No 360 IPTV this year?

By Robert Purchese Published 30 October, 2007

MS statement spills beans.

Microsoft has issued a statement saying that IPTV functionality will not be included in the fall 360 firmware update.

It has also suggested that we might not even see it this year, as was originally promised by Bill Gates at the CES show earlier in 2007. Apparently the fancy new technology will only be given to service providers by Christmas, landing the final release-ball in their court.

"Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) features will only be available from the Xbox 360 through a service provider who has deployed Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV) services," MS told Gamespot in a statement.

"Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV), will be available to service providers by the end of the year. Microsoft's IPTV service providers will ultimately determine the timing of Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom deployments."

Rumours that IPTV would be included in the looming firmware spiralled from a customer whose console was exposed to the new features while being serviced. Whoops. Apparently it allows on-screen chat while watching telly, recorded shows or on-demand movies.

"This was an isolated incident where these features were inadvertently exposed while the customer's console was being serviced and is unrelated to the fall update," continued the statement.

We are currently waiting to hear back from Microsoft about what exactly will be in the update and when we can expect it to be released on Live.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (31) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Moz #1 4 years ago

    "We are currently waiting to hear back from Microsoft about what exactly will be in the update and when we can expect it to be released on Live."

    And their estimation of how many consoles it's going to brick ;)

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #2 4 years ago

    I'm looking forward to movie downloads; is that still happening?

  • optimusprym8 #3 4 years ago

    "Microsoft has issued a statement saying that IPTV functionality will not be included in the fall 360 firmware update because FluffyTucker doesn't give a fuck."

    Fixed

  • woodnotes #4 4 years ago

    @ Britesparc: No, movie downloads is cancelled along with the Xbox 360 in 2009 to make way for Dreamcast 2.

  • DonnieDarko333 #5 4 years ago

    Shame. Europe screwed again.

  • LeD #6 4 years ago

    Not too bothered about IPTV at the moment. But movie downloads, yes please.

  • Brogan #7 4 years ago

    Wouldn't hold you breath for movie downloads in the UK anytime soon just look at itunes uk movie download service. Going to be about as good as that, all we'll get is ugly betty seasons and no films bet ya.

  • The_Programmer #8 4 years ago

    I don't know about anyone else here but i'm not paying £129.99 to upgrade my hard disk to a paltry 120GB just so I can find room to use this IPTV.

  • Garulon #9 4 years ago

    "Wouldn't hold you breath for movie downloads in the UK anytime soon"

    It's been publically promised before the end of the year Europe wide. Rumour has it mid-November after the Fall update.

  • Brogan #10 4 years ago

    Yeah i know it has Garulon but if MS could find the companies willing to distribute their content like this don't you think they would have moved on it already

  • Xerx3s #11 4 years ago

    Oh well, too bad. Would have been nice though. But then again, with the total crappyness of dutch ISP's & telly stations, I seriously doubt that it will ever work properly over here.

  • Fab4 #12 4 years ago

    They should spend the time making XBL remains stable before messing about with IPTV, or if the bastards are doing planned maintenance then they should at least inform us.

  • symbiote #13 4 years ago

    "Why would I give a fuck about IPTV or whatever it is anyway, it's a games console"

    /thinks of crusty old dudes

    "Why would I give a fuck about a camera or whatever is anyway, it's a mobile phone"

  • symbiote #14 4 years ago

    "Why would I give a fuck about IPTV or whatever it is anyway, it's a games console"

    /thinks of crusty old dudes

    "Why would I give a fuck about a camera or whatever is anyway, it's a mobile phone"

  • Brogan #15 4 years ago

    actually isn't the UK partner for IPTV BT? don't BT already have a video on demand service? would BT really be happy that one of the alt boxes for getting their service into you house contains competition for another one of their services?

  • nedrichards #16 4 years ago

    IPTV != Video marketplace. IPTV is streaming, like BT Vision, not downloading like Marketplace or BBC iPlayer so no need for a big HDD.

  • Brogan #17 4 years ago

    nedrichards like i said pretty sure the service you'll get through your 360 will be from BT (BT Vision if that's what they call it) BT also have an on demand service don't they? (that's the way that shit ad with all the little girls and the clueless twit make it seem) so wouldn't BT and MS be in competition in one service and partners in another both of which are delivered by the 360?
    Edited by 3 at 30/10/07 @ 11:51

  • Calgon #18 4 years ago

    I think you'll find more than BT signing up for it, all the major ISPs have probably been approached, if its as successfull as they hope it will be expect Virgin Media to be the next to offer the service(infact I wouldnt be surprised if they announced that before it rolls out unless they see it as competition, which I doubt if they can make something off it too).

  • Garulon #19 4 years ago

    "Yeah i know it has Garulon but if MS could find the companies willing to distribute their content like this don't you think they would have moved on it already"

    Well they are moving on it already - it took a year to set up in the US and that's one language, one set of copyright laws, one bunch of lawyers, one set of exclusive agreements etc. etc. Rolling out to Europe is more than hitting a switch, but the important thing is they have US numbers to wave under the nose of (gnngh) "content providers", the BBC are already signed up to upload their programs and the biggest stumbling block I can see is the exclusive contracts for US telly that those bastards at Sky fineagle.

  • Brogan #20 4 years ago

    BBC hd progs without having to layout 300 qiud on a box and a tenner a month more in subs? sweet. still don't think that movies are going to get a look in if itunes is anything to go by (know video market place and itunes are not the same but are quite similar)

  • JDub #21 4 years ago

    When in the fall is the update?

  • Garulon #22 4 years ago

    Don't know yet. The last fall update happened 1st November so any time on or after that date I imagine, although I think it might be more mid November to coincide with the new Media Center for Vista that supports DivX/XviD.

  • drumm23 #23 4 years ago

    If they get it right, it could be HUGE.

    If.

  • wired009 #24 4 years ago

    As someone else mentioned. IPTV isn't exactly movie downloading because you don't need to keep a copy of the entire feature on your local device. It's streaming video to your console and it's all about content on demand. This feature would be really cool if they offered free content or unlimited use with purchase of some media. In the near future all your cable broadcasting will go IPTV.

  • mukki #25 4 years ago

    well this would be great and would warrant getting the 360 with the BIG hard disk... mnnn

  • JackB #26 4 years ago

    A 360 is potentially a very very powerful set-top box to replace your cable or satellite set-top box.

    Considering how much we pay for cable/satellite every month this could be huge. Oh, and the 360 also plays games, which your cable set-top box doesn't.... :-)

    Both are already hooked up to TV's so why do we need both when one (a 360 for instance) might do. "Some" of you need to think outside the box.

  • rob76 #27 4 years ago

    Would imagine Virgin would jump at the opportunity seeing that Sky have already partnered with Sony to deliver on the PS3.

  • The-Bodybuilder #28 4 years ago

    If MS gets this right, this could be what takes the 360 into the mainstream.

  • MARKIV #29 4 years ago

    So what is going to be in the fall update then, it better be more than a few new colours, DIVX support for example !!
    Edited by 1 at 30/10/07 @ 20:14

  • slickster #30 4 years ago

    there thinking about all this new stuff for the 360,they should ficks the fuckin thing first because it might brake down,watching a movie plus 20GB hard drive is no good you need the elites 120GB

  • superdelphinus #31 4 years ago

    wtf is 'the fall'