Tech Shout!

Microsoft has announced the addition of sports-related ESPN content on its Xbox LIVE service. Now, Xbox 360 owners will be able access videos on college basketball as well as other ESPN content as downloads via Xbox LIVE.

According to Microsoft and ESPN, people can purchase complete NCAA basketball and football games, the X Games sports competitions and programs like ESPN’s “Madden Nation”, which details a competition of “Madden NFL” video game players from the Xbox Live Web site.

As per this announcement, Xbox 360 owners will be able to buy commercial-free standard-definition version of select NCAA games that will costs $3, while the high-definition versions cost $4.50.

The best part is that all this content will be available for download on Xbox LIVE just 48 hours of the respective game’s conclusion.

As part of its agreement with Microsoft, ESPN is also considering ways to incorporate the Xbox LIVE online gaming community into its telecasts. However, according to ESPN spokeman Paul Melvin, there are no firm plans for how this will be done.

Ross Honey, a senior director of the media and entertainment group at Microsoft said that action and horror movies are popular genres for the Xbox Live audience, as are ‘edgier’ animated TV shows like South Park.

“At the end of the day, most of our consumers are young males. You have a perfect match there,” said Honey.

Few know that ESPN already d;eivers live, streaming sports footage to customers of certain broadband Internet providers.

Matt Murphy, senior vice president of digital video distribution for Disney and ESPN Media Networks commented saying, “Delivering content through Xbox 360 is another way that we can connect fans with the sports they have such a passion for.”