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Blake's 7 to be remade by Microsoft as Xbox Live original

As part of the promised original TV programming for Xbox Live, reports suggest that Microsoft will remake the BBC sci-fi classic.

Nic Healey Senior Editor / Australia
Nic Healey is a Senior Editor with CNET, based in the Australia office. His passions include bourbon, video games and boring strangers with photos of his cat.
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Nic Healey

Back at the launch of the Xbox One, Microsoft boasted that it would be producing original shows for Xbox Live, much like Hulu or Netflix are in the US.

(Credit: BBC)

It even wheeled out Steven Spielberg to talk about a live-action Halo TV series.

Now the rumours have spread to the cult classic Blake's 7, with the Financial Times reporting that Microsoft is set to remake the show as part of its original content programming.

The original Blake's 7 was created by Terry Nation of Doctor Who fame, and ran for four seasons from 1978 to 1981. It was conceived as "Dirty Dozen in Space", and remains a fan favourite thanks to its dark storyline and characterisations.

If the rumours prove true, this could be a high-profile win for Microsoft, luring in an older generation of sci-fi fans who may not have been tempted by a Halo series.

It also demonstrates that Microsoft is committed to the Xbox One as a full entertainment device — and it certainly won't hurt Microsoft's plans for Kinect-enabled interactive advertising.