ESPN team in talks for Xbox 360 video
Microsoft reportedly has been having “in-depth talks” that would bring ESPN sporting events onto the Xbox Live platform.
The Walt Disney Co.-Microsoft negotiations could lead to live streams that would be similar to ESPN 360, which offers major and minor events via some high-speed broadband providers, the New York Times reported today.
The content is similar to what’s offered as premium packages on DirecTV, including ESPN Game Plan (college football) and ESPN Full Court (college basketball). Tennis, cricket and soccer are available on ESPN 360’s schedule as well.
The deal could lead to ESPN interactive games, the Times speculated.
The Xbox 360, with its Xbox Live marketplace, has been the leader in streaming video among the three major “living room” consoles, but Sony’s PS3 and even Wii are busy playing catch-up. Xbox Live now has an audience about the size of a minor cable network.
Microsoft has been reported in talks with most major major entertainment creators — studios and TV networks — regarding broad content deals for the Xbox 360, envisioned as a home media center.
‘Home’ video debuts on YouTube
The Luc Besson-produced visual feast “Home” opens Friday in theaters across the U.S. and Europe, in celebration of World Environmental Day.
Best to catch this “stunning visual portrayal of Earth” on the biggest screen you can find, but there’s a quick, easy and free way to see the film as June 5 dawns.
YouTube is set for a one-day-only streaming of “Home,” which was directed by French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. (Update: The movie started streaming on schedule. YouTube’s presentation is in widescreen with the viewer option for what it calls HD.)
The production claims the title of first simultaneous online and offline premiere for a major film. The 90-minute feature is narrated by Glenn Close.
The ambitious and well-executed YouTube channel for “Home” includes the making-of extras we’ll probably see on the Blu-ray and DVD, as well as short videos about shooting locations. There’s also a stash of press conference videos. Google France worked with the producers to create five map “layers” with interactive and dynamic content.
The film is available in English, French, German and Spanish. Some international viewers are reporting messages that the stream is not available in their countries.
Director Arthus-Bertrand’s eco-friendly canned quote says, “The message in this film is incredibly important since it underscores the question of survival. It needs powerful and accessible platforms like YouTube and Google Maps to reach the largest audience.” Besson, of course, is known for visually driven movies such as “The Big Blue” and “The Fifth Element.”
“Home” also will screen in outdoor settings around the planet, such as Central Park, and on some TV networks.
Previous filmmakers debuting their works online include Michael Moore (”Sicko” on BlipTV) and Wayne Wang (”The Princess of Nebraska” on YouTube).
Netflix streams to Xbox 360
Xbox 360 ownership looks even better this week with a couple of big-deal announcements out of the E3 games convention in L.A.
Netflix and Microsoft confirmed that the rental giant’s online video streaming service will be coming to Xbox Live, offering up something like 10,000 movies and TV shows. Netflix recently rolled out the instant movies service for a black box made by Roku.
You’ll have to be a Netflix subscriber and a paid-up subscriber to the Xbox LIVE Gold service, which is arguably worthwhile for gamers, anyway.
(Update 7/16: Sony also confirmed its PlayStation Network movie plans, offering PlayStation device owners to ability to move downloaded content between their PS3 and PSP.)
Microsoft, meanwhile, plastered a discontinued-item tag on its $350 Xbox 360 Pro, which now comes with a measley 20 GB of hard-drive space. The fire-sale price is $300. Replacing the Pro will be a 60 GB version, going for $350 as well. If your interest is in playing games off discs and not much more, that’s a decent $50 price break, especially since you get the HDMI output for HD TVs.There’s also the Arcade version at $280, but screw that waste of 256 megabites.
The economics of the Pro vs. Elite Xbox consoles remain basically the same, however.
If you want HDMI output and 5.1 digital audio, you have to get the Xbox HDMI accessory package, which has an OK 6-foot HDMI cable and an audio adapter. Microsoft, in character, designed the Pro console so you can’t fit a standard HDMI cable and the old Xbox 360 digital audio adapter. Unless you start cutting serious plastic. This is the rude surprise you’ll get unless the sales kid knows his stuff.
