As part of Microsoft’s plan to turn the Xbox into the one home media device to rule them all, another new partnership is set to bring live and on-demand content to Xbox Live: Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Earlier this week, Microsoft announced the long expected news that it would begin to incorporate streaming TV into its dashboard, as the next step in the evolution of Xbox Live. The 360 has seen a tremendous amount of success with Netflix, ESPN, Hulu and even the Zune service already. The new deal includes partnerships with 50 content providers, and is expected in min-November.
Earlier today, Microsoft kept the ball rolling, and debuted the previously announced UFC app. The new app will debut on December 1, and feature the following services:
• Live and On-Demand Video– Event previews, UFC Countdown, press conferences, weigh-ins, interviews, workouts, highlights, and more, together for the first time on your big screen.
• Streaming HD Quality in 720p– UFC fans demand stunning HD viewing, and Xbox LIVE brings the most premium streaming HD to the big screen.
• Pay-Per-View with Ease– The biggest pay-per-view fights available to all Xbox LIVE members in HD and SD pricing options. Purchase directly with your credit card, Microsoft Points not required.
• Interactive Fight Card with Predictions– Size up the fighters with the tale of the tape and view their past fight results. Predict upcoming fights, compare results with friends for points and bragging rights, and see where you stand against them on the leaderboard, all accessible while watching the fight so you’ll never have to leave the excitement of the Octagon.
• Control the action with Kinect– Focus on the fight instead of looking for the remote. Navigate through the video content, bring up the Interactive Fight Card, or play, pause, and rewind that big punch, kick or submission…all with the magic of Kinect.
Although the service will appear on Xbox’s on December 1, it will really kick off in earnest on December 10 when the pay-per-view UFC 140 airs live. UFC 140 will feature a title fight between Jon Jones and challenger Lyoto Machida, as well as a rematch between Frank Mir and Antonio Nogueira.
UFC on Xbox Live will debut in the U.S. and Canada first, then be rolled out elsewhere over time.
