Mumbai: Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) launched the new video delivery service on PlayStation Store for PlayStation3 (PS3) and PSP (PlayStation Portable) systems in the United States. Consumers will have the ability to download full-length movies, television shows, and original programming accessible through the PlayStation Store on PlayStation Network. With nearly 300 full-length movies and more than 1,200 TV episodes, many available in both standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD), PlayStation Network’s video delivery service makes PS3 the ultimate entertainment platform and enhances PSP’s status as a portable entertainment marvel. PlayStation Network’s video delivery service will become available later this evening.
SCEA will initially make available to consumers, content for video rental and electronic sell-through from top movie studios including 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. Entertainment as well as titles for rent from The Walt Disney Studios and popular titles from a variety of television partners.
"PlayStation Network’s video delivery service capitalizes on the superior value and entertainment potential of PS3 and PSP – not only for gaming enthusiasts, but for the millions of consumers looking to buy the best, most versatile solution for their home entertainment system," said Sony Computer Entertainment America president and CEO Jack Tretton.
"The collaboration of Sony’s film, TV and entertainment business units coupled with our hardware and content offerings provide consumers with entertainment experiences unlike any on the market," he further added.
The video delivery service will have full integration in the PlayStation Network, utilizing the same login, wallet management, and user interface of the newly revamped PlayStation Store. Video will be categorized, for example, by top rating, alphabetical order, television shows, and movies and content is fully searchable, for example, by title, producer, studio, and cast. In addition, PS3’s progressive downloading means users can view content shortly after the downloading process begins. Background downloading is also a feature of PS3, allowing users to access other platform features such as gaming and other XMB (XrossMediaBar) content while a video is downloading to their consoles.
Alvin and the Chipmunks, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, 3:10 to Yuma, Rocky, Cloverfield, Spider-Man, and 10,000 B.C. are a few of the titles available for download on the video service at launch. SCEI will also be introducing original exclusive content such as Xam’d: Lost Memories, an anime series developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, delivered in SD and HD.
Consumers who rent a movie from the video delivery service have 14 days to watch the content. Once content playback is started, consumers have a full 24 hours to enjoy their rental. Pricing for rental movies at launch ranges from $2.99 to $5.99, and pricing for purchased movies ranges from $9.99 to $14.99. Sony has also adopted Marlin Digital Rights Management technology, an open industry standard for protecting and managing digital content, to provide consumers with flexible access to their content while ensuring digital rights are protected.
