PlayStation nets NBC Universal content
This week’s home video releases of “Milk” and “Role Models” flowed day-and-date to PlayStation 3 and PSP systems, under an online movie and TV deal between Sony America and NBC Universal.
Sony, working hard to keep No. 3 console PS3 relevant, is making Universal films available in standard and high definition. Downloads to own come only in SD, while rentals are available in high definition and SD. Pricing varies with content type and definition.
PS3 fan boys are likely to welcome NBC Universal TV series such as “The Office,” “Heroes” and “Battlestar Galactica.” Episodes will be available to PS3 nation the day after they air on the NBC networks.
Films cited in the corporate fluffery were “Role Models,” “Hellboy II,” “Death Race” and some stray classics such as “The Big Lebowski.”
Sony Computer Entertainment America said the addition of NBC Uni fare gives PS3 users the biggest selection of movies on any of the gaming platforms. The PlayStation Network now has about 1,300 films and 4,500 TV episodes. Xbox Live’s web site shows 1,150 movie releases and 610 TV episodes, with the edge in show quality clearly going to PSNet with the addition of NBC.
The Xbox Live Marketplace has long been considered the leader in console video, swamping the PS3 in revenues.
“In just over seven months our video delivery service has grown by leaps and bounds,” flacked Peter Dille, a senior vp in marketing at SCEA.
The portable gaming video crown is not in dispute, with PS3 owners able to transfer content to the PSP units.
Team PS3 could use some good news, with the platform consistently running third in game console sales behind Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
Video traffic control: NBC Universal, meanwhile, has gone with the Conviva platform for coordinating and controlling its online video flows.
NBC Uni’s chief tech officer cited the many issues with last summer’s Olympics feeds: “We also know too well the challenges — the quality, the unpredictable nature, and the costs — associated with live and high bit rate Internet broadcasting.”
Conviva’s C3 platform allow for instand management of video content across multiple outlets (“similar to an air traffic controller”) as well as real-time audience measurement (“trend and behavior insight”).
Iger trial-balloons online Mickey Mouse club
Disney chieftain Robert Iger continues to seek a future beyond DVD and Blu-ray, floating the idea of an online video club for Mouse house fare.
The Disney movie and TV service would work on a subscription model.
Iger has become more pessimistic about DVDs in past months, citing the popularity of online video. “We’re trying to find ways to make it work for us and not fight it,” Iger told the Media and Communications Conference in Palm Beach, Fla. “From our perspective, the computer is a very, very important place to entertain people.”
He cited a poll that showed more than 80 percent of viewers between the ages of 13 and 24 consider a computer their primary entertainment source, with TV running second. The erosion of traditional electronic media shows no sign of slowing — Iger gets that.
Another good reason to go with an online service for kids: The new generation of parents are increasingly consuming entertainment from their computers and will be comfortable paying for streaming Disney product.
Disney has been busily hedging its bets in the home video arena. It has been selling titles with both DVD and Blu-ray versions in the box, assuring buyers that their movie won’t become obsolete.
In February, Iger announced that Disney would reduce the number of DVDs and Blu-rays it releases. “When the economy rebounds, the normal we see (in the DVD business) is not necessarily going to be the normal we were used to.”
Also on the conference beat, Netflix CFO Barry McCarthy on Wednesday watered down his recent suggestions that the mail-rental giant was about to offer an online-only subscription option for its Watch Instantly service. He cited lack of market penetration for WI-ready devices such as the Roku box.
Amazon VOD streams through Roku
The 40,000 films and TV episodes on the menu at Amazon Video on Demand now can be ordered via the digital video player Roku.
The $99 black box already streams Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” offerings of primarily catalog films and shows. The Amazon VOD is a solid upgrade, since the service often goes day-and-date with Hollywood’s DVD releases.
Amazon, of course, now sells the Roku Digital Video Player
The software updates for existing Roku owners are expected this week, the companies said in a press releases about the online video deal.
Beta testers have praised the quality of images but criticized the search functions. Roku users seem to be a happy bunch, except for the lack of Hulu compatibility.
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