Sony delivers Hancock via Bravia Internet Video Link, ahead of DVD & Blu-ray

by Richard Lawler, posted Jun 30th 2008 at 6:27PM

Forget YouTube over Bravia Internet Video Link, Sony plans on making the dongle relevant this winter by releasing the blockbuster Hancock for viewing to anyone who has the device hooked up to their Sony HDTV. This debut will happen before the flick hits shelves as a DVD and makes for an interesting end-around VOD services, competing movie delivery boxes or any thorny MPAA proposals. Unfortunately its exposure is limited to those with Bravia TVs, a good Internet connection and the $299 device, and willing to pay an as-yet-unspecified amount for the privilege. We're also still waiting to hear the details of Sony's PlayStation 3 based movie network, but we wouldn't be surprised if Hancock -- like Click, James Bond and Talladega Nights before it -- pushes multiple Sony platforms at once.

[Thanks, Tyler]

Filed under: Displays, Media streamers, Sony, Internet

Tags: bravia, bravia internet video link, BraviaInternetVideoLink, digital distribution, DigitalDistribution, hancock, hdtv, internet video link, InternetVideoLink, iptv, playstion network, PlaystionNetwork, sony, sony pictures, SonyPictures, streaming

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 30th 2008 6:34PM

How can a movie be a blockbuster before it even comes out?

Did you read the reviews? Apparently Hancock sucks.

Neutral

Jeff @ Jul 3rd 2008 4:04PM

i just saw it. it certainly was meh.

it had it's interesting components, but certainly not great. ...or "good"

Neutral

Leonardo DiCrapio @ Jun 30th 2008 6:45PM

Hancock looks better than Wild Wild West. Wild Wild West earned over $250 million at the box office.

Neutral

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 30th 2008 8:06PM

Times change. Will Smith doesn't draw like that anymore.

And yeah, that movie sucked.

Highest Ranked

Chris @ Jul 1st 2008 4:46PM

Yeah, I am Legend doubled what Wild Wild West made with all most 600 million at the box office... He can still draw in quite an audience.

Neutral

sr @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:28PM

It's like PT Barnum said...

Neutral

Jaz @ Jul 7th 2008 6:31PM

Cool Movie, eventhough is a litle bit short, but it really worth to watch, cause it different than usual superhero movie

www.jazili.com

Neutral

T-bone @ Jun 30th 2008 9:06PM

Ah, so I have to buy a TV brand that has failed me 3 times along with a $300 box + a rental fee to see SD (or at best compressed HD) ? Pass...I'll wait..and rent on BD

Neutral

sr1329 @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:31PM

I know what a stupid concept. They'll do anything to sell this premature concept of downloadable videos. When we get South Korea like 50Mbps connections then maybe we could try. Still we'd need at least 72mbps to consider streaming anything at Blu-Ray compression standards.

Neutral

James @ Jul 1st 2008 12:37AM

Sooo...Hancock is a "blockbuster" when not a dollar has been made on it yet. Not a person has viewed it(well in an established theatre anyway) and yet it's ALREADY considered a "blockbuster" eh? Hm.

Neutral

Garst @ Jul 1st 2008 4:06AM

I don't see this sitting well with the FTC. It might not flinch if Sony offers the movies for free, but as soon as it starts to charge for the movies, it very likely will be seen as a vertical monopoly. And because you would only be able to get the content and devices from one company, it probably won't last long.

Neutral

DrXym @ Jul 1st 2008 6:54AM

How is this different from what Apple does, or what Amazon does with the TIVO, or what MS does with the XBox 360?

I don't think you need worrry though. At that price the box looks doomed. Maybe if they stuck wifi or an ethernet port straight into the TV they'd have a success on their hands.

More interesting will be to see if Sony consolidate their online presence around PSN. It would make a lot of sense for all their devices to point at the same place.

Neutral

Leonardo DiCrapio @ Jul 1st 2008 8:55AM

I am going to run out and buy a Sony LCD HDTV for $1,000 or more just so I can watch a crappy downloadable/streaming version of Hancock a week early. I think not. At best it will be Hancock in HD Lite (720p).

I'll buy a Pioneer second generation Kuro HDTV and buy or rent whatever movies I want to see on Blu-Ray disc, thank you.

This isn't much different than what AOL and Time Warner were going to try to do. Leverage the Roadrunner and other animated characters to sell (dial-up and high-speed cable) internet access.

Neutral

Erwos @ Jul 1st 2008 11:46AM

There's no such thing as a "vertical monopoly". There is, however, leveraging vertical integration in an anti-competitive way. This could be an example of that.

Neutral

sr1329 @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:33PM

Maybe because Apple doesn't force you to buy their TV. How stupid of Sony to limit it to only certain models of their own TVs.

Neutral

DrXym @ Jul 1st 2008 5:06AM

$299 is a lot of money for something which is an embedded linux device with an ethernet / wifi input and a TV output.

http://products.sel.sony.com/opensource/source_bivl.shtml

It probably has hacking potential, but then so would a regular PC which you could buy for the same price. Something like the new Asus Eee PC for example.

Neutral

retro77 @ Jul 1st 2008 11:44AM

By limiting who can use this device they are shooting themselves in the foot.

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