Gaming enthusiasts in Singapore have something new to celebrate: Xbox One users will soon be able to use their gaming console to watch video programmes on StarHub’s TV’s Anywhere service!
Come September 23, Microsoft’s new Xbox One will be launched in Singapore, and with it comes the added feature where users can stream programmes by StarHub. A total of 89 channels, including the SuperSports Arena, will be available for Xbox One users.
According to a Xbox spokesman, this partnership with StarHub is the first Xbox One cable television app in Asia, as users need not subscribe to StarHub’s cable services to access the app, and SuperSports Arena will be available at no additional cost as long as users register online for a free Hub ID with StarHub. However, access to other channels via the app will require subscription to StarHub TV.
A Closer Look At Xbox One
First announced on May 21 2013 in the US, Xbox one is the successor to the Xbox 360 and is the third console in the Xbox family. It directly competes with Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Nintendo’s Wii U as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles.
Xbox One is often being compared with other gaming consoles such as the PS4, though the latter comes at a cheaper retail price and more gaming power. However, the main draw of the Xbox One is that is can be a great all-around entertainment hub, complete with futuristic voice and gesture control! It allows you to control your gaming console as well as your TV with your hand gesture as well as voice commands.
The nine month old Xbox One has appealed to gamers globally too: over five million gamers have purchased it, and the console is slated to be launched in new markets including Singapore end of the month. Here are its launch dates in Asia:
StarHub TV Anywhere, on the other hand, is a platform for customers to enjoy all the best TV content from StarHub. Users can either watch the content online or download its mobile app to access their StarHub TV Anywhere channels and any Video On Demand titles they have rented to watch anytime and, literally, anywhere.
It makes sense for StarHub and Microsoft Xbox One to enter into this distribution partnership: customers would be able to enjoy more content on the Xbox One console, giving them extra reasons to purchase it. StarHub on the other hand, would reach out to a large gaming community and, hopefully through that, they would be able to introduce StarHub TV to the Xbox fanbase.
The move also signals StarHub’s intention to expand its content offering beyond just traditional set-top boxes. It opens up TV content to users who consume it through various different devices instead of the traditional set-top box.
“This latest collaboration between StarHub and Microsoft is good news for both our customers,” Lin Shu Fen, head of entertainment and SmartLife at StarHub, told TODAY.
The Xbox One is now available for pre-order at its official website.
