WSJ: Sony to offer video downloads to battle iTunes
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Dec 18th 2006 at 1:00PM }
If at first you don't succeed, launching proprietary movie formats probably isn't for you. At least, that's how the saying goes when one considers Sony's "Universal" Media Disc format that took off on the PSP and then landed somewhere in a pile of Beta Max tapes. But there's also the "try and try again" part, in this case referring to a new movie download service which Sony intends to launch early in 2007. The Wall Street Journal reports that "people with knowledge of the matter" are pointing to an upcoming iTunes-like service that will allow users to download films and then transfer them (via Memory Stick) to that most portable of Playstations. The first batch of films up for grabs will naturally be from Sony Pictures Entertainment (think Spider-Man, House of Flying Daggers and ... Hitch), with more studios expected to follow shortly after the service launches. The Financial Times labels Amazon.com, Movielink and CinemaNow as potential partners in the endeavor.
In addition, said knowledgable people predict that a similar service will allow users to bypass their computers entirely and download video directly to the PSP. By eliminating optical storage and aiming at direct downloads, Sony joins Apple (iTunes movies) and Microsoft (Video marketplace) in a battle that runs parallel to the one currently taking place between HD-DVD and Blu-ray. Best get some popcorn for this one.
Read -- Sony Is to Offer Video Downloads To Battle iTunes (subscription required)
Read -- Sony To Enter Video Download Market
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dirk Dorkelson @ Dec 18th 2006 1:06PM
This is what Sony should have done all along. I have to admit, when Microsoft announced plans for its download service, I immediately became less interested in the HD-DVD/Blu-ray format war. (I intended to sit on the sideline for a while anyway.)
Hopefully Sony won't screw up its service the way Apple screwed up iTunes. I've maybe bought 40 songs off the iTunes store, but the number would be a lot higher if the songs were higher quality with fewer restrictions. As it is, I still buy mainly CDs. But I don't have room in my house to start buying DVDs (in addition to CDs, vinyl records and video games), so I really hope that someone gets this download thing right.
If you make your product low-quality, with tons of restrictions, you won't sell as many units to the kind of shoppers who spend a lot of $$ on your medium.
John @ Dec 18th 2006 1:08PM
hmm i actually think this could work!
the ps3 sucks for games but has a better screen for watching videos than the zune or the ipod.
if sony could make like 4 and 8 GB memory sticks for cheap this could really take off!
and if they offered a free version of all their content broken up by adds this could leave their competitors in the dust!
as much as im pissed off by the ps3 (go wii60) im with sony on this one!
:)
ChrisBo @ Dec 18th 2006 1:19PM
House of Flying Daggers? Count me out.
funkonaut @ Dec 18th 2006 1:35PM
You gotta hand it to Sony. They're the most hard-headed, out of touch tech company in business today. Over the next couple of years it will be very interesting to see what happens to Sony.
razer @ Dec 18th 2006 1:30PM
Suprise, suprise.. Did anybody not see this coming??
Sony Exec #1: oh oh, put down the eggroll and look what MS is doing.
Sony Exec #2: Video Marketplace eh, well we must do!
Sony Exec #1: Video downloads eh..?? hrmm. What a great idea I'm so glad you thought of it!
Sony Exec #2: Video downloads do not begin until Sony say!
Follow the leader Sony... I don't even count iTunes as part of this since the video download service is a joke and you can watch them on your little video iPOD screen. Microsoft offers REAL full size, HD movies from the Marketplace.
Flit @ Dec 18th 2006 3:12PM
Why this won't work: DRM. Same reason why UMD died, sony has a deathgrip on their formats, be it hard (UMD) or soft (DRM'd video files that only play on PS3 or psp) I wouldn't be surprised if these files only play on PSP or PS3, and cannot be burned to dvd for archiving. This is why people will still buy DVD's, just like they are still buying CD's.
hoos30 @ Dec 18th 2006 1:36PM
Watch Sony screw this up by still trying to charge too much for the movies.
is @ Dec 18th 2006 1:53PM
To retaliate: Nintendo should listen to the rumour mill and finally join up with Apple.
Apple releases: iTunes + iPod for Wii and DS!
Think it: You buy your 'dspod', which is just a 4/8gig block of flash memory fasioned into a GBA cart and a DS software card with an itunes interface.
You also get a usb dock to connect the memory cart to your Wii.
On the Wii home screen, you can select the iTunes channel, where you can buy music + movies much like on your PC, ready to watch or play on the go thru your ds. Voila - a competing service that will trounce sony's money hungry offerings.
saboola @ Dec 18th 2006 1:43PM
What? Using a 4 gig memory stick? Oh yeah this is gonna be huge.... Good luck with that Sony.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Dec 18th 2006 1:45PM
Come on, you people. Are you totally incapable of seeing anything Sony does as anything other than Sony vs. Microsoft?
Look, I have an Xbox 360, which I really like. I have no plans to buy a PS3 for a long time, when it's a lot cheaper and there are a bunch of exclusive games I want. But Microsoft didn't invent the concept of pay-for-download movies. Give it a rest. Sony should have done this from the launch of the PSP. They're finally wising up. Kudos to them for realizing their mistake and attempting to fix it.
