In terms of multi-media offerings, the Xbox 360 found itself at a disadvantage to the Playstation 3 due to the fact that the Playstation has a built in Blu-Ray HD player and the Xbox 360 had… well… nothing. Trust me, I’ve talked to several people who said that was their determining factor in choosing a PS3 over the Xbox.
A few days ago however Xbox announced that they would soon be streaming the Netflix Instant service (something you can currently only do on your computer or with the Roku set top box (which I totally love by the way). It was a great move, that Sony is now trying to counter by announcing digital downloading movies and tv shows will now be available for rent or purchase over your PS3 (including some in HD). The news release says this:
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today launches the company’s new video delivery service on PLAYSTATION®Store for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3(TM)) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems in the United States. Consumers will have the ability to download full-length movies, television shows, and original programming accessible through the PLAYSTATION Store on PLAYSTATION®Network. With nearly 300 full length movies and more than 1,200 TV episodes, many available in both standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD), PLAYSTATION Network’s video delivery service makes PS3 the ultimate entertainment platform and enhances PSP’s status as a portable entertainment marvel. PLAYSTATION Network’s video delivery service will become available later this evening.
20th Century Fox’s “Jumper”, Lionsgate’s “3:10 to Yuma”, MGM’s “Rocky”, Paramount Pictures’ “Cloverfield”, Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man”, and Warner Bros. Entertainment’s “10,000 B.C.” are a few of the titles available for electronic sell-through on the video service at launch. Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” will also be available for rent.
Consumers who rent a movie from the video delivery service have 14 days to watch the content. Once content playback is started, consumers have a full 24 hours to enjoy their rental. Pricing for rental movies at launch ranges from $2.99 to $5.99, and pricing for purchased movies ranges from $9.99 to $14.99.
Another nice little feature is that you’ll be able to transfer your media from the PS3 to your PSP (although for the life of me I don’t know why you’d want to).
This is a smart and inevitable movie for Sony. I still prefer the Netflix Instant model to a flat rental model, but others may think differently than me… and the HD option is a nice one too.
You can read the whole press release here.
