Microsoft is making a big move into producing Hollywood-style series and movies for its
Xbox platform, with the hiring of a former CBS executive who helped develop TV series such as "Survivor," "C.S.I.," and "Two and a Half Men." It's a great move for the company looking to find its place in a post-PC future.
Microsoft just hired Nancy Tellem, who will oversee the creation of original video content that will be available through Microsoft's Xbox, as well as other devices that connect to it, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Tellem had been with CBS since 1997 and was in charge of the network's entertainment division between 1998 and 2009. Microsoft will be building its own studio in Los Angeles, as well as making deals with existing Hollywood studios. Tellem told the Los Angeles Times that Microsoft will create "premium content" of a high enough quality to compete with cable and network TV shows. She added:
"We have large visions as to where this could all go. Building up a studio in Los Angeles with a significant financial commitment is very important."