Canada, U.S.

· Rogers On Demand Online (RODO) – Canada

· RTVE – Spain

· SBS On Demand – Australia

· Syfy – U.S.

· Telefonica – Spain

· Televisa – Mexico

· “The Today Show” – U.S.

· TELUS** – Canada

· TMZ – U.S.

· Twitter** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets

· UFC – Canada, U.S.

· Verizon – U.S.

· VEVO – Canada, U.K., U.S.

· VimpelCom** – Russia

· Vodafone Portugal** – Portugal

· YouTube – Available in 22 markets

· ZDF – Germany

· Zune** – Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K., U.S.

Full details are here.