Microsoft has announced Election 2012 on Xbox Live, a unique hub that will give Xbox owner an opportunity t to watch the presidential debates, interact with polls, view news, analysis and register to vote through the organization Rock the Vote.
NBCNews.com will supply Xbox gamers with daily election-based programming that will be accessible from the hub beginning on Monday, Aug. 27 with news related to the upcoming Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
Xbox Live will broadcast live feeds of both conventions, as well as offering Xbox users an opportunity to be involved with the three presidential debates "by responding to poll questions throughout live programming of the debates and other unique election events hosted on Xbox Live throughout the campaign season." This is an innovative approach to reaching the younger demographics of voters and nonvoters.
"We want to provide our passionate Xbox Live community with a great way to experience the election process with TV that makes them participants - and not just viewers," said Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business corporate vice president Marc Whitten. "This is a great example of how our Xbox capabilities are making the promise of interactive television a reality."
Vivian Schiller, senior vice president and chief digital officer at NBC News said that Xbox Live platform offered NBC the ability to expand its traditional reach.
"As a leader in digital and broadcast news, NBC News is always looking for more places to deliver its high-quality multimedia content, particularly in this critical campaign year," Schiller said. "This relationship with Xbox LIVE is a unique opportunity to expand our reach on a really innovative platform."
In the Future, the hub will contain youthful town hall conversations in Tampa and Charlotte on Aug. 29 and another on Sept. 5 called "Conversations with the Next Generation." More details about Xbox Live's 2012 election hub are available on Microsoft's official site.