Ballmer: Xbox Live TV in planning stages, out this year

Xbox Live TV is still in the planning stages and will release sometime in 2011, according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Baller said during the BUILD event that Xbox 360 will, apparently, make TV browsing easier and the firm is working with "dozens or hundreds of additional video content suppliers” so that the TV market can strengthen ESPN, Hulu and Netflix which are already available on the console.

"Having all of that content is right on, it's fantastic, but it brings a new challenge with it," said Ballmer. "Certainly we all know the frustrations of using guides and menus and controllers, and we think a better way to do all of this is simply to bring Bing and voice to Xbox. You say it, Xbox finds it."

While most details on Xbox Live TV are scarce, meaning MS has yet to discuss it, a CNN expert has sad if the service is just there for search purposes, it's not the same as discovery.

"Search as an answer to discovery implies you know what you're looking for," they said. "Most people have no idea what they're looking for."

Xbox TV was rumored for an announcement at E3 this year, with some sites claiming the service, Diamond TV, would become a “virtual cable operator” at put it down for a November 15 launch.

Microsoft will be launching its new Dashboard this fall, but a date for that has yet to be determined, and there's no word on whether "Diamond TV" will be part of it or not.

Thanks, IndustryGamers.