Netflix movie stream rerouted to PS3
Netflix is streaming its Watch Instantly service away from Xbox 360 and over into the PlayStation 3 camp.
The Netflix deal with Microsoft (Xbox) simply expired.
Not much to get excited about, really. As we’ve written before, the Watch Instantly is underwhelming, a lot of average to low-grade movies that are generally available any night on free TV.
On the Xbox 360, the two-step process to get the film streaming into your game console was a clunky pain, and once there the images looked borderline crappy.
This part is getting even worse on PS3, for now. In order to get the service, PS3 users have to insert a Netflix-supplied Blu-ray disc into their players, which also have to be connected to the Internet. A software update apparently will fix this later.
Also in line for the service, apparently, are owners of Nintendo’s Wii system. Tech blogger Dan Rayburn says he’s been leaked photos of the Wii-Netflix service, which could come this year.
Meanwhile, in other lame-tech news, Apple TV has been upgraded to 3.0 software. The changes mostly allow for more features from the iTunes Store such as the LP multimedia packages. No support for outside content, such as the Netflix package.
Macworld called the Apple TV 3.0 update “a pleasant improvement that addresses some lingering interface issues while adding whole new levels of mystery about exactly what (if anything) Apple is going to do with the product.”
Update: Apparently the Apple TV 3.0 update wasn’t an entirely pleasant experience for end users. Let’s hear it directly from Apple:
There is an issue with Apple TV software version 3.0 that can possibly cause your content to disappear after a period of time. All customers running Apple TV software version 3.0 should immediately restart their Apple TV and then upgrade to Apple TV software version 3.0.1.
Yes, that’s disappearing content.
After the botched iPhone 3G update … and the iTunes update that resulted in mysteriously AWOL library MP3 … you’d think they would be more careful. Someone should make a TV ad about this.
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”).
PlayStation movies available ‘to go’
Sony’s PlayStation Network has plugged in a video service that allows viewers to transfer downloaded movies and TV shows to their PlayStation Portable devices.
Tuesday’s news from E3 comes a day after Microsoft’s confirmation of its Netflix hookup for streaming video via Xbox Live.
While the Netflix service begins next month, the Play Station Network (PSN) videos are flowing now, using the existing login and “wallet” system. No firmware update is required. The network’s interfaces have been overhauled.
Sony says it’s launching with 300 movies and 1,200 TV episodes; the pre-existing Netflix streaming rental service has some 10,000 titles. The Xbox Live Marketplace also has a separate library of titles for sale.
Both the Sony and Microsoft video moves had been foreshadowed, but the confirmations are big news in both the download/streaming business and the game console world.
Studios providing sell-though (sales) titles to the PS3/PSP chain are Sony Pictures Entertainment (of course), Fox/MGM, Paramount, Lionsgate and Warner Bros. Disney titles such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” are available for rentals.
Pricing and rental policies will look familiar: Movie purchases from $9.99 to $14.99; rentals from $2.99 to $5.99. Renters have 14 days to watch the content. Once content playback is started, the clock ticks on a 24-hour self-destruct mode.
Downloads are progressive, meaning viewers can watch as the video content is delivered, similar to viewing a just-started recording on a TiVo.
The combined announcements by the makers of the PS3 and Xbox 360 mean the movie downloading and video streaming distribution channels have become significantly wider.
Sounds fantastic, but it’s not hard to imagine these black (and off-white) boxes moving quickly beyond their game-console beginnings, as to some extent PS3 has started to do with the popularity of its Blu-ray drive.
“The PS3 helped drive Blu-ray to victory and now Blu-ray is ready to return the favor,” Sony’s Jack Tretton said at the E3 presentation. “The story of the year is Blu-ray winning the format war, and PS3 is the best Blu-ray player on the market.”
Wherever these consoles are headed, it looks like Hollywood is game.
