http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2012/Aug12/08-23XboxLIVEElectionPR.aspx
Microsoft to Launch “Election 2012 Hub on Xbox LIVE”
Aug 23, 2012
Alongside NBCNews.com, Rock the Vote, YouGov and Face the Facts USA, Xbox will deliver a first-of-its-kind way to interact with the election and make your voice heard.
“As a leader in digital and broadcast news, NBC News is always looking for more places to deliver its high-quality multimedia content, particularly in this critical campaign year. This relationship with Xbox LIVE is a unique opportunity to expand our reach on a really innovative platform,” said Vivian Schiller, senior vice president and chief digital officer at NBC News.
Sadly, while it's a good thing to encourage people to learn the issues & vote as informed citizens, when it's used to present just one side's point of view it's not all that different from state run or sponsored media in places like Syria & Iran. MSNBC & NBC have long been recognized as friendly to the current US president [as have at least 2 of the 3 other sites] -- that's not a problem in the Real World, being balanced by networks & media outlets with an opposite slant. Turn on the TV, you can view your choice of channels. Go on-line & you can visit your choice of sites, view pretty much whatever video, read whatever articles & blogs you wish. Use an Xbox & those choices are made for you -- in many cases without the viewer knowing there's a choice, in all cases making that choice without your consent.
I'm not saying I support the current admin, or not -- just that everyone should be able to make their own choices, make up their own minds... I'm just as disgusted by Republican spam in my inbox as I am with e-mails coming from Democrats. I suppose that there is a business case to be made for Microsoft's decision -- NBC's been tanking in the ratings, in dire enough straits that they've even cut Jay Leno's staff & pay, & besides any direct or indirect financial ties with MS, their inclusion in the deal no doubt came much cheaper than more successful alternatives. OTOH Microsoft's Ballmer did say he wanted MS to be more like Apple, & as with win8's missing Start Menu & forced cell phone interface, I guess that means giving consumers less & less choice.