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HD Video Delivery Service Coming to Playstation 3
By Shane Sturgeon
Publisher & Chief Technologist
Posted on July 16, 2008
Category: Internet HD Video
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PLAYSTATION(R)Network's Video Delivery Service to Offer Movies and TV Shows for Purchase and Rental Through PLAYSTATION(R)3 and PSP(R) (Playstation(R)Portable)

New service to expand entertainment offering of PLAYSTATION 3 and PSP giving consumers downloadable content when and where they want it


FOSTER CITY, Calif., July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today launches the company's new video delivery service on PLAYSTATION(R)Store for PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)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(R)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.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) will initially make available to consumers content for video rental and electronic sell-through from top movie studios including: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. Entertainment as well as titles for rent from The Walt Disney Studios and a wide-ranging menu of popular titles from a variety of television partners.

"PLAYSTATION Network's video delivery service capitalizes on the superior value and entertainment potential of PS3 and PSP -- not only for gaming enthusiasts, but also for the millions of consumers looking to buy the best, most versatile solution for their home entertainment system," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "The collaboration of Sony's film, TV and entertainment business units, coupled with our hardware and content offerings, provide consumers with entertainment experiences unlike any on the market."

The video delivery service will have full integration in the PLAYSTATION Network, utilizing the same login, wallet management, and user interface of the newly revamped PLAYSTATION Store. Video will be categorized, for example, by top rating, alphabetical order, television shows, and movies and content is also fully searchable, for example, by title, producer, studio and cast. In addition, PS3's progressive downloading means users can view content shortly after the downloading process begins. Background downloading is also a feature of PS3, allowing users to access other platform features such as gaming and other XMB(TM) (XrossMediaBar) content while a video is downloading to their consoles.

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. Additionally, SCEI will be introducing original exclusive content such as

Xam'd: Lost Memories, an anime series developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, delivered in SD and HD.

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. Sony has also adopted Marlin Digital Rights Management technology, an open industry standard for protecting and managing digital content, to provide consumers with flexible access to their content while ensuring digital rights are protected. Usage rules of the video download service will allow content for purchase to be shared on multiple activated devices including PS3 and PSP systems per PLAYSTATION Network account, depending on the type of content purchased by the user.

One of the biggest value propositions of PLAYSTATION Network's video delivery service is the ability to transfer digital content onto the PSP from the PS3. For the initial electronic sell-through or rental price, consumers can also transfer content onto multiple devices. The connectivity between PS3 and PSP platforms provides a seamless solution for those looking for entertainment experiences on their own terms -- on the go or in their living room -- all with a new-found freedom of not having to worry about TV schedules, movie listings or viewing on a desktop PC.


About PLAYSTATION(R)Network

The PLAYSTATION(R)Network is an emergent entertainment network aimed at digitally delivering innovative content and fostering community for a worldwide audience. The PLAYSTATION Network is the gateway to the PLAYSTATION(R)Store, PlayStation.com, and Sony Computer Entertainment America's upcoming service PlayStation(R)Home. In addition to offering new and original forms of entertainment, the PLAYSTATION Network supports free and community-centric online gameplay, communications tools, and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) and PLAYSTATION(R)3 connectivity. As of June 2008, the PLAYSTATION Network has more than 10M registered accounts worldwide.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game console, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its digital services PLAYSTATION(R)Network and PLAYSTATION(R)Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com/

"PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", "PSP", "PS one" and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks and "PS3" and "XMB" are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: Sony Computer Entertainment America

Posted by Shane Sturgeon, July 16, 2008 07:47 PM

Reader Commentary

Jul 16, 9:56pm
PLAYSTATION Network's video delivery service will become available later this evening. Press release and service release within 24 hours? :shock: Is that a first or what? :shock: Looks like Sony was up to speed
Jul 17, 5:27am
I am slowly writing an update to my article: A Comparison of Video Download Services. I was waiting on this Sony announcement before beginning that addendu
Jul 17, 6:11am
You can download free videos now from the playstation store - game and movie trailers. They typically offer at least 2 versions - 480p and 720p with some offering 1080i or 1080p IIRC. Not sure about audio format, but playback should be exactly the same
Jul 17, 10:30am
Does anyone know about the HD quality of Sony PS3 download servise (i.e. 1080P and uncompressed audio). I would like an option to Blu-Ray but have not found it.
Jul 19, 7:02am
Well, I tried out the "new" system yesterday and although the quality is excellent (even SD titles look very good on the PS3) but download speeds are absolutely GLACIAL...taking about 40 minutes to download a 714mb file... I can only imagine how long a 7g
Jul 19, 7:12pm
Ya... I was wondering about that from downloading other stuff. Sony is going to have to take it up quite a few notches to compete on this point...
Showing only excerpts from 6 out of 7, Read More

About Shane Sturgeon

Shane Sturgeon is the Co-Publisher and Chief Technologist of HDTV Magazine, an industry publication with HDTV roots going back to 1984, when Dale Cripps founded The HDTV Newsletter. Today, HDTV Magazine is a leading online resource for HDTV news and information and captures the eyes and imaginations of over 3 million visitors annually. Mr. Sturgeon has a background in information technology and has served in various consulting capacities for Fortune 500 companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Verizon Communications, Proctor & Gamble and Nationwide Insurance. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Wright State University.