Microsoft to Offer Movies and TV for the Xbox 360 Live Service

Here's some interesting news in yesterday's press release from Microsoft:

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 6, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today announced agreements with CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System Inc. (TBS Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to bring an initial lineup of over 1,000 hours of hit TV shows and movies to Xbox 360™ gamers in the U.S. by the end of the year. Furthermore, Xbox 360 will be the first gaming console to bring standard and high-definition TV shows and movies via digital distribution over the Internet directly to the consumer.
Beginning Nov. 22, on its first anniversary, Xbox 360 will be the first gaming console in history to provide high-definition TV shows and movies directly to gamers in their living rooms. Xbox 360 gamers will have access to the full-length TV shows as downloads to own and movies to rent via download from the Xbox Live® network, the worldwide leader in online distribution of high-definition gaming and entertainment content.

The release also states:

The initial lineup of TV shows available for download to own and feature films available for download to rent will include a growing catalog of popular hits. Examples of content that will be available on the network by the end of year include the following:

“Robot Chicken” and “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” from Adult Swim
“CSI,” “Survivor” and “Star Trek” from CBS
Emmy and Peabody award-winning “South Park” and “Chappelle’s Show” from COMEDY CENTRAL
“The Real World” and “Pimp My Ride” from MTV
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” and ”SpongeBob SquarePants” from Nickelodeon
“Skyland” and “The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival” from Nicktoons Network
“M:i:III,” “Nacho Libre” and “Jackass: The Movie” from Paramount Pictures
“Carpocalypse” and “Raising the Roofs” from Spike TV
“Race Rewind” provided by NASCAR.COM
Select episodes of the original season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series and the “UFC: All Access” shows from the UFC
“Breaking Bonaduce” and “Hogan Knows Best” from VH1
“The Matrix,” “Superman Returns” and “Batman Forever” from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

No pricing has been announced yet but we'll keep you posted when more details emerge.

At Microsoft.com

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November 7, 2006

Microsoft to Offer Movies and TV for the Xbox 360 Live Service