Microsoft strikes Live deal with ESPN

As Microsoft’s Xbox 360 video-on-demand service continues to boom in North America with the news that the platform holder has struck up a deal with leading US sports brand ESPN to offer sporting downloads through Xbox Live.

Games will be available in both standard and high definition 48 hours after they are broadcast on live TV for a fee of between $3 and $4.50, whilst other related sporting programming will be available for as little as $2.

"Delivering content through Xbox 360 is another way that we can connect fans with the sports they have such passion for," ESPN’s senior vice president of digital video distribution Matt Murphy stated.