XBL getting on-demand HDTV, film

[UPDATE] Xbox 360s will be able to download HD movies, shows from CBS, MTV, WB, and more beginning November 22; no plans for larger hard drive.

Back in August, Microsoft announced it would distribute an extended episode of the sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica via Xbox Live. Today, Microsoft revealed it plans to further blur the line between the Xbox 360 as a gaming console and multimedia machine. Beginning November 22, the company will begin serving up on-demand movies and television programs from major studios for the console over Xbox Live.

Popcorn Time!

Initially available only in the United States, the service will be part of Xbox Live Marketplace and promises to have about 1,000 hours of unique content, 200 of which will be at 720p high-definition resolution, available by the end of the year.

Microsoft has signed with six content partners in the endeavor, including CBS, Turner Broadcasting, Warner Bros., Paramount, MTV and its properties (Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, VH1, and more), and UFC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship league. The company would not go into details about the terms of the deals, nor would they say whether or not they had exclusive rights to the programming.

"This really highlights the difference between us and Sony," Shane Kim, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios told GameSpot. "Sony has a very hardware-centric approach. You have to buy the Blu-ray drive whether you want it or not...The fact that we're a software company gives an enormous competitive advantage, because we can add capabilities like this. This is totally integrated seamlessly for our users...That's a big, big difference when you talk about future-proofing and flexibility...We're in a much better position to continue to add capabilities, that's the big difference between the hardware-centric and software-centric approaches."

Television shows and movies will be available in both high definition (720p) and standard definition (480p). While TV programs will be buy-to-own and remain on the Xbox 360 hard drive until it is deleted by users, movies will be delivered on a rental basis. Downloaded movies remain on the hard drive for up to two weeks, but once a user begins watching the movie, it is deleted 24 hours later. For that period, however, the movie can be viewed as many times as the purchaser wants.

Batman Forever in HD!

Full-length high-definition movies push 5GB in size, which, as any gamer who has downloaded a demo from Marketplace knows, will take a while to download. Fortunately for those who want near-instant gratification, videos can be viewed while downloading once an ample buffer is established. Microsoft said that standard definition television programs were "ready to play within minutes" of the download beginning.

The addition of movies and television programs to Xbox Live Marketplace instantly raises the question of hard drive space. Currently, Microsoft has no specific plans to upgrade the external hard drive, but they did acknowledge that it is an option in the future. Kim estimates that the current detachable 20GB hard drive that comes standard with the Xbox 360 Premium model can hold four to five hours of high-def content or about 15 hours of standard-definition video.

The new content will be accessible through a new branch of Xbox Live Marketplace appropriately titled Video Marketplace. From there, gamers can sort through a menu with the following tabs: Movies, TV Shows, Music Videos, Game Videos, and Clips, which will house bonus content such as DVD extras.

The new Video Marketplace.

As an example, Xbox Live group marketing manager Aaron Greenberg browsed through a page on Marketplace dedicated to Adult Swim's Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The page, which he described as a "skinned store," featured an ATHF-themed background and more than a dozen episodes of the cartoon. Each episode could be previewed instantly on the same page, though it was unclear how long previews would last. Movies, on the other hand, will be previewed with their cinematic trailers.

While Microsoft was not ready to make announcements on what movies and shows would definitively be available on the service, samples included shows such as CSI, Robot Chicken, the original Star Trek, and Babylon 5. On the movie side, Microsoft showed off ATL, V for Vendetta, Poseidon, and older films such as Batman Forever and Lethal Weapon 4.

Each studio will set their own release dates, and Microsoft expects TV shows to be available on Xbox Live the day after they air on television, just as some networks do online. Pricing has not yet been determined but will be competitive with other similar services, like on-demand cable or Apple's iTunes store. Video content will be available to both Silver and Gold Xbox Live members simultaneously.

[UPDATE] Microsoft has announced the list of programming that it expects to be available on Xbox Live Marketplace before the end of the year.

Adult Swim
Robot Chicken, Aqua Teen Hunger Force
CBS
CSI, Survivor, Star Trek
Comedy Central
South Park, Chappelle's Show
MTV
The Real World, Pimp My Ride
Nickelodeon
Avatar: The Last Airbender, SpongeBob SquarePants
Nicktoons Network
Skyland, The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival
Paramount Pictures
Nacho Libre, Jackass: The Movie
Spike TV
Carpocalypse, Raising the Roofs
Nascar.com
Race Rewind
UFC
The Ultimate Fighter, UFC: All Access
VH1
Breaking Bonaduce, Hogan Knows Best
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
The Matrix, Superman Returns, Batman Forever

557 Comments

  • maxmax1234

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 9:42 am PT

    more american TV show's on european servers

  • scmbg

    Posted Mar 28, 2007 8:58 pm PT

    i want, i need, i demand... Knight Rider!