If you want the best picture and sound, that means $350 plus $50 or so for the Pro with HDMI and 5.1 digital audio.
The Elite, which has a 120 GB hard drive, includes the proper HDMI cable and audio adapter, so you’re looking at a $50 price difference for a lot more storage. People with an interest in storing games, music and downloading movies as keepers should make sure they understand that dynamic.
Does the HDMI and digital audio make all that much of a difference? The jury is out about the HDMI, but to me it looks better on, say, the new “Grand Theft Auto.” The audio, definitely, but some games are slack on the mixes. It’s like anything in video/audio — if you can afford to ensure you’re getting the best connection, do that. (Let’s skip the Monster debate today.)
The Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store has a well-stocked selection of films and TV shows, quite a few in high definition. The count is something like 6,000 hours of content.
If you’re buying, my advice is to suck it up and go with the Elite, the place to be if your interests include streaming and downloading video.
(Update 7/16: Sony is cutting the price of its 80GB PlayStation 3 by $100, to $400. The 40GB PS3 is hitting the showers.)
The Netflix deal, rumored and blogged since the beginning of the year, is exclusive in the games universe, at least for now. The service begins next month.
The new “Xbox experience” push toward interactivity and community, coming in the fall, allows viewers to watch, say, “Blade Runner” with their pals cross-country and comment back and forth, Microsoft says.
Here’s how the Netflix stream works, the companies said:
“From the Netflix Web site, members simply add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant Queues. Those choices will be automatically displayed on the TV screen via Xbox 360 and available to watch instantly. Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. In addition to instantly streaming movies to the TV, Xbox LIVE Gold members can fast-forward, pause and rewind, all using either their Xbox 360 Controller or Media Remote. In all, the user interface creates a highly personalized experience that puts viewers in control.”
Xbox 360 with Blu-ray: talks under way
The synergistic successes of Sony’s PS3 game console and the Blu-ray format have convinced Microsoft that it’s time to play ball.
Microsoft and Sony are now in talks about adding a Blu-ray drive to the Xbox 360, the Financial Times reported. Sony needs to make a move: The Xbox 360 console currently offers an outboard HD DVD player
Incorporating Blu-ray functionality into the Xbox 360 Elite
Here’s hoping the Blu-ray drive goes internal, eliminating the pain-in-the-ass aspects of plugging and unplugging an add-on unit, and finding a spot for yet another hdmi wire. Microsoft had no comment, the FT reported.
Sony Electronics U.S. president Stan Glasgow told a media dinner that he did not agree with widespread crystal-balling that has the Blu-ray format being quickly run off by video downloading. Consumers want their shiny discs, he said.
“Downloading will build over time, but this will be over a period of years,” he said.
Apple, which has focused on downloads via its iTunes store and Apple TV, also is in talks regarding Blu-ray, Glasgow said.
Xbox on Blu-ray: Let consumers vote
The past two days have seen speculation that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 could have built-in Blu-ray in its future. The new-generation Xbox consoles have an optional add-on HD DVD drive. Most Blu-ray players in consumers’ hands are built into PlayStation 3 machines.
“It should be consumer choice; and if that’s the way they vote, that’s something we’ll have to consider,” Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware, said today at CES. Start considering, gentlemen and ladies of the Great Northwest.
Meanwhile, Paramount was busy today denying published reports that it was bailing on HD DVD.
“Paramount’s current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format,” Brenda Ciccone said in an e-mail to Bloomberg news wire.
The Financial Times of London reported that Paramount was ready to make the move in the wake of Warner Home Video’s decision to go Blu-ray exclusive. FT said Par had a contract clause allowing the studio to dump HD DVD if Warner left the format.
Paramount, Universal and DreamWorks Animation are the remaining HD DVD-only studios. Actually, it would be surprising if there wasn’t speculation about Paramount and Universal bailing, with the media trying to get the jump on what seems inevitable. Team HD DVD hastily canceled its dog-and-pony show at CES. Format creator Toshiba went onstage with a shaken exec. Poor guy.
