Make a Show, Get Aired on Xbox Live

Microsoft in conjunction with the New York Television Festival this week announced the creation of a contest that will see a short user-created television series distributed through the Xbox Live Video Marketplace on Xbox 360. Entries are being accepted in the form of 5- to 15-minute pilot episodes; the winning creator will receive the chance to create and run a six-episode series on the Xbox Live Video Marketplace, with a budget of $100,000. To enter the Xbox Live Originals content, head over to the official site to download the entry kit. Entrants must be 18 years of age, and all pilots must be in English or dubbed in English. "The New York Television Festival has always strived to give artists opportunities to get their voices heard in the industry, and we think that showcasing their work on the Xbox 360 will give our artists unprecedented exposure," said NYTVF founder Terence Gray. "The Xbox LIVE Originals contest acknowledges that new technologies are enabling artists to tell their stories in innovative ways, and Xbox LIVE Marketplace, one of the top digital distributors of online entertainment content, is a great place to showcase the talent that takes part in the NYTVF. The NYTVF is proud to join with Xbox 360 on its groundbreaking initiative to create and provide original programming." Entry is open until June 29, 2007, with winners to be announced in July. Leading up to the announcement, several finalist pilots will be made available for download via Xbox Live. The winning series will premiere at the 2007 NYTVF to be held September 5-10, 2007.