JJ @ Dec 18th 2006 2:05PM
What world do you guys live in that this is SOny copying MS as if MS came up with the pay for dl service... none of you have ever heard of On demand? which ahs been around for... what? Years now?
Sony announced that they would do something like this weeks ago and on top of that... Sony OWNS movie studios and has movie distribution background... so this only makes more than enough sense... or has no one ever heard of Sony pictures?
Funny though how everyone sees this as Sony copying MS, when in reality they're just jumping in on a market thats been around for a while.
Get over yourself guys, really.
and as for price, most of hte stuff on the PS3 store that HAS come out has been more than reasonable, i dont see why this wouldnt be.
niels @ Dec 18th 2006 2:02PM
this is promising. they should play around with formats to see what works best on the psp in terms of video and audio quqlity. No need for dolby digital, but good quality mp3 audio and mp4 video would be good.
Has this been proposed exclusively for the US? Or other countries as well?
Monki @ Dec 18th 2006 2:30PM
"Sony Exec #1: oh oh, put down the eggroll and look what MS is doing." FTW!
Hoffer @ Dec 18th 2006 2:36PM
The PS3/PSP platform should be perfect for downloadable video. Use your PS3 hooked up to a HDTV for great HD movies. Then you've got your PSP to watch a movie on the plane or something.
I've got a 360 and it's downloadable service works great. This is definitely the future. I'll stick with Netflix for now. You can watch a lot more movies for a lot less cost.
accidental @ Dec 18th 2006 2:38PM
Amount of people with PSP and/or PS3: Jack all, compared to:
Amount of people with PCs (or Macs): An absolute shitload.
Sony's store will never do as well as iTunes store, and because of that they'll never have the extensive selection the iTunes store has. It will never compete with it, ever. It might be a fun little side-track for PS3/P owners who are bored of the games on those platforms.
Ixalon @ Dec 18th 2006 2:46PM
What they should do is allow you to use a PS3 to transcode Blu-Ray discs and DVDs to your PSP. They can use the same certificate-based DRM they use for the PS1 games to ensure the transcoded movies only work on the one PSP.
JJ @ Dec 18th 2006 3:10PM
But thena ccidental, couldnt you say the same about the video marketplace on 360?
If that was the case then no one would ever try anything different on consoles.
It would be the, well the PC can do it so why even try mentality.
Because last i checked the amount of people with PCs and Ipods trump those that have 360's and Zunes, etc. So then that means MS is just as dumb right? I mean why try to muscle in on Apple's territory.
mike @ Dec 18th 2006 3:21PM
"This is what Sony should have done all along. "
Except they don't know software.. and they're competing against one of the slickest software devs out there. This will be fun to watch.
Joshua @ Dec 18th 2006 5:07PM
Hell yes another use thats not games for these expensive gaming machines sony sells. I swear its like every 2 months a game or two of interest comes out but theres a truckload of useless media crap. Sure I want to buy a $600 PS3 so I can pay more money to play old psone games, sounds great! Awesome the PSP can play MP4 videos, I'll check out whats on Sony's PSP site via the build int browser... oh look its a bunch of videos for games I don't care about and previews of crappy movies that are on UMD.
JJ @ Dec 18th 2006 6:24PM
Joshua... if you're mad at Sony for doing this... i'd hate to see what you think of Microsoft...
DeejayKnight @ Dec 18th 2006 9:31PM
When you look at the difference in screen quality between the iPod and PSP, the PSP's screen DOES feel like more of a screen to watch movies on.
I'm surprised it took Sony THIS long to figure out that an online distribution system would be a lot better for PSP adapatation, as it removes the need for time-consuming conversion from DVD to PSP-Quality video...
Ian @ Dec 20th 2006 7:00PM
So Sony copies Apple and MS, what else is new? Theres going to be such a typical Sony tight DRM on these movies that it won't be worth it and give more reason to rip DVDs. Plus the file sizes will be pretty damn big. I love my PSP but Sony dropped the ball with what they could have done last year.
Digi Smalls @ Dec 19th 2006 3:24PM
PSP could've been SO much more if only that spinning UMD drive was a spinning HARD DRIVE instead. just picture it: with that screen, big storage and PS2 quality games through memory stick, it could've overtaken the iPod. once again Sony cramming a media format down the public's throat hobbles potentially awesome hardware.
and forget about a PS3 downloadable movie strategy. they can't follow MS with HD movie downloads (with that mondo hard drive) then that expensive Blu-Ray player they're forcing on their loyal Playstation brand followers won't seem so worth the long wait, or the extra $200. the PS3 made you pay for PHYSICAL HD MEDIA, Sony won't play its own hand in making it obsolete!
MS needs to include the 20G hard drive in their Core, and up the premium to 60G - 100G (and make available separately) RIGHT NOW. its completely baffling why they havent already. if they improved the download speeds and catalog of their video marektplace they could've killed Blu-Ray before it started.
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