Sony hints at downloadable HDTV and movies on PS3
By Conrad Quilty-Harper 
posted February 18th 2007 5:15PM
posted February 18th 2007 5:15PM
In an interview with 1UP, Sony's Phil Harrison has revealed that the company is planning to make movies available on the PlayStation Network. In response to the interviewer's question of whether people could expect to see downloadable TV and movies on the PlayStation Network, Harrison words were "we have a hard drive, we have a commerce engine, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we will have that on the network very shortly." As far as quotes from public relations peeps go, that's as close as we can get to a confirmation that Sony will start selling video content on its PlayStation Network. Microsoft has had a bit of a headstart in this area with the debut of its Xbox Live Video Marketplace late last year, but since Sony already has access to a big chunk of media thanks to its Sony Music and Sony Pictures divisions, the company shouldn't be behind for long. Whether "TV and movies" also extends to IPTV on the PS3 isn't entirely clear, although we wouldn't have thought that an official clarification (with all the fine, juicy details) is too far off considering Harrison's frank attitude in this interview.[Via DailyTech]
I've head of this somewhere before....oh yeah, that's right. Hey, Sony, how's about coming up with an idea of your own for once.
ShaolinDolemite Sony has been talking about it for along time way b4 xbox did it, so if anyone copyed someone that would have to be xbox. they just had a headstart bc the system came out a year b4.
Yeah like Microsoft, because original ideas is what they are know for.
If no one ever created products from existing ideas, there'd be a lot of monopolies.
I wonder if this means in Europe too, or will we have to wait 18 months after MS start the video marketplace here before sony decide to make it happen.
Que fanboy battle...
but t3h B8LU-RAYZ!!!!
Is that right? Source please.
Yeah id like to know where you get your info from. Go google it and try to find something to back up your claim.
I wish that they would come up with some strategies of their own, but they seem to be going down the path of everything we do.
– Kaz Hirai, regarding Microsoft "copying" their strategies
If I remember correctly, Sony has talked about these ideas a long time ago. I'm pretty sure they were talking about having their movies available to download before Microsoft ever talked about the video marketplace.
I’m looking forward to this. If they could get netflix involved somehow that would be great. Especially since you can upgrade the hard drive on the PS3. Plus HDMI and my 1080p tv, AWSOME!
P.S. Yes I have a XBOX 360 and yes I have the HDDVD add on.
Can you say, Death of the Blue-Ray Movies by the hands that created it. Why would people buy the Blue-ray disc, when they can just download it now.
why would people download music when they can buy the CD?
Lol.. Who cares. Until streaming HD becomes viable, we are all impatient gamers.
Anyone who ownes a PS3 right now is not a patient person.
Darn you people and your needed sources. (Which is fine).
But Sony HAS stated this before.
I googled this quick, because I don't have time right now. It's not the most reliable source, but hey its the first link on my search, so there should be more somewhere: http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/games/playstation_2/ps3__download_movies,_music_and_record_tv
2006 Feb 03? I don't know if that's early enough for you folks.
In any case, why is it always ONLY sony copying microsoft. Sure, this idea was brought out/implemented first by microsoft, but dood how else do you get content to someone's house conveniently? There IS no other better alternative. The other alternative is... through a damn STORE! Which is what Blu-Ray is for! Anyway, why can't we call Microsoft a copycat for their other products i.e. vista features, zune player/content?
the TMNT the Movie trailer on the Playstation Store has an HD 1080 option to download... it'll be in a short period of time that we'll see movies and tv episodes to be available in the Playstation store for a fee.
For starters, like Dahk put it, if there is only one convenient way of doing something, why wouldn't you do it? The funny thing is that we critisize someone for not having certain features that the competitor has, and when the put them in, they are copying the competitor. There is no winning for anyone.
The thing that I question about this downloadbalbe movie plan is the conflict in their idea of trying to make Bluray the next gen format, and having a competing format against it with a download service. What I could see is a download service for the PSP, which I believe they already have. Sony, you need to think this one through before doing anything. Lets first see some quality games (and downloable games like X-Box Arcade).
