Sony's PS3 movie download service rolling out Stateside this summer

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Sony just released a rambling update to it corporate strategy through fiscal year 2010. An interesting read for fans and competitors alike as Sony lays bare initiatives intent on moving Sony from recovery to the "leading global provider of networked consumer electronics and entertainment." Most notable in the near-term however, is word from Kazuo Hirai, chieftain of Sony Computer Entertainment, that Sony will make a movie download service available to US PlayStation 3 owners this summer -- Japan and Europe at later dates with details coming "next month," presumably at E3. Moreover, Sony expects its gaming business to achieve profitability by March 2009, the end of the current fiscal year. Of course, we already knew that Sony was prepped to deliver full-length TV shows and movies sometime in 2008 via its North American PLAYSTATION Network. But summer, eh? Judging by the increased molecular agitation of sidewalk effluence, we'd say that Sony's season of movie downloads is already upon us.

Source: engadget

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The company says the major studios have signed on.

Washington, D.C. (July 16, 2008) -- Sony yesterday launched a movie download service on the Play Station 3 video console that includes standard-def and High-Definition programs.

The announcement, which had been expected for weeks, follows Monday's news that Microsoft will add a NetFlix movie streaming service to its XBox 360 video game console.

While the NetFlix service apparently will not include high-def movies, Microsoft does offer HD TV shows and movies on its XBox Live service.

Sony and Microsoft continue to battle for the nation's living rooms with everything from Blu-ray players to download services as well as innovative games.

Sony said yesterday that it had signed up the major studios including Fox, Disney and Warner to offer movies on its download service, according to the Associated Press.

Additionally, company officials said the downloads could be transported from the console to the Play Station Portable handheld device.

As part of its new strategy, Sony said it would introduce an 80GB Play Station 3 for $399 in September.

“This new 80Gb PS3 is perfectly suited for high-definition downloads of games, movies and more,” said Jack Tretton, president of Sony Computer Entertainment.

Source: TV Predictions

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