Xbox Steps Up

Taking another step further in making the XBox an entertainment-based console rather than just a video game machine, Microsoft has announced a plan to make movies and TV shows available for download through the XBox and XBox Live. Microsoft has partnered with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV Networks, Turner Broadcasting System Inc. and Ultimate Fighting Championship to deliver a variety of programming to users.

Beginning on November 22nd (the first anniversary of XBox 360), XBox Live will feature rental HD copies of movies like Nacho Libre, Superman Returns, Mission:Impossible 3 and Batman Begins as well as download-to-own TV shows like "CSI," "South Park" and "Star Trek." Microsoft also hopes to have over 1,000 hours of downloadable content available by the end of the year. Oddly, none of the programming will be transferable to Microsoft's new Zune player, which they hope will compete with iPod. So far a pricing structure and file sizes have not been announced.

The question of course is; will there be enough room for iTunes, Google, Xbox and (eventually) Sony having their own download services? Who will win? Who will fail?

But more importantly for Kiwi XBox gamers, will this service be available in New Zealand? I’m awaiting news from XBox New Zealand, but I’m not hopeful. When Apple announced it was in the movie downloading business, there were severe regional restrictions outside of the US, and with New Zealand having no iTunes store, there was nothing for Kiwis. Similar can be expected with the XBox, as regional TV and Film distribution is owned by different companies, where as the XBox model would see all the revenues going back to the States, by passing the licensing deals struck with companies in New Zealand.

However, if Microsoft have thought this through and dealt with these issues, then the only thing left would be delayed releasing for different regions. Then the only issue is, would anyone in New Zealand be bothered downloading a movie with New Zealand’s archaic broadband speeds?