Movie/TV downloads announced for Xbox 360

[Queasy]

link - In the immortal words of Roy Shatner from Jaws, "We're gonna need a bigger boat (HDD)".

Redmond, Washington?On November 6, Microsoft Corp. announced agreements with CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System Inc. (TBS Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to bring an initial lineup of more than 1,000 hours of hit television shows and movies to Xbox 360? consoles in the U.S. by the end of the year. Additionally, Xbox 360 will be the first gaming console to bring standard and HD TV shows and movies to the customer via digital distribution over the Internet.

Beginning on its first anniversary, November 22, Xbox 360 will become the first gaming console in history to provide HD TV shows and movies directly to gamers in their own living rooms. Xbox 360 gamers will be able to download full-length TV shows to own, and will be able to rent movies via download from the Xbox Live® network, the world leader in online distribution of high-definition gaming and entertainment content. This announcement also brings with it several additional firsts:

* For the first time, consumers will have an integrated gaming and entertainment experience on a gaming console, including downloadable HD television programming and movies. This new full-length content adds to the ever-expanding number of choices gamers have on their Xbox 360 consoles, whether they want to play games, play a movie on DVD, or watch a downloaded program in either standard or high definition.
* For the very first time CBS will offer high-definition download-to-own TV shows including CSI, Jericho, Numb3rs, and even remastered classic Star Trek episodes! Gamers can buy an episode and watch it as many times as they like.
* For the first time on any gaming platform, NASCAR.COM will deliver download-to-own condensed versions of select NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races from Race Rewind.
* Also for the first time, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will make 50 of its most intense fights available for download as well as select episodes from the original season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series.

"This groundbreaking announcement is a win for everyone," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "It connects our partners with one of the most coveted audiences in entertainment today, and provides even greater value to our Xbox Live community, allowing them to enjoy the games and entertainment they want, when they want it."

The initial lineup of TV shows and feature films available for download will include a growing catalog of popular hits. Examples of what will be available before the end of the year include:

* Robot Chicken and Aqua Teen Hunger Force from The Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
* CSI, Survivor, and remastered episodes of classic Star Trek from CBS.
* Emmy and Peabody award-winning comedy South Park and Chappelle's Show from COMEDY CENTRAL.
* The Real World and Pimp My Ride from MTV.
* Avatar: The Last Airbender and SpongeBob SquarePants from Nickelodeon.
* Skyland and The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival from Nicktoons Network.
* Mission: Impossible III, Nacho Libre, and Jackass: The Movie from Paramount Pictures.
* Carpocalypse and Raising the Roofs from Spike TV.
* Race Rewind provided by NASCAR.COM.
* Select episodes of the original season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series and UFC: All Access from the UFC.
* Breaking Bonaduce and Hogan Knows Best from VH1.
* The Matrix, Superman Returns, and Batman Forever from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Xbox 360 gamers can access Xbox Live Marketplace with a free Xbox Live Silver membership and a broadband connection. More information about the content available on Xbox Live Marketplace can be found at http://www.xbox.com/marketplaceentertainment.

More from 1Up

More from IGN

The big question on everybody's mind at this point is surely cost. Unfortunately, Microsoft wasn't very forthcoming with answers to this question saying only that the digitally distributed videos would be "competitively priced." However, a tutorial video put up on Xbox.com shows the HD movies priced at 480 Microsoft points ($6 USD) with the standard definition price of 320 points ($4 USD) while both versions of television shows clocked in at 240 Microsoft points ($3 USD) Television shows will be sold in much the same way that Live Arcade games are. After purchasing them with Microsoft points, owners will begin downloading them and will own the show. That means they can delete it off of their hard drive and download it at a later date without having to pay for it again. Movies will be output in a rental format. This is necessary in part due to the limited space on an Xbox 360 hard drive and the massive size of an HD movie. The standard definition movie we were shown clocked in at 1.2 GB while the HD version of the same movie was nearly four times as big at 4.7 GB. Once you download a movie, you'll have 14 days to begin watching it. After you start watching it, you'll have 24 hours before the rental expires and the movie is "returned."

 

[Slick5150]

Good idea, but I'm sure they'll all be way overpriced. How they can justify charging more for a download then you can buy a DVD for is beyond me.

 

[blurredvision]

You didn't post prices!!

From DailyTech, who got it from Engadget:

• Content will be purchased using Microsoft Points.
• TV shows will go for 240 MS points ($3) while movie downloads will ring up at 320 ($4) MS points each.
• TV shows and movies can only be downloaded to the Xbox 360's hard drive and not to an external USB hard drive or thumb drive.
• Movies can only be rented, TV shows are purchased.
• Downloaded movies can be watched as much as you like for up to 24 hours.
• No content is streamed -- it's download only.
• All content is encoded in VC1 (WMV HD) at 6.8Mbps video and 5.1 surround sound.

