Variety's video games reporter Ben Fritz looked into Sony's announcement yesterday about their
video download service; turns out Sony has been in talks with all the major movie studios, but none have signed onto the PS3 download service just yet. It seems that Sony is looking to compete with Xbox Live Video Marketplace by adding extra features, such as allowing the owner of the download to transfer a copy of the movie to their PSPs, similar to their
plans for Blu-ray. However, more features means more complicated contracts with studios, possibly leading to less content for the video download service on launch date. Fritz feels that if the PS3 download service has the same or better features as Xbox Live, it won't have problems getting major studios to participate.
Sony does have at least one studio backing it up though, and that is Sony Pictures. If they can convince just one other studio to sign on, they will have the same amount of studios Xbox Live Video market place had when it begin at the end of 2006. What do you guys think? Should Sony opt for more features, but have less content at launch? Or should they forget about the features and get as many studios to sign on as possible?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-27-2008 @ 8:34AM
BornSkillful said...
I'm more worried about Blu-Ray. Why is Sony offering movie downloads when they have a great format of their own? Besides, when you download a "HD" movie you won't get the same quality if you got it from a Blu-Ray disc.
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6-27-2008 @ 8:44AM
The Aggie CEO said...
thats why they dont see it hurting Blu-ray sales......
I'd much rather buy a Blu-ray than an HD download which may get lost or bricked due to DRM issuses.......
6-27-2008 @ 9:51AM
Christian said...
Its called not putting all your eggs in one basket. Sony got Blu-Ray and they are sure it will be a huge success. But they realize that at least for some types of customers there will be interest in a download service too. And there is no reason for Sony to leave that market to anyone else to monetize.
6-27-2008 @ 10:35AM
dynamicD said...
I think I read somewhere, that HD video will only be rentals. Due to hard drive space issues. So it's like, if you want the HD experience, Blu-Ray is still the way to go.
6-27-2008 @ 3:10PM
Lars said...
They were really pushing for DRM-free movies, which is why no studios want to go there. I say just do it, even if the only studio on board is Sony Pictures. They've got Seinfeld at least... and a handful of other stuff I can think of off the top of my head. Just being able to buy DRM-free $2 episodes of Seinfeld is cool.
I really hope they stick to their DRM-free guns, and not do the rental crap that dynamicD mentioned. They'd definitely 1-up the competition with just a small library if it's DRM-free. 'cause I know I'm never EVER buying a DRM'd movie, so iTunes, Amazon, XBL, etc. all suck balls in my opinion.
6-27-2008 @ 8:35AM
Rowdehaj said...
I think Sony Pictures will be a good stepping stone for this feature. US-only I suppose? yeah, figures...
Sony ought to one-up MS and even Apple by getting their movie download service worldwide from day one!
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6-27-2008 @ 8:53AM
adamu said...
Even if they have one studio, that'll still be one more than Microsoft have in Australia.
People always seem to forget that, the main differences between XBL and PSN are only available in one country...
6-27-2008 @ 10:15AM
Jon Acheson said...
The problem there is that while Sony Pictures will surely get on board, for all the other studios, they are funding their competition by participating.
6-27-2008 @ 2:51PM
Lars said...
I don't get it, Jon. How is selling more downloads "funding the competition?"
6-27-2008 @ 3:26PM
Rowdehaj said...
Lars, I think he means movie downloads --> profits go to SCE --> indirectly, Sony Pictures benefits from that.
I doubt it, myself. The margins are probably too small to make a big difference across divisions of Sony that differ so much as they do.
6-27-2008 @ 8:44AM
uh-oh polio said...
meh, i dont care much about movie downloads as i have fios and theres plenty of movies to watch on the tv. In HD too. Soooo im good on this.
I was also wondering that if you download a video aka (bluray), your gonna need an enormous hdd yes?
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6-27-2008 @ 8:46AM
The Aggie CEO said...
they wont have ENTIRE blu-ray disc up there..........that would be dumb.........not to mention it'll take most people DAYS to download 25GB+ of features even with broadband connections....
6-27-2008 @ 8:46AM
The Aggie CEO said...
they wont have ENTIRE blu-ray disc up there..........that would be dumb.........not to mention it'll take most people DAYS to download 25GB+ of features even with broadband connections....
6-27-2008 @ 9:02AM
drdre74 said...
Does it matter? Its not like we'll ever see this go live anyway. This will happen the same time someone gets a real picture of Big Foot! I'm tired of hearing Sony say they are doing something and it never happens. How hard is it to upload your own Sony movies and TV shows. They own that stuff. Spiderman could be online right now.
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6-27-2008 @ 9:04AM
Brodie-san said...
Knowing Sony they'll go with option B - take their time and get over the stumbling legal block as soon as possible and grow the business with just Sony Pictures starting as part of the service.
Of course, certain detractors will decry "No Filmz!" now that they can't use the "Oh Noes! NO GAMEZ!" meme - but this is to be suspected in this environment of one-up-manship.
I think Sony are hedging their bets with the digital media scene. Blu-ray and downloadable media can co-exist quite comfortably. There is market for both, especially when you consider that until generic download speeds get a LOT faster video/film afficionados will opt for the blu-ray option.
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6-27-2008 @ 9:40AM
The Aggie CEO said...
Hell Sony Pictures consists of: Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Screen Gems, Merv Griffin Enterprises(Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, & more)
AND if they use their 20% ownership of MGM they got another studio.......(do they still own 20% of MGM?? lol)
it'll be fine off the strength alone of those......at least for the time being.....
Hell Walker, Texas Ranger is Tri-star/columbia.......and we all Know how Chuck Norris Sells
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6-27-2008 @ 9:49AM
Eric E said...
Whats the real advantage over owning a physical copy or not getting it illegally???? It would have to be some of the following:
Cheaper, Before DVD release, Extra Content, Convenient, unrestricted.
Im more interested in seeing TV Shows. Especially Arrested Development and Futurama (2 New DVDs out, not HD, not on Cable). Cult shows that didn't make it that we can download and watch.
I want more features, easy access on PSP. But how will the DRM work? if i delete will it be gone forever? will it have 6X download limit like Games/content on PSN?
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6-27-2008 @ 9:55AM
True_Darknight said...
You mean 5 times limit!!...
But yes if they let me transfer to PSP it would be much easier than copying file from laptop to PS3 and then use file in laptop to put thru the PSP Movie creator.. H.264 all the way ofc!!! at 29fps! .. and wait for the conversion to put into PSP.. of the Hardships!!!
6-27-2008 @ 10:17AM
maxpontiac said...
Whatever Sony decides to do, they need to move quickly.
Sony's black eye with the PS3 is one delay after another.
If they expect the PS3 to be another PS2, they need to get the ball rolling.
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6-27-2008 @ 10:34AM
ImBakinBacon said...
I think they should worry about the content first, then add the features as they get going.
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