From the CES, Disney-ABC has announced it will start selling shows on Microsoft's XBox gaming console via the XBox Live and XBox Live Marketplace. This includes material from two Disney Channels, three ABC Channels and material from the MGM video library.This move is yet another step in putting a ubiquitous entertainment console in the living room. Not that this is a bad thing. Some of the content will be available in HD, despite the fact that Microsoft is not offering HD-DVD in the console. Maybe they're going Blu-ray?
So, the gamers out there have a reason to get excited. After playing an invigorating game of Call of Duty, they can then relax to an episode of Hannah Montana. The mind reels at the possibilities.
Having these shows available may even help with sales of the XBox. Between the video games and the kid's shows, it's practically a stand-in babysitter.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-07-2008 @ 11:07AM
edd said...
I like the move towards convergance - I'm much more a fan of keeping 100GB's on hard drives rather than use either of the new formats.
Still waiting for them to add Arrested Development to the line-up - I thought Microsoft had the rights to it?
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1-07-2008 @ 11:27AM
david said...
"Some of the content will be available in HD, despite the fact that Microsoft is not offering HD-DVD in the console. Maybe they're going Blu-ray?"
wowwwwwwwww....
someone please send this guy a clue. painful
in unrelated news, coca cola just announced that they intend on paying for all of pepsi's commercials during the super bowl
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1-07-2008 @ 11:43AM
Captain Obvious said...
"Some of the content will be available in HD, despite the fact that Microsoft is not offering HD-DVD in the console. Maybe they're going Blu-ray?"
For those of you that don't know anything about the Xbox 360, Blu-ray, or HD-DVD, this string of words may appear to make sense. It doesn't.
1. Having the content be available via download in HD is totally separate from having HD-DVD "in the console". That's like saying that it is strange that my cable box provides HD content, despite the fact that it has no HD-DVD drive. Or, its like saying that my sandwich has lettuce in it, despite the fact that it has no mustard.
B. The Xbox 360 has HD-DVD available as an external drive. Sure, it's not "in" the console, whatever that is supposed to mean. But if you have an Xbox 360 and the external HD-DVD drive, you can watch HD-DVDs.
III. MS doesn't want uniformity. They want confusion. Adopting Blu-ray for the Xbox 360 would make it clear to consumers that Blu-ray is the format to buy. MS wants people to be confused, and scared to buy either format, all the while downloading HD content via the Xbox 360. By the time one format wins, everyone will be used to downloading content and no one will care about the physical discs.
(I didn't proofread this, so please excuse any typos.)
1-07-2008 @ 11:34AM
david said...
so for those who are as clueless as Brad Trechak HD-DVD and bluray are two different types of discs that are capable of holding highdef video. Highdef video can also be downloaded directly on to your computer (or xbox360) even if they do not have a hd dvd, bluray, dvd, betamax, and/or laser disc player attached.
For microsoft to try and get blu ray on their machine they would have to go to sony (their #1 enemy in the home gaming market) in order to get it. A much better example from above would be having mercedes come out and say they are planning on putting bmw engines in all of their cars.
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1-07-2008 @ 11:36AM
colby said...
Would really wish the other "big 3" would do this with other "mainstream" shows.
Right now the only thing NBC is offering is "Chuck". Why not some "Friday Night Lights" or some "SNL"? FOX ... how about some "24"?
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1-07-2008 @ 11:43AM
MosquitoControl72 said...
David - maybe the comment was sarcastic?
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1-07-2008 @ 11:48AM
david said...
maybe... but do you really think so... i didnt think so either
1-07-2008 @ 11:52AM
MosquitoControl72 said...
Well, given that four days ago the major console rumor was that Microsoft was readying a new version of the 360 with the HDDVD drive built into it, and three days ago the HDDVD camp had a major nail, arguably the first, driven into its coffin...
Yes, yes I did take it as a dig against HDDVD. That things have gone so poorly that Microsoft would be stupid to invest further into it and wiser to include a BluRay drive.
As someone that supported HDDVD over Bluray because, well, I simply trust Microsoft more than Sony, I found it funny.
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