Xbox Live moves to Zune Video Nov. 17

DIGITAL: Upgrade will allow users to stream high-definition movies instantly

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 11/12/2009

NOV. 12 | DIGITAL: Xbox Live will upgrade to Zune Video Nov. 17, allowing viewers to instantly stream TV shows and movies in high-definition through the game console rather than wait hours for them to download, as is the case now.

Along with the video upgrade, Xbox is adding social networks Facebook and Twitter and music from Last.Fm to the console, part of Microsoft’s drive to make the Xbox the living room entertainment device. The company announced the planned upgrades at E3 in June, but until today hasn’t said when they would be available.

Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten announced the Facebook and Twitter launch date at a NewTeeVee Live conference Thursday morning. A spokeswoman confirmed that Xbox also would switch to Zune Video that same day.

Not only will Zune instantly stream movies, it also will offer a larger selection of 1080p high-definition films, a step up in picture quality from the 720p high-definition now offered through Xbox Live.

Microsoft has said users will be able to access content they buy from Zune Video through the Xbox, Zune portable and PC.

Earlier this week, news broke that Xbox had banned 1 million or so players from the Xbox Live service because of altered game consoles to play pirated games. Asked at the NewTeeVee Live event whether the ban was related to video piracy, Whitten said it wasn’t an issue on the video side.