  • tjdevil

    Posted Nov 22, 2006 9:50 am PT

    Why not get both systems.. lol and man i hope they make the video's able to be downloaded in canada soon cause i would love to see batman begins again on my HD

  • DeathMufin

    Posted Nov 21, 2006 3:50 pm PT

    First off, who says anyone copied anyone? Has it ever occured to you that they all probably were trying to get to this point when Microsoft first started? No ones copying anyone. Its always been an idea and now it is executable by both companies.

    If you ask me, the 360 is a little better since you get everything you get from a PS3 at half the price. They are, in the long run, both equal since, when you think about it, there are really no cons and the pros are about the same.

    I would go with either of them if the 360 wasn't supporting Halo 3 since thats my taste. Quit bashing. Don't bring up the "Well on the PS3 you can browse the internet for free" crap. Its only a matter of time until the xbox does the same. They are pretty much equal systems. Its just based on what games you want to support.

  • kolidan

    Posted Nov 20, 2006 11:36 am PT

    will this feature ever be avalible to canada or japan or england or would it only be avalible in the USA

  • arsy130

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 10:12 am PT

    "
    Halo552
    What About Canada they said it was only coming to the U.S.. "

    you guys will probably get it too, we're practically the same country.... lol

  • Fooljeff

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 3:37 am PT

    I wonder how many people will ever use this feature.

  • TrashMaster12

    Posted Nov 15, 2006 3:00 pm PT

    With the movies they should keep on server saying "He bought that, let him watch it whenever" instead of deleting it.

  • johnathan111

    Posted Nov 15, 2006 8:27 am PT

    Very nice

  • Halo552

    Posted Nov 9, 2006 10:47 am PT

    What About Canada they said it was only coming to the U.S..

  • dhkski

    Posted Nov 9, 2006 7:41 am PT

    Seems like just buying the external HD-DVD drive will be the way to go... unless you can somehow burn the shows/movies through Windows media. (Yeah f'n right) There is just not nearly enough room on the current 360 hard drive. All will be okay if they get HBO to join.

  • lostn

    Posted Nov 9, 2006 4:48 am PT

    Give us a bigger hard drive already.

    About 200GB is reasonable. And no, 60GB is not enough either.

  • assassinX01

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 8:26 pm PT

    "dtfann003
    Thats why the 360 is the way to go!!! Ps3 it a $600 kiddy toy. "

    Wait. So you're saying this is the only legitimate reason to own a 360? I'm not really sure where you get off on calling PS3 a kiddy toy, but I don't think i want to listen to your weak logic try and explain it. This feature is extremely unimpressive, so I'm not sure why they're making a big deal out of this. You can get entire SEASONS for free with bittorent or other illegal programs, and it's less of a hassle than to go through all of the things on Xbox live. Plus, you don't have to pay the evil microsoft empire.

  • assassinX01

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 8:23 pm PT

    Wow, this sounds nothing like what sony had announced at E3 '05 with their 'downloadable movies and shows' idea. hooray microsoft and their creativity. Seriously, so what? 20 gigs is not nearly enough space, especially when 7 gigs come occupied to start with. And, uh, there's this really neat invention called T.V., where you purchase subscription and watch stuff there. I know companies rip each other off all the time, but for Microsoft to straight up mimic sony's plans and then criticize them in the same sentence is a little nauseating.

  • peebert

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 6:27 pm PT

    I already pay for a service that delivers television shows to my livingroom. It's called CABLE. If I miss the first run of a show on cable for whatever reason, I don't feel the slightest guilt over downloading it from BitTorrent or Usenet, as I've already paid for it. Sorry, not interested.

  • racerx737

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 6:19 pm PT

    I don't have an HDTV nor will I probably download any TV shows or movies myself, but I think this is a great idea from Microsoft for those gamers out there that would do this stuff. The 360 becomes more and more what Microsoft said they visualized it as, not just a gaming console but a multi-media center of your living room.

