In September, Microsoft announced that it hired Nancy Tellem, a former president of CBS Television Studios, to become its first Entertainment & Digital Media president. Tellem would also run a new Microsoft-owned Xbox entertainment studio. It didn"t get a ton of attention at the time. Now there"s word that Microsoft may be in discussions to revive a cult hit TV series as part of an effort to add original video content for its Xbox division.
TVLine.com reports via unnamed sources, that Microsoft (incorrectly called MSN in the article) is in the "preliminary stages" of plans to launch a new version of Heroes, which is owned by NBCUniversal. The series, which presented a world filled with super heroes but without the usual capes and tights, ran on NBC from 2006 to 2010 for 77 episodes. The article claims that, if Microsoft"s deal goes through, the new version of Heroes will concentrate on introducing new characters, with possible cameos from characters from the original series.
It"s not exactly a shock to learn that Microsoft might be interested in giving Xbox owners original video content in the future. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video are all offering original or exclusive content on their streaming video series in addition to their library of old TV shows and movies. However, Microsoft certainly has the money to help fund a high budget TV series that would be comparable to what the major networks can come up with.
Source: TVLine | Image via NBCUniversal