Microsoft Announces Partnership With Worldwide TV Content Providers For Xbox 360

Microsoft just announced via Major Nelson’s blog that they are partnering with over 40 television content providers around the world to provide content for Xbox 360 Gold subscribers. The content will begin rollout this holiday in over 20 countries worldwide, although it has not yet been announce in what context this content will be available.

The US partners include AT&T, HBO Go, Comcast, Bravo, Epix, Manga Entertainment, and many more. Other countries such as Mexico, Japan, and Canada will also have their own specific content available through partners such as the BBC in the UK, Rogers on Demand in Canada, Televisa in Mexico, and many more. You can see a breakdown of all the partners, both new and old, at the bottom of the post.

It’s not exactly IPTV that we’ve been hearing rumors about for years, but it’s a great start. It’s good to see that content providers are finally seeing game consoles less as enemies and more as a new, useful way to get their content in front of our eyes. My assumption is that this will all be available like it is now, via Zune Marketplace, and at a price. But the inclusion of things like HBO Go and Epix makes me excited. We’ll provide you with more information on this partnership as it becomes available.

Entertainment Partners on Xbox 360 (Existing and New), via Major Nelson’s Blog:

• ABC iView – Australia
• AlloCiné – 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