Microsoft and the New York Television Festival have announced a new Xbox Live Originals contest, submissions for which begin April 16, 2007. The deadline is June 29, 2007, after which the winning 5 to 15-minute live-action and/or animated pilot of any genre (comedy, action, drama, sci-fi and so on) will be chosen. The winner will then receive a $100,000 deal to create the related six episode TV series that will be digitally distributed on Xbox Live in July as well as get an exclusive screening event at the 2007 New York Television Festival in September.
"Not only can aspiring TV producers from across the globe try their hands at creating new TV shows, but because of Xbox LIVE Marketplace, they can now win a chance to have more than 6 million people worldwide see their work. This is an incredible opportunity for us to participate in the festival, and we are thrilled to be able to bring community-created TV content to the Xbox community for the first time," said senior Xbox Live director Bill Nielsen.