ESPN Video Content Added To Xbox Live

Officials from Microsoft have announced that the company has signed a deal with American cable television network ESPN to offer video content for download via Xbox Live Marketplace, including complete NCAA basketball and NFL football games, the X Games sports competitions and video game related show Madden Nation. The downloads do not contain any commercials, with standard definition videos available for $3 and high definition videos priced at $4.50 – within 48 hours of the game’s conclusion. TV shows such as Madden Nation will be priced at the Xbox Live Marketplace standard of $2 for the standard definition version, and $3 for the a high definition version. Financial terms of the deal were not revealed, but ESPN has indicated that the company is investigating ways to incorporate the Xbox Live community into its telecasts; although no firms plans have yet been drawn up. "At the end of the day, most of our consumers are young males," said Microsoft’s Ross Honey in an Associated Press article. "You have a perfect match here." "Delivering content through Xbox 360 is another way that we can connect fans with the sports they have such passion for," said Matt Murphy, senior vice president of digital video distribution for Disney and ESPN Media Networks.