MUMBAI: At the E3 Media and Business Summit, Microsoft Corp. and Disney-ABC Domestic Television inked an agreement to bring films from The Walt Disney Studios to US members of Xbox LIVE, the online games and entertainment network on Xbox 360.
Beginning today, consumers will have access to a growing catalog of new and classic movies from The Walt Disney Studios including titles from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax Films, on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the high-definition-video download service. Xbox 360 owners will be able to rent popular Disney films on demand as they become available, such as Bridge to Terabithia, Miramax Film’s The Queen and Touchstone Pictures’ Deja Vu.
“We’re always looking for more ways to let people experience our films. With the millions of Xbox 360 consoles in living rooms today with a direct, high-speed Internet connection, Xbox LIVE really has become a terrific device for the delivery of digital entertainment content,” said Disney-ABC Domestic Television executive vice president of pay television and interactive media Dan Cohen.
As a result of this partnership between Microsoft and Disney-ABC Domestic Television, an array of current and library titles will be available this July, with more to come in both standard and high definition. Currently offering more than 2,350 hours of premium entertainment content from 15 partners, Xbox LIVE Marketplace is the only online service offering downloadable movies and TV shows in high definition. In a little more than seven months since video content was launched on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, there have been nearly 10 million downloads of entertainment content.
“Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE Marketplace truly offer something for everyone of all ages, gender or personal taste. With this partnership, we are able to feature blockbuster new releases as they become available, as well as an incredible array of classic family films that made Disney the icon it is today,” said Microsoft interactive entertainment business in the entertainment and devices division corporate vice president Peter Moore.
Xbox LIVE Marketplace content is available to all Xbox 360 owners. High-definition new-release movie rentals are 480 Microsoft Points each, and standard-definition new-release movie rentals are 320 Microsoft Points each. Classic feature films in high definition are 360 Microsoft Points each, and classic feature films in standard definition are 240 Microsoft Points.
