Premium Live TV…On A Games Console

In the UK, Sky has signed a deal with Microsoft to make channels and individual programs available on the Xbox 360.

It’s described as the very first service in the world allowing “premium live television to be watched through a games console.” Sky TV, the biggest satellite supplier in the UK, has inked a deal with Microsoft that will see programs available through the Xbox 360.

The service, which is set to begin this fall, will let users access entire channels, programs, or premium sports events and films via the Video Marketplace menu, according to The Register.

The service, known as Sky Player, will offer content both live and on demand, with the live streaming in standard definition, and the on-demand in HD. For soccer games, a user’s Xbox avatar can invite up to seven friends – in their avatar guises – to watch the match together and communicate via headset.

There’s no word yet about pricing or content availability.