Xbox users will soon have one more way to watch TV, as Microsoft is expected to unveil an Xbox Live interface Friday that will add a few new members to its lineup of television partners.
Although there has been no official announcement, Bloomberg reports users could be able to view TV on Xbox Live as early as Black Friday.  Microsoft is adding Verizon and Comcast to a list that already includes AT&T U-verse, Netflix, Hulu and ESPN.
“We want to make everything our customers want or need to do easier and more convenient by putting the power of our technology in their hands — through the Internet-connected devices they use every day,” said Eric Bruno, vice president of Consumer and Mass Business Product Management for Verizon, in a news release.
The online TV service will be available through a software update to Microsoft’s Xbox Live. The update will be based on Microsoft’s Silverlight application and will include a roster of 40 entertainment providers, the release stated, but only a few of those will be available to customers in the United States.
Verizon FiOS, the newest member of the lineup, will offer its full range of television channels and on-demand video to Xbox Live, but users must be subscribed to the content provider and be an Xbox Live Gold member to view the content.
Students who use these new features shouldn’t affect Internet speed for the rest of the campus community, according to Sheri Thompson, University IT Communications and Planning officer.
“Not enough students will be using this service to make a large difference,” Thompson said. “It will be just like any other network it.”
But other students aren’t as enthusiastic about the technology.
“It is a bad change; it just complicates things,” said biology freshman Nicolas Bereciartua. “I would rather just turn on my TV and not have to navigate through