Microsoft is having a contest to get users of Xbox LIVE to produce original content for the Xbox LIVE network. The contest involves the creation of an original exclusive TV show to be aired on Xbox LIVE. The winner of the contest will be granted a $100,000 budget to produce the show and the chance of getting a six-episode commitment to air the show on Xbox LIVE.

The winning entrant will have their program debuted this fall at the third annual New York Television Festival. "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," said Bill Nielsen, senior director of Xbox LIVE at Microsoft. "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."
Microsoft says that Xbox LIVE is currently home to 1,500 hours of full-length films and TV series. "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 Terence Gray, founder of NYTVF. "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."