From the news wires

E3 2010: Microsoft Xbox 360 will carry live ESPN events

E3 2010: Microsoft Xbox 360 executives said ESPN will be offered on the console, bypassing cable providers.

NEWSCOM

E3 2010: Microsoft Xbox 360 executives said ESPN will be offered on the Xbox. File photo of E3 2009.

By Reuters

June 14, 2010, 3:59 p.m. ET | Los Angeles

Microsoft Corp has struck a deal with Walt Disney Co's ESPN network to broadcast live sporting events -- for free -- into US living rooms through the Xbox 360 games console, bypassing traditional cable providers.Live games will be broadcast through Microsoft's Xbox Live service, and will be offered at no additional cost, executives said at the E3 games convention on Monday.

Microsoft's ambition -- despite its spotty track record of engaging consumers outside of gaming -- is to make the Xbox, which competes with Nintendo Co Ltd's Wii and Sony Corp's PlayStation, the nexus of household entertainment.

It already offers Netflix movies and Zune music and videos through its Xbox Live online subscription service. There has been talk that it will announce a deal to add Hulu TV shows to the service at E3.

Shares of Microsoft edged down 2 cents, or 0.08 percent, to $25.64 on Nasdaq at mid-afternoon. Disney's stock was down 0.6 percent to $34.03 on the New York Stock Exchange.

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