We’ve still got a ways before the iTV is delivered into our sweaty palms (Macworld 2007 at the earliest), but Microsoft is taking the opportunity to jump into the downloadable video fray post haste. They’ve announced that as of November 22nd, Xbox 360 owners will be able to download HD TV shows and movies to watch on their TVs. Does this take a bite out of Apple’s pie (see how I did that?), or is it no big deal?
Redmond’s struck deals with CBS, MTV, Paramount, TBS, and Warner Bros. for content. That list is not quite as extensive as it looks: MTV and Paramount, for example, are both owned by Viacom (CBS used to be owned by them as well, but is now its own company); TBS is owned by Time Warner, as is Warner Bros. As for UFC, well, it’s a bunch of people kicking the bejeezus out of each other, which seems like it would certainly appeal to Xbox 360 owners.
In a strange move of double standards, TV shows will be available to own, while movies will only be available to rent for 24 hours. Prices have not yet been announced, but they are supposed to be “competitive” (and, I’m guessing, point-based like Microsoft’s Zune).
HD is the killer app here; MS says 20% of the launch offerings will be HD, with more to come. Apple’s plans for HD are still unknown, though the iTV does presumably have HD capability, given the inclusion of an HDMI port.
I just have one major question for you Microsoft: on your list of content, you’ve announced Warner Bros. will be providing Superman Returns and Batman Forever. Seriously: you’ve opted for Routh’s Superman but Kilmer’s Batman? What’s the matter: couldn’t get Bale? For shame.
[via Ars Technica]
This is the first thing that Microsoft's done that really looks like competition for Apple: HD video with a large install base.
If Apple doesn't launch iTV with HD video, things might not turn out so well. Maybe we can hope that Apple will at least get us better licensing terms.
Us computer geeks really need to take the blinders off. Does anyone seriously believe average people are going to buy an expensive gaming console to bring downloaded HD movies to their AV setup? (Yah right, and people bought PlayStations by the millions for the DVD player.)
There is something not quite right about all this MS hooplah on this service. They say it will (hopefully) launch in two weeks. They're not mentioning prices. You can't own the movie, which means it's DRM'ed to death. It just reeks of something that was rushed to market to try to beat Apple and others to the punch. And Microsoft doesn't do well when it tries to be the lead dog.
Your use of the phrase 'Double standards' makes it sound like a bad thing..
On the contrary, it makes perfect sense to me that i'd want to own my favourite TV shows (simpsons, seinfeld) to watch over and over again. Of course, there are some movies i watch over and over as well, but for the most part 1 time is enough.
I think this is an excellent move by M$. That's a very worrying development...
Sounds like Microsoft is pulling together and actually putting up a good competition for Apple and the iPod.
Apple better release that touch-screen...err touch-bezel iPod with real wifi/"airport" before the Zune picks up a large user-base.
Own vs rent HD content (720p)
I am assuming HD is 720p and not 1080p because of download time and file size.
Renting has its advantages. You don't needed a lot of space to store the downloads since it gets cleaned out after a few days.
However, people might want to buy HD video that they really like. Both Xbox and iTV need a mechanism for saving the downloads. As the collection grows, more and more hard disk space is needed and that does not come cheap (at least to most people). Also, the threat of a crash means, we need cheap optical disks to backup. So, I still don't know if HD downloads for purchase is viable. For rent, may be.