Xbox Gets Television and Movies
OK, so I’m getting good at making calls about things that will happen :). I’ve always wanted to be a futurist, and I think I’m almost there.
I’ve been saying for years (a couple of recent references here and here) that Xbox should/would release television/movies via the Xbox.
Well, today they made just that announcement.
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.
It’ll be interesting to see if this is available in Australia.
November 8th, 2006 at 6:45 am
I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the downloads here.
Interesting seeing MS make a play for the online video and TV market following Apple and before Sony and Google make any major moves.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:00 am
This type of thing has been on the cards for a long time with the limiting factor being the mass market. Do you remember the Time Warner project in Florida in the mid 90’s? From memory, and I am going to have to do some Googling now, the project was scaled right back due to lack of demand. I’m not sure what eventually happened toi t. Those set top boxes provided the interactive games and internet access etc etc but you bought it for the service, not the games whereas Microsoft are coming from the gaming side.
Bandwidth and usage is going to slow the uptake of this in Australia, if it is released here in the short term. Any one have an idea what two hours of high def video consumes in bandwidth? I expect that two to three movies a month would blow the download limits of most of the Australian population.
So I expect Microsoft would need to work in some way with the BigPond’s etc to get past this barrier. So next question is what is the value in choosing a smaller ISP? And another question, NineMSN - I wonder how that would affect this type of arrangement?
November 14th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
Why australia ?
November 14th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Yankee: because I live there.