  • eddiebrentwood

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 5:51 pm PT

    bulletsword, I live in Japan, and, no one has Xbox 360. GameCube outsold it in monthy new sales. That may change a bit though.
    See my comment below. If Xbox360 wasnt region encoded, I may by one so I could play American games online with friends. So, unless Xbox360s "second launch" is succesful, not sure if this service will be available to people here.

  • Halo552

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 2:54 pm PT

    When will this feature come to canada????

  • bulletsword

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 1:41 pm PT

    PS3, you've just been owned. anybody know what Japan's getting? the thought of anime just brought that up. (i don't live in Japan, I just feel like knowing)

  • Dic_Dasterdly

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 1:35 pm PT

    Wait, ChoadS has a good point. I think this may be the first step in online game rentals. If all 360 games now are about 5-7gb and thats about the size of a HD movie. If MS can work out the kinks with moives then maybe they will move to game rentals.

  • Martyr

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 1:27 pm PT

    boo robot chicken, are you mad? but comedy central must be there! this is the colbert report!!!!!!!!!

  • Shingo

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 1:14 pm PT

    Yay South park! Boo Robot Chicken

  • Ryu_-

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 12:43 pm PT

    Bring on Lost and I'm a happy bunny

  • profbooger

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 12:40 pm PT

    will we be able to download these to an external USB flash drive or does it have to be HDD/mem stick?

  • dtfann003

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 12:25 pm PT

    Thats why the 360 is the way to go!!! Ps3 it a $600 kiddy toy.

  • HanSolo353

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 10:04 am PT

    I am all about pricing.....what are they?

  • Enterprise-E

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 9:34 am PT

    I can't even imagine how long it will take to download just one HD Movie and the amount of space it will suck up. They are not small people. THis also asks the question why should i buy a HD-DVD drive if i can just download them to the hard drive?

  • masterlu

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 8:59 am PT

    wow this looks really cool, i like where they are going with the 360...

    hang on, i think i've seen something like this before...

    ... hmm

    oh yeah...

    it's called a COMPUTER. ffs.

    way to go reinventing the wheel.

  • Chi-You-Man

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 8:25 am PT

    "take that sony, u suck "
    Lol i love it , sony's having loads of problems with the PS3s launch (YAY!), but this is just a kick in the balls for 'em, yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Brainkiller05

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 7:45 am PT

    rikardo10, if Sony suck then why is it a big deal that Microsoft have/are doing something great and Sony aren't? I mean Sony suck, they're nothing...

    Yea right...

  • fisneo

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 7:35 am PT

    HD - Hmmmm GOOD

  • rikardo10

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 7:13 am PT

    take that sony, u suck

  • adasilva

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 6:00 am PT

    I prefer to rent movies as I have found I spend $20 to buy the movie and watch it once and than it just takes up space on my shelf. I already have pay-per-view on my cable but it's not HD. This is a great move by microsoft in my opinion. The 360 is doing more than I ever thought it could. People complain about the 360 hard drive but when you can stream media off of your PC you don't have to put your music, pictures and video on your 360's drive. And you can even play games on the 360 with music from your PC streaming in the game- that's amazing. And the 720p vs 1080p thing is way overblown- unless you are watching on a screen 60+ inches studies have shown the human eye can not tell the difference. The 720p trailers I have downloaded off XBL look beter than movies on HD channels from my cable company. That being said would I like to see a 100gb (or more) drive? Hell yes! Or someone comming out with a case similar to this one:
    http://www.llamma.com/xbox360/mods/USB%20Hard%20Drive%20Mod.htm
    that would function as the main hard drive on the 360. By the way I'm getting Gears of War today- see you online!

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 5:23 am PT

    no thx.

  • metal_assassin

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 4:18 am PT

    cool

  • Meskamo

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 12:53 am PT

    I hope they find a new method of compressing the files, otherwise this is a no-no. Unless family guy is added

  • choasgod

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 10:25 pm PT

    Sounds ... okay - however i do think ill give it a miss, i prefer to have hardcopies of movies and films i buy ( + i get 5 free fox Box Office movies per month for movies i dont want to buy ). Also i hope people understand if you download a series of family guy or such u WILL need another HDD - at 5gb for 720p movies ... wait till you get them in 1080p using VC1 instead of MPEG-2 ... then think 10 - 12gb per movie on a 20 gb HDD :/

  • YukoAsho

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 10:09 pm PT

    Without a bigger hard drive and - more importantly - a way to back up your movies, this is outright stupid. I'd never buy a movie like this.

