Streaming video from Comcast, HBO, and Major League Baseball is now available for the Xbox Live thanks to its latest update.
The Xbox 360 console can now access features trough an existing cable subscription such as apps premium streaming, Netflix, Hulu Plus, ESPN, and YouTube. Voice and gesture controls are also available to access over 35 apps using Kinect. Viewers can focus on the action instead of looking for the remote control. Navigate through the Content Guide, skip, or play, pause, and rewind replays by simply waving a hand or the sound of a voice with Kinect for Xbox 360.
"HBO and Xbox is a marriage of the two preeminent brands in their respective fields," Otto Berkes, senior vice president of consumer technology at HBO, said in a statement. "During my tenure at Microsoft, we always envisioned Xbox as an entertainment hub and the addition of HBO GO represents a coming of age for the platform. The experience is one that will impress both the HBO subscribers and the Xbox fans."
Baseball fans also can rejoice as mlb.tv joins the latest package of features.
"The launch of MLB.TV on Xbox 360 is an exciting development for baseball fans and symbolic of our commitment to deliver live games through Internet-connected distribution points," said Kenny Gersh, Senior Vice President, Business Development, MLBAM. "Combining the technology powers of MLB.TV and Xbox will give fans even more options for watching live baseball games in high definition."
"The future of sports entertainment will be more personal, interactive, and engaging," said Yusuf Mehdi, Chief Marketing Officer, Xbox. "With unique features like a split-screen mode that lets you watch two games at once, and voice-control on Xbox 360 that lets you pause, rewind, or fast forward with the sound of your voice, the MLB.TV app for Xbox is a giant leap into the future."
Subscribers can experience dynamic live broadcasts as they watch live regular season games or from the game archives.
Users will need to buy Comcast Xfinity cable and HBO for around $90 a month. To get MLB.tv content, a pass can be purchased for $25 a month. Xbox Live membership is also needed and that runs for $60 a year. Add in an Xbox 360 Kinect and it will tally into the budget another $150.
"We've really seen this amazing explosion at Xbox the last four months that's honestly even surprised our own hopes and aspirations," Mehdi says.