Xbox One News: Original Xbox Shows Release Date Planned for 2014, AMC Exec Rumored to Join Team

One of the features Microsoft frequently hyped in the months before the Xbox One was released was its plan to bring original television programming to users. Now, Microsoft is releasing new details about when users should expect this original content to be launched as rumors circulate about a cable television executive coming onboard to help get Xbox television off the ground.

Xbox Entertainment Studios President Nancy Tellem, who previously was an executive for CBS TV, spoke at a Variety media event and claimed that Microsoft will have original programming ready for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners sooner than some would have thought:

"We're hoping we will be able to put something up in the first quarter, at minimum second quarter," she said. 

Tellem did not clarify what content would be available at this time. The only confirmed television programming announced so far for the Xbox is a live-action Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg and a Quantum Break tie into the game. A third program, Every Street United, is rumored to be in the works and based around the World Cup.

Tellem also revealed that she is "incredibly ambitious and impatient," and that the progress of the Xbox original programming has been slower than she had hoped. Regardless, Tellem clarified that "reflecting on what we've done and what lies ahead, it's been pretty good."

The executive also revealed that one hurdle Xbox original programming faces is that Hollywood is uncomfortable backing the project due to the unique nature of the project.

"We aren't Netflix, we aren't Amazon, we're a different animal...We're neither or we're a little like them. It all depends. The lack of black and white and this is the template and this is what we're following is very difficult. As we continue to do deals everyone's going to get more comfortable."

Variety also reported that Ari Mark, director of development for original unscripted programming for AMC, has been hired by Microsoft to develop original programming as part of Xbox Entertainment Studios. However, the move has not been confirmed by Microsoft or AMC, so it is unclear if Mark is indeed jumping ship.

Look out for more news about the Xbox original programming right here as well as any original programming projects rumored for the console as the planned launch dates draw closer.