Microsoft Eyes Entry Into Scripted Television

It looks like software giant Microsoft is looking to get into the scripted TV business. I hear that the company has hired a headhunter to search for an experienced executive to serve as a head of scripted. Microsoft has dabbled into original series before. Several years ago, the company’s music and entertainment service Zune partnered with MEAN Magazine to produce Cinemash, a digital comedy series that took on classic scenes from popular movies. Microsoft recently has been exploring the scripted TV territory for its video-game console XBox. After a decade of growing pains, original content has finally become the new frontier for big Internet companies, though none has gone as far as to produce high-end series for online distribution, and Prospect Park’s failed attempt to do it with canceled soaps One Life To Live and All My Children proves just how economically challenging that is. Netflix is betting heavily on scripted series through straight acquisitions of drama House Of Cards and comedies Orange Is The New Black and Arrested Development. And Google’s YouTube recently announced the launch of as many as 100 channels with premium original content.