Microsoft has acquired California-based video discovery technology company VideoSurf.
Xbox Live director Alex Garden said: "VideoSurf's content analytics technology will enhance the search and discovery of entertainment content across our platform.
"This holiday we will launch voice search across our entertainment partners on Xbox Live. Over time, as we integrate VideoSurf's technology into our system, we are excited about the potential to have content tagged in real time to increase the speed and relevance of the search results."
The financial terms of the acquisition weren't disclosed, but a TechCrunch source valued the deal at just shy of $100 million in cash.
Starting on December 6 "and continuing on an ongoing basis through the holiday months", new Xbox Live applications for television, movies, internet videos, sports and music will begin rolling out in more than 20 countries.
Microsoft has promised to add content from almost 40 new media partners including the BBC, Lovefilm, Channel 4, HBO and Verizon, ushering in what the platform holder has billed as "a new era in television".