Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

Microsoft's Xbox TV studio OBLITERATED

Blake's 7 fans mourn, but Spielberg, Ridley Scott spared the chop

Microsoft's Xbox chief Phil Spencer has confirmed his firm will shutter its ambitious Xbox TV studio, Xbox Entertainment Studios, after only two years.

Among the casualties is a remake of the BBC's cardboard-prop classic, Blake's 7. However, two scripted live-action productions based on the Halo game, to be produced by Stephen Spielberg and Ridley Scott respectively, have been spared the axe. So has a documentary series on the games industry, Signal To Noise.

Microsoft's Xbox division announced the ambitious plans in 2012, following Netflix's announcement to invest in original programming in early 2011. Very little of the material has been completed, with football reality series Every Street United which aired during the World Cup, an exception.

You can see a recent production schedule (dated March) here - and the memo announcing the closure here.

Amongst the casualties are Humans, involving the British writers and producers behind Spooks and Life on Mars, which had been picked up by Channel 4 for broadcast next year.

This week Microsoft announced it would cut 18,000 jobs from its 132,000 workforce, only the second time it has cut jobs, and by far the larger of the two.

New CEO Satya Nadella announced the cuts with a widely criticised and badly written 3,300 word epic, which Jean-Louis Gassée has nicely boiled down into a 200-word version. ®

 

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like