Broadband-based distribution of television shows and movies is one of the new "it" trends tech companies are obsessing over. Microsoft recently joined the fray last November when it revealed that it would be selling videos for playback on the Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Marketplace.

　　While the jury is out on how successful downloadable video will be across the board, one research firm has speculated on how much Microsoft's initiative will take in.

　　Research and Markets, a Dublin, Ireland-based tech analyst firm, spotlights Microsoft in the latest edition of its "Spotlight on Television 2.0 Leaders" series of business briefs. According to the company's report, sales of both TV shows and movies sold via Xbox Live "could reach $92.25 million in 2007, growing each year through 2011, when the aggregate revenue from the sale of both types of content could top $726 million."

　　While no official stats have been released, Microsoft did say that the service has been a success so far, with executives from content publishers touting Xbox Live as one of the top methods for digitally distributing videos.