IF the quality is the same as the Blu-ray disc, I might be inclined to do it.
But that means 18-30 GB downloads. Ouch-a-roo, even if you've upgraded your PS3's HDD.
If the quality is lesser (like MP3s/iTunes) then I'd rather buy the disc (like CDs) to have the better quality and physical media as backup.
I've always wondered why Microsoft doesn't own more media or a company that generates media. They do own a lot of content behind the scenes.
Wouldn't it be funny if they decided to acquire Universal? Which curiously owns NBC, upon which Microsoft already has a relationship. Hmmm...
Microsoft is a devilish company in so many ways, and I don't regard Sony too far behind, however as a gamer I'm glad to see the two along with Nintendo battling it out and throwing out all these great innovations, I'm the winner in the long run.
As far as baseless attacks on Sony copying MS... please, these are the same people that attack Sony for "forcing" blu-ray but then when something lines up with MSoft they're copying them. So if they stick to their vision of a next gen box that's bad, but if they do anything remotely like MS that's bad, these haters should work like an extra hour or so at their jobs and buy their PS3 and stop stressing about these "console wars" and just enjoy the benefits.
As an owner of all 3 consoles I welcome any activity on the PStore.
"Steal the Motion Sensitivity? Check
Steak the HDTV? Check
Hmm... Let's try for Interchangeable Body Kits Next..."
i get blu-rays from blockbuster online for only 12 bucks a month or something, and honestly speaking, its the probably the best 12 bucks i spend a month because you get it the next buisness day and when you return it, it counts as a free movie coupon(you can return it at the store even though it came through the mail) but anyway, i dont think i would use the online when i already have this.
And yet again, Sony says "me too!!". Think they'll wait until AFTER the European launch to confirm to the masses that it's United States only for now? You can bet on it.
You xbox fans really ought to stop crying so much. Its pathetic.
Honestly, Sony... forever playing catch-up. uhh thumbs down??
Hmmmmm, interesting. I own a PS3 and am looking forward to this, but I wonder what the comments would be if Sony decided not to have this downloadable content, something like "Haha stupid Sony isnt going to have 'blah feature' while my 360 does."? I don't get you people, the moment Sony announces or hints at something, you call 'steal' just because its a general idea that has been done before on a console that has been out for a longer period of time, while if Sony didn't do it, you would just call them inferior for not doing so. Get off your fanboy throne and give something else a try for once.
yeah sure sony can do this.....but it's gonna take 6 year to download a HD movie and also 6 years of waiting because you can't do anything else while it's downloading....what a peace of CRAP for 600 bucks.
Apparently all of you Xbox fanboys are quick to forget that the Sony Connect store has been available on PCs for a long, long time. Yes, a comprehensive digital music store, owned and run by Sony, years before the 360 ever game out, and longer than that before Microsoft enabled downloadable content on their system. Now if Sony already has a digital music store, has a history of digital distribution of content, how exactly is this Sony copying off of Microsoft? Because they didn't design it specifically for a console? Uhhh, big deal? It works in your internet browser, so I'm not quite sure where the difference is. While Connect doesn't offer video content to the best of my knowledge, I'm pretty sure that the leap from, "Hey! Let's charge for downloadable music" to "Hey! Let's charge for downloadable movies!" isn't such a huge leap of thinking that they were unable to come up with it. I think you fanboys need to do a little research and stop being ignorant.
All I know is, I have all 3 consoles(PS3, 360, and Wii). Though all are equally as fun, the PS3 was the one who had me at:
"OMG, Blu-ray is amazing".
I felt as giddy as a school girl when I noticed my HDTV with HDMI playing a Blu-ray movie. The PS3 is also so quiet compared to the lawnmower XBOX 360. The 360 HD-DVD is good but the colors didn't jump out like the PS3. Just my opinion.
Sony PS3 has had such negative hype, do not believe it...its sweet !
The negative hype of the PS3 was just that: HYPE!