The New York Times is reporting that Microsoft and the Safran Company will work together to offer original TV shows for the Xbox 360 console. Peter Safran, who represents Hollywood heavyweights like Sean Combs, said the first round of programming would be scripted. He figures they will start short, running about 10 minutes in length.

Safran wants to cater to the 360's core demographic of males aged 14-34 with comedy and horror programming. While the shows will start as 360 exclusives, Safran said they may later be available elsewhere.

The Times notes that this isn't Microsoft's first digital entertainment venture. MSN Originals is a two-year-old project to provide shows for the web and more than a decade ago it spent $100 million promoting a group of shows it hastily canceled. The first shows are expected to be ready for viewing by fall.