Media Wonk

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Movie download game heats up - July 14, 2008

Don't know what it says about the video game business but movies are grabbing a share of the spotlight at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) this week in Los Angeles. Microsoft kicked things off Monday by unveiling what it's calling a "complete relaunch" of its Xbox 360 platform to focus on social networking and movie and TV downloads, as well as, you know, games. As part of the relaunch, Microsoft formally announced its looong-rumored partnership with Netflix to bring Netflix's subscription streaming service to the Xbox Live marketplace, doubling the amount of movie and TV content available to Xbox Live users to about 20,000 titles.

Sony is set to go Tuesday, when it is expected to provide more details of its recently announced movie download service for PlayStation 3 owners via the PlayStation Network. Although initial reports had Sony Pictures as the sole major studio providing content to the new service, Media Wonk wouldn't be surprised to see Universal be part of tomorrow's announcement.

Universal has made its titles available to Goview.tv a new movie download service for PlayStation Portable owners that just when live in beta form in the U.K. According to the Web site's FAQ, GoView uses Sky's Kontiki P2P platform to deliver movies and TV content on a pay-per-view basis to PSPs, via a PC. There are also three subscription packages focused on sports, comedy and "entertainment." Subscriptions range from 5 to 10 pounds per month (roughly $10-$20) based on the number of packages included.

From the FAQ:

The Kontiki program is designed to be a very secure peer-to-peer technology. It uses advanced encryption technologies and security methods to ensure that the delivery grid is safe to use. Other users of the network CANNOT access your PC. All videos are virus-checked before they are introduced to the grid. Only shows that are part of the GO!VIEW service can be transferred over Sky's Kontiki grid. The Kontiki program is designed to run in the background and not interfere with other activity on your PC. This means that it will slow down its own activities while you're using the internet for other things, including using GO!VIEW, or browsing the internet or using your email.

Naturally, the Microsoft and Sony systems won't work with each other, and neither will work with Apple TV or iTunes.



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