Microsoft Sponsoring XBL TV Pilot Contest
In the realm of completely awesome things Microsoft is doing these days (except Vista cuz it sux lol), the big M is sponsoring a television pilot contest. From the press release:
Microsoft Corp. and the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) today announced the Xbox LIVE® Originals contest, granting aspiring television producers the opportunity to create a pilot that could be chosen for the first original series developed specifically for the Xbox LIVE online gaming and entertainment network. Microsoft will award the winning entrant a $100,000 budget and an opportunity for a six-episode commitment to air the television series on Xbox LIVE, the largest social network in the living room. The pilot episode of the winning series is scheduled to debut this fall at the third annual NYTVF, the industry’s first showcase for independent television, before being featured exclusively on Xbox LIVE, home to a community of more than 6 million people worldwide. This marks the first time that user-created entertainment content will be available worldwide for download exclusively on Xbox LIVE.
It's in line with what we have all been saying these companies like Nintendo and Microsoft should be doing with their online networks - open them up for independent content. While I am sure they are going to have to wade through some poop, I would love to see what people come up with and what they finally choose. Will they pick a cheesy sitcom? Tetris Machinima? A Jackass-style show with IN GAME STUNTS? Don't touch that dial, tune in to this station to find out.