  • Brutalus7

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 9:57 pm PT

    Me_becoming_I - you're joking, right? Sony might have a powerful system, but they don't have a unified online system like Live. They maintain that they don't need it. They'll probably have some system for distribultion, but it's not going to be as nice as Xbox Live. I didn't really think much of Live until I played some games on Live with my buddy's 360. I dare say it's even better than PC, at least to the casual user that doesn't look for mods/patches/etc online. Besides that, they won't distribute movies online, they'll be too busy trying to get people to buy Blu-Ray movies than support HD-downloads.

  • Built

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 9:19 pm PT

    sweetttt....
    ufc in high def...

  • eddiebrentwood

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 9:03 pm PT

    I think this is a very cool thing. Would love to watch V for Vendetta in HD.

    Sonicgod, what do you mean about watching HD with or without HDMI? Its your choice? Dont you need a cable capable of transmitting at a full HD resolution? If so, what do you use as an alternative?

    I live in Japan, and we have this "D-terminal" thing that outputs up to 720p(my HD cable has it, and so does PS2 and Xbox360). But, I was told only HDMI can output up to 1080p. Most of my Japanese stations are in 720 HD, and look great.

    Which makes me wonder if the Xbox 360 doesnt have this output, what is the hi-def and all the 1080p upgrade/HD-DVD addon/ondemand HDTV going to mean?

  • KakarotTheMonky

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 8:45 pm PT

    Funny how you say Sony can do the same thing MS is doing if they wanted to, Me_Becoming_I. The difference is that actions speak louder than words.

  • ssj4_2004

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 8:34 pm PT

    I wanted something like this on consoles for A little while now. My plan was to buy A PS3 install windows on it and just download/rip the things I want onto the PS3 itself. It's a nice idea on MS's part. Though it would be nicer if they would just let us install windowsXP onto the 360...

  • Me_Becoming_I

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 8:16 pm PT

    ""This really highlights the difference between us and Sony," Shane Kim, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios told GameSpot. "Sony has a very hardware-centric approach. You have to buy the Blu-ray drive whether you want it or not...The fact that we're a software company gives an enormous competitive advantage, because we can add capabilities like this. This is totally integrated seamlessly for our users...That's a big, big difference when you talk about future-proofing and flexibility...We're in a much better position to continue to add capabilities, that's the big difference between the hardware-centric and software-centric approaches.'"

    That is the biggest piece of garbage I've heard come out from someone like him... Sony can do the exact same as what Microsoft is doing, and they can do it even better, considering they have the tools to do it, and most of the entertainment industry anyway. They are making standard definition, and HD videos available soon, among other things. You don't need to buy Blu-Ray discs or anything then if you don't want too... Couple Sony with some deals for additional programming, and Microsoft is done when it comes to this catagory...

  • Gmacrusher

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 7:29 pm PT

    AWw well it won't work if you don't have a HD TV so whats next

  • Sonicgod

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 7:03 pm PT

    I get plenty of Full Hd with no hdmi

    My other DLP HDTV for movies i use supports 1080p with out HDMI or with it is my choice.

    If you are going to whine about HDMI the whole time then buy another T.V. the one you have must suck if it has to have HDmi for 1080p.

    ALL of the movies listed on here are only 720p even my 32 CRT HdTV does that . and 720p Is not "full HD'' even with HDMI they can just get away with calling it HD because it is better than the old square T.V's HDMI will do you Almost no good with 72op anyway other than making it slightly more clear thanks to it being digital.

    So there you have it 720p video is not "full hd" with HDMI anyway get over it.

    None of the HdDVD/blueray disc have the HDMI protection yet until that is in place Hdmi is pointless and if your T.v can't support 1080p with both Hdmi or componet then your T.v must suck and you should get one that does they are easy to find.

  • Blacksamurai87

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 6:45 pm PT

    I own an HDTV and bought a DVD player capable of HDMI, and I can tell you that HDMI isn't a big improvement over component. Period. Microsoft's New Video Marketplace is ingenious. I am so glad that I can be content with a Wii and 360 for the rest of my college career. So long, Sony. I don't need a Final Fantasy after XII, or a Metal Gear Solid after 4. As for actually playing MGS4, I'll stick with playing it on a friend's system.

    Go Nintendo and Microsoft!

  • n00bslayer

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 6:36 pm PT

    YES!!! I love Xbox360

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