Xbox Live adds HDTV content from Paramount, Warner and more
by Richard Lawler 
posted Mar 28th 2007 at 12:49AM
Microsoft officially announced the new "Elite" edition of its Xbox 360 console tonight, and also provided info on some new content coming to fill up those 120GB hard drives. Paramount Pictures will have its movies available for download in HD for the first time, and Warner Bros. has committed to releasing its direct-to-video movies exclusively in high definition on Xbox Live. The first two titles will be Sublime and Babylon 5: The Lost Tales. Just to show that they can keep up with the Jones' (and the Sony's) in numbers, Microsoft announced that the South Park HD episode was downloaded over 380,000 times, while HD clips from 300 were downloaded more than 477,000 times. New content partners hitting the marketplace are A&E, ADV Films, National Geographic, New Line Cinema. We're still not sure about the $179 price tag of the new larger hard drive, but there should be plenty to fill it with in the days to come, even a lot of movies that have yet to see HD DVD and Blu-ray releases like Snakes on a Plane and Braveheart. However we must say that the distinct lack of HD Battlestar Galactica episodes continues to grate the nerves. Check out Joystiq for more info on the content and pricing (480 MS points/$6 for new HD movies, 360 MS points/$4.50 for "classic" films, 240 MS points/$3 for TV shows).
Filed under: Other hardware, Players, Internet
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jackson5 @ Mar 28th 2007 4:07AM
The southpark episode was free, why would they brag about that? And free movie clips? Marketing PR
MAK42868 @ Mar 28th 2007 12:27PM
It still amazes me to see that brand-name haters would specifically go to those sites just to put in their useless 2 cents. Amazing.
Larry @ Mar 28th 2007 9:08AM
Every other article listed on this site is Marketing PR. The good news is it may encourage other networks to try out releasing their first episodes for free to hook an audience.
The real interesting announcement of the group for anime fans is the cheap price for tv shows. It is now cheaper to buy three or four episodes on XBL than it is to go out and buy a dvd.
MRacca @ Mar 28th 2007 11:52AM
I think they have the right to brag. It makes me feel good to know that I made the right decision on purchasing the 360 as opposed to the "other guy" simply because soo many users are on XBL and I am glad to see that the service is doing so well.
scryber @ Mar 28th 2007 10:50AM
"However we must say that the distinct lack of HD Battlestar Galactica episodes continues to grate the nerves."
Hear hear. Why SciFi/Universal can't pull the trigger on this deal is beyond me. Hello, target audience?
Big Sam @ Mar 28th 2007 11:07AM
I agree about Battlestar HD, as long as they come out within a day of it being aired. They better have that worked out by next season (2008!!!). But by then SciFi-HD might have been launched (although I doubt TW would have added it yet).
scryber @ Mar 28th 2007 12:25PM
Comcrap doesn't carry Universal HD in my area (DC) which makes no sense because they *do* show it just up the road in Baltimore.
And yes, airing the HD episodes weeks later on Univeral HD is another boneheaded decision. No one wants to wait weeks for HD. For myself especially, I do a BSG podcast (www.galacticaquorum.com) and I can't wait weeks just to see the superior visual quality. Whoever does near-simulatenous release for HD will be the one that gets my money.
ross05 @ Mar 28th 2007 11:28AM
will this content be availible in canada...or will they screw us like apple?