Microsoft first to bat with direct-to-television movie downloads
Microsoft Corp. said Monday it will begin selling television and movie downloads through its Xbox Live service later this month, beating rival Apple Computer to the punch as the first major player to offer a direct-to-television movie download experience.
Television shows will include CBS's "Survivor," VH1's "Hogan Knows Best" and COMEDY CENTRAL's "Chappelle's Show."
Unlike Apple's iTunes, which charges customers a flat fee to own movies they download, Microsoft's Xbox live will only offer film downloads for rent. Customers will have a window period of two weeks from the time they first purchase films to they expire. However, once a customer begins watching a flick, they'll have only 24 hours to finish.
TV shows downloads will function similar to Apple's iTunes, with customers being charged a flat fee for a single download which they can watch repeatedly.
Although Microsoft claims it has approximately 4 million subscribers to Xbox Live, the new video download service is only compatible with newer Xbox 360 gaming consoles with the 20GB hard disk attachment, requiring a total purchase of $399.
Apple will begin offering direct-to-television video downloads early next year through its existing iTunes service and a device called iTV — the codename for its wireless media set-top box projected to go on sale for $299 by the end of the first quarter.
Microsoft's has yet to announce its movie pricing structure. Apple's iTunes service charges $12.99 for new releases pre-ordered during their first week of availability, and $14.99 thereafter. Library titles cost just $9.99.
124 Comments
What? You mean Microsoft bundled thier (media) browser with thier (gaming) operating system?
Oh man, where did they ever get that idea? \
Okay is it just me or is this idea pretty lame? Most people who have an xBox will already have a tv they can watch well duh television on and unless the xBox comes with some encrypted software that does not allow DVD movie play back what's the point of renting a movie you download to watch on your television? It just makes no sense that you will be downloading tv/movies on a gaming console connected to your tv to watch on your television. Is it just me or is that a little redundant?
Okay is it just me or is this idea pretty lame? Most people who have an xBox will already have a tv they can watch well duh television on and unless the xBox comes with some encrypted software that does not allow DVD movie play back what's the point of renting a movie you download to watch on your television? It just makes no sense that you will be downloading tv/movies on a gaming console connected to your tv to watch on your television. Is it just me or is that a little redundant?
Indeed. What is the point of iTV, then?
Indeed. What is the point of iTV, then?
To browse your digital hub on a television. I will for one make use of iTV to share my photos with. But you could also use to play music and other videos (presumably from Google). If iTV has the bandwith I will use to browse my music library that's close to 200GBs (yes they are all my albums). So iTV and this new scheme Microsoft is trying to get people to buy into is just a load of shite if you as me.
Indeed. What is the point of iTV, then?
It means more competition for the poor cable companies. They've got to deal with telephone companies offering TV, Microsoft, Apple, and other convergence solutions (slingbox and similar.)
I think the real discussion is how Microsoft is able to get away with becoming a hardware company all of a sudden, like Apple, without too antitrust lawsuits to operate.
I expect Apple and Microsoft to lead and to buy up most of these technologies, (and Comcast will hire more software developers) but basically Apple and Microsoft. Until others are able to copy what they did, but by then Apple and Microsoft will be innovating in other areas.