Xbox Live users in the Untied (sic) States of Merca can now begin to download the first batch of TV shows and movies from Xbox Live Marketplace (X.L.M.).
Xbox Live’s Director of Programming Larry Hryb (A.K.A Major Nelson) announced yesterday on his blog that, “moments ago we flipped the switch and the service is now available for all U.S. Xbox Live members. No dashboard update needed… just sign in to Xbox Live, and head over to Marketplace, then Media and Entertainment….It’s fitting that on the Xbox 360’s first birthday, it becomes the first gaming console in history to provide HD TV shows and movies directly to your gaming lair.”
No word from Microsoft in the U.K. as to the date of a launch over here.
So what have our ‘Mercan cousins got in store for their viewing pleasure that we poor Brits have to wait for?
Major Nelson continues, “The U.S. Marketplace now has television shows to own and movies to rent from CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, with more content hitting Xbox Live Marketplace every week.”
So the only question on everyone’s lips must be: “How much will it set us back?” Cost depends on both the format and the type of media:
● New release HD movies will set you back 480 Microsoft points (£4.08)
● New release SD movies 320 points (£2.72)
● HD TV shows 240 Microsoft points (£2.04)
● 'Classic feature films' cost 360 points (£3.06) in HD and 240 (£2.04) in SD.
So yes, cheaper than Blockbuster, and Sky Plus, for the casual movie viewer at least. You then have fourteen days to watch the movie or TV show, which expires after 24 hours after it’s been viewed.
The full list of content currently available now on US marketplace is as follows:
● CSI; CSI: Miami; CSI: New York; NCIS and Star Trek from CBS.
● Chappelle's Show; Drawn Together; South Park from Comedy Central.
● Pimp My Ride; Punk'd from MTV.
● Avatar: The Last Airbender; SpongeBob SquarePants from Nickelodeon.
● Skyland;Invader Zim from Nicktoons Network .
● Chinatown, Star Trek VII: Generations; Patriot Games; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; The Sum of AllFears; The Untouchables; We Were Soldiers from Paramount Pictures.
● Aqua Teen Hunger Force; Frisky Dingo; Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Sealab 2021; The Venture Bros from Turner Broadcasting.
●Some fights (alright, we’re told, “Some of the most intense fights”) from Ultimate Fighting Championship.
● Breaking Bonaduce; Hogan Knows Best from VH1.
● Perfect Storm; Poseidon; The Shining; Strange Brew; Three Kings; V for Vendetta; The Nine; Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip; Veronica Mars from Warner Bros home Entertainment.
Xbox Live’s Director of Programming Larry Hryb (A.K.A Major Nelson) announced yesterday on his blog that, “moments ago we flipped the switch and the service is now available for all U.S. Xbox Live members. No dashboard update needed… just sign in to Xbox Live, and head over to Marketplace, then Media and Entertainment….It’s fitting that on the Xbox 360’s first birthday, it becomes the first gaming console in history to provide HD TV shows and movies directly to your gaming lair.”
No word from Microsoft in the U.K. as to the date of a launch over here.
So what have our ‘Mercan cousins got in store for their viewing pleasure that we poor Brits have to wait for?
Major Nelson continues, “The U.S. Marketplace now has television shows to own and movies to rent from CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, with more content hitting Xbox Live Marketplace every week.”
So the only question on everyone’s lips must be: “How much will it set us back?” Cost depends on both the format and the type of media:
● New release HD movies will set you back 480 Microsoft points (£4.08)
● New release SD movies 320 points (£2.72)
● HD TV shows 240 Microsoft points (£2.04)
● 'Classic feature films' cost 360 points (£3.06) in HD and 240 (£2.04) in SD.
So yes, cheaper than Blockbuster, and Sky Plus, for the casual movie viewer at least. You then have fourteen days to watch the movie or TV show, which expires after 24 hours after it’s been viewed.
The full list of content currently available now on US marketplace is as follows:
● CSI; CSI: Miami; CSI: New York; NCIS and Star Trek from CBS.
● Chappelle's Show; Drawn Together; South Park from Comedy Central.
● Pimp My Ride; Punk'd from MTV.
● Avatar: The Last Airbender; SpongeBob SquarePants from Nickelodeon.
● Skyland;Invader Zim from Nicktoons Network .
● Chinatown, Star Trek VII: Generations; Patriot Games; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; The Sum of AllFears; The Untouchables; We Were Soldiers from Paramount Pictures.
● Aqua Teen Hunger Force; Frisky Dingo; Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Sealab 2021; The Venture Bros from Turner Broadcasting.
●Some fights (alright, we’re told, “Some of the most intense fights”) from Ultimate Fighting Championship.
● Breaking Bonaduce; Hogan Knows Best from VH1.
● Perfect Storm; Poseidon; The Shining; Strange Brew; Three Kings; V for Vendetta; The Nine; Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip; Veronica Mars from Warner Bros home Entertainment.
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