EON

New York – Microsoft has big plans for Xbox 360 users who take advantage of the console’s Xbox Live Video Marketplace feature. Aside from the possible tie up with Netflix, Microsoft will be teaming up with Hollywood producer Peter Safran and his company Safran Digital.

Safran is planning to make bite-sized shows that will appeal to the Xbox 360 demographic, consisting of mostly male gamers within the age range of 14 to 34 years old.

Safran Digital’s COO is Jake Zim who led digital marketing campaigns for 28 Weeks Later and The Hills Have Eyes during his stint as Fox Atomic’s vice president.

Peter Safran’s latest credits include Meet the Spartans and Over Her Dead Body.

As head of the Safran company, he intends to produce original scripted shows of varying genres from comedy to horror. The clips will run at approximately 10 minutes.

“The Xbox is unique. It operates at a level outside of what we generally consider Web entertainment,” Mr. Safran said. “We had a very specific idea that we knew worked for a core audience. Xbox clearly has this exact same demographic.”

He added that initially the new shows will be available only on Xbox 360, but later they might appear elsewhere. Scott Nocas, global marketing manager for programming of the Xbox Live entertainment service said that this deal is just the first out of many: “We definitely look at this as the first of many.”

The short flicks, which are expected to become available beginning this Fall, will be initially time-exclusive to the Xbox 360 then will air elsewhere, Mr. Safran says.

Microsoft is enthusiastic about the deal with Safran and hopes it opens the door to other projects. “We definitely look at this as the first of many,” said Scott Nocas, global marketing manager of programming for the Xbox Live programming service.