I was also reading elsewhere that the movies for 320 points were standard def versions, HD versions of the movies will cost upwards of 480 points, or around $6.

EDIT: OP updated, so my added info is useless now .

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
You didn't post prices!!

Just updated the OP with info from IGN on prices.

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
You didn't post prices!!

From DailyTech, who got it from Engadget:

Content will be purchased using Microsoft Points.
TV shows will go for 240 MS points while movie downloads will ring up at 320 MS points each.
TV shows and movies can only be downloaded to the Xbox 360's hard drive and not to an external USB hard drive or thumb drive.
Movies can only be rented, TV shows are purchased.
Downloaded movies can be watched as much as you like for up to 24 hours.
No content is streamed -- it's download only.
All content is encoded in VC1 (WMV HD) at 6.8Mbps video and 5.1 surround sound

How much are the points worth if you were to buy them?

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers

Originally posted by: blurredvision
You didn't post prices!!

From DailyTech, who got it from Engadget:

Content will be purchased using Microsoft Points.
TV shows will go for 240 MS points while movie downloads will ring up at 320 MS points each.
TV shows and movies can only be downloaded to the Xbox 360's hard drive and not to an external USB hard drive or thumb drive.
Movies can only be rented, TV shows are purchased.
Downloaded movies can be watched as much as you like for up to 24 hours.
No content is streamed -- it's download only.
All content is encoded in VC1 (WMV HD) at 6.8Mbps video and 5.1 surround sound

How much are the points worth if you were to buy them?

80 points for $1. Just updated my post with that info.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers

Originally posted by: blurredvision
You didn't post prices!!

From DailyTech, who got it from Engadget:

Content will be purchased using Microsoft Points.
TV shows will go for 240 MS points while movie downloads will ring up at 320 MS points each.
TV shows and movies can only be downloaded to the Xbox 360's hard drive and not to an external USB hard drive or thumb drive.
Movies can only be rented, TV shows are purchased.
Downloaded movies can be watched as much as you like for up to 24 hours.
No content is streamed -- it's download only.
All content is encoded in VC1 (WMV HD) at 6.8Mbps video and 5.1 surround sound

How much are the points worth if you were to buy them?

Typically, 80 points = $1. But, you can usually hunt around for deals to get points cheap.

 

[bucwylde23]

way too expensive, but hopefully no one will pay for it at that price and they'll be forced to lower it.

no big deal though, if the price gets low enough I'll use it. If not, I won't. I mainly care about the games anyways.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: chrisg22
way too expensive, but hopefully no one will pay for it at that price and they'll be forced to lower it.

no big deal though, if the price gets low enough I'll use it. If not, I won't. I mainly care about the games anyways.

TV shows downloaded through iTunes are $2 and are at a low resolution. TV shows downloaded through the 360 are $3 and are in HD.

I'm wondering if the downloaded Movies/TV shows can be shared to the Zune.

 

[loup garou]

I beat you again.

But carry on, this thread has a better discussion than mine from last night.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: loup garou
I beat you again.

But carry on, this thread has a better discussion than mine from last night.

stupid search. I would have bumped yours had I seen it.

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: chrisg22
way too expensive, but hopefully no one will pay for it at that price and they'll be forced to lower it.

no big deal though, if the price gets low enough I'll use it. If not, I won't. I mainly care about the games anyways.

TV shows downloaded through iTunes are $2 and are at a low resolution. TV shows downloaded through the 360 are $3 and are in HD.

I'm wondering if the downloaded Movies/TV shows can be shared to the Zune.

I'll probably be getting a zune so that's a plus.

I admit for HD quality shows I'd probably pay :-d

 

[Staples]

If movies are only $4 and you can get new releases, then this is a better deal than Blockbuster.

And the TV shows are a bad idea if you can't put them anywhere except the tiny xbox hard drive. You will be out of space in no time.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Staples
If movies are only $4 and you can get new releases, then this is a better deal than Blockbuster.

That's going to be the key to this service....can MS continually get new and recent content up in a timely manner.

Their troubles with XBLA and some of the other downloadable content makes me wonder.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Staples
If movies are only $4 and you can get new releases, then this is a better deal than Blockbuster.

agreed. but think about how long it'll take to download that sucker... and what will the time limit be on the "rental?"

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: Staples
If movies are only $4 and you can get new releases, then this is a better deal than Blockbuster.

agreed. but think about how long it'll take to download that sucker... and what will the time limit be on the "rental?"

From the third link in the OP:

Once you download a movie, you'll have 14 days to begin watching it. After you start watching it, you'll have 24 hours before the rental expires and the movie is "returned."