Xbox Marketplace rings up Disney, ABC, MGM
The Xbox Live Marketplace is clearing shelf space for content from the Disney-ABC Television Group and the (sort of ) film studio MGM.
Later this month, about 500 hours of content from the ABC and Disney TV networks will surface, a chunk of it in HD. Shows include your basic hot sellers: “Lost,” “Hannah Montana,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Classic ABC news broadcasts and specials dating back to 1963 are in the mix as well.
The MGM films — “Rocky,” “Barbershop,” etc. — include titles from UA, which are getting a big DVD push this year. “Many” of the films in the Xbox deal will be in HD.
“The ability to offer such great content in high definition further expands Microsoft’s commitment to connected entertainment with Xbox 360,” press-released Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.
The annoucement came as the Consumer Electronics Show gets under way in Vegas. Xbox’s nemesis, Sony’s PlayStation 3, got a big boost late last week as Warner Home Video went Blu-ray exclusive, instead of continuing to output titles in both formats.
Meanwhile, Britain’s BT has hooked into the Xbox Marketplace, allowing BT customers to use the 360 console to access the BT Vision service and its library of on-demand video content. BT Vision customers with an Xbox 360 console now can get BT Vision from either the console or a set-top-box.
“For the first time consumers in the U.K. will be able to experience the advantages of an advanced TV service together with the benefits of next-generation gaming,” said Dan Marks, CEO of BT Vision, live via press release. So motivated couch potatoes can watch TV, voice chat, IM and segue over to games off the same interface. Cool.
No indication that this hookup will allow frustrated Brits to beat U.S. studio delays on release of movies and TV shows there.
BitTorrent leaks, Apple TV woes, DivX to 360
Don’t tell the striking writers: We’re seeing more reports that TV networks and producers have been leaking upcoming programs to BitTorrent. The wink-wink shows reportedly include “Weeds,” “Chuck,” the upcoming “Sarah Connor Chronicles” and “Dexter.” Guinevere Orvis writes on last100.com: “Why? Well, it’s partially an experiment, but the hope is that distribution of content this way will lead to new viewers that wouldn’t have been reached through traditional marketing means. Early signs indicate that these experiments are working.” She goes on to quote “Weeds” producer Jenji Kohan: “Revenue aside, I don’t expect to get rich on ‘Weeds” (so) I’m excited it’s out there.”
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 now supports video files captured in DivX and XvID. The upgrade came in a software upgrade a couple of weeks ago. “It’s not entirely perfect,” Gawker reports. “It’s 90% of the way there.” The files are best played off a disc. Those are all legal video files, right?
Forrester Research says Apple TV “will be lucky” to sell something like 400,000 units in the holiday season, which would still leave the video-transfer device well below expectations. About half of online adults are aware of the device, but only 3% intend to buy one, Forrester says. Dan Frommer of Silicon Alley Insider responded with some advice for Steve Jobs. “Despite plenty of claims to the contrary, the device still doesn’t have much serious competition,” Frommer wrote. He proposes a serious software update, HD content on the iTunes Store, DVR functionality and letting people rip DVDs to their Apple TVs/computers the same way they can transfer CDs to play on iPods.
ESPN laterals HD games to Xbox Marketplace
ESPN has checked into the game in the Xbox 360 Live Marketplace.As of this morning, the Worldwide Leader was offering five recent college football games for download, all of them pretty good: Auburn vs. LSU, South Florida vs. UConn and some Pac 10 action.
The Marketplace promises to upload one or two ESPN/ABC college games a week, within 48 hours of the broadcast’s end. NCAA basketball is in the game plan as well.The NCAA football games all come as widescreen downloads, available in 480p (standard definition, $3) or 1080i (high definition, $4.50). They are commercial free (not even those totally acceptable ESPN house ads intrude).Why would people pay for 2-day-old games that a DVR would capture just as well, especially since ESPN almost always reruns its games? One possible reason: commercial-free HD copies for fans without HD DVRs. When your lousy directional school knocks off Michigan, it’s a keeper. The boys in Iraq might find this worth a few bucks as well.
ESPN series such as “Madden Nation” and “The Contender” are part of the program, in old-school full screen, 480p, as are the “X Games” segments. The trio of World Series of Poker downloads are a mixed bag of screen ratios and resolutions. The surfing series “Down the Barrel” came in one hour-and-a-half blast, widescreen 480 or 1080. Those shows follow the Marketplace’s pricing for other TV shows, $2 SD/$3 HD.
The downloads provide a brief video preview that’s just the first minute or so of the broadcast, cut off abruptly.
“This is a natural fit for us, as so many Xbox 360 owners are huge sports fans,” read your canned quote from Ross Honey, senior director of Microsoft’s media and entertainment group.
“We are dedicated to providing our diverse community of Xbox Live users the premium entertainment content they want, and partnering with ESPN is a great example of our continued dedication in the video-on-demand space, especially in high-definition.”
Xbox Live plays for BBC content
The BBC and Microsoft are in talks for the British pubcaster to offer video on the Xbox Live Video Marketplace.
“We are working diligently on multiple fronts to make it happen,” said Ross Honey, senior director for media at Microsoft’s content and partner strategy group. “The BBC is a great content provider.” His comments appeared in the Sunday Times.
The BBC’s “Planet Earth” (pictured) has been a sensational seller in the high-definition DVD formats HD DVD
It wasn’t clear if British audiences would be able to access the content due to U.K. restrictions linked to its public TV license fee.
Hat tip to our friends at the digital media site last100.
Xbox Elite’s new price: $449
OK, the folks who build retail ads are going public with Microsoft’s poorly kept secret: Xbox 360 prices are going down.
Here are the new prices according to a Circuit City ad cited around the Net today. Other retail ad leaks confirm the numbers.
Xbox 360 Elite: $449 ($30 cut)
Xbox Pro $349 ($50 cut)
Core $279 ($20 cut)
I’ve seen Aug. 8 and Aug. 12 as effective dates. A $20 cut also is in effect for the HD DVD standalone unit (drive), necessary for high-def on all of these machines. Check out my previous rundown of how the Xbox price cuts might affect video downloaders and home theater owners.
