Apparently having worked out its issues over control, we've got even more BBC news for you with word that some of its programming is coming to Xbox Live and Zune Marketplace in the U.S. No word whether they'll be available in HD, but Torchwood, Dr. Who, Primeval, Top Gear and more are going to be online. Of course, the PS3 and Wii both have iPlayer access (and in the UK users can download videos and play through their consoles) but to get playback here without subscribing to BBC America HD, the Xbox 360 could be a good choice.

Update: It looks like the videos are already up with the BBC America branding, with Torchwood and Robin Hood both 720p HDTV ready.

US Americans, go ahead and enjoy your Netflix streaming over your Xbox 360, Brits are about to land a deal that'll put live football, TV, and films over Microsoft's broadband-enabled console -- a first live television service for Xbox 360 anywhere. Beginning in Autumn, Xbox Live subscribers in the UK and Ireland will gain access to Sky's Sky Player service that includes subscription-based live, on-demand, and pay-per-view access to your favorite shows without the need for an additional set-top-box or satellite dish. Unfortunately, specifics like prices and channel line-up have not been announced, though content is expected to be similar to the Sky Player service already available on Macs and PCs. Of interest, Xbox Live users will be able to watch sporting content together virtually and sling insults and taunts at one-another via avatars or virtual personas. Something that will lead to slurring songs in a fit of semi-social inebriation or fisticuffs, depending on the score. One more image after the break.

[Via Gadgetoid]

Since Xbox Live Marketplace was already home to NBC Universal movies and TV (at home and abroad) Microsoft's seen fit to fire back at Sony's PSN announcement with the relatively incremental additions of content from The Weinstein Company and TNA, while mentioning the Video Marketplace has already served up 42 million pieces of content, with its pace doubling since the NXE debuted last year. So far at least, all of TNA's offerings (PPV events from last year) are in SD, while The Weinstein Company hasn't hesitated in tossing up Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Zack and Miri Make a Porno in 5GB 720p files for all interested. Microsoft may not be able to claim "all the major movie studios" (we're guessing Sony Pictures has made their decision on who to support) but they're still finding a way to lead the download-to-consoles race, for now.

Yeah, this is as international as international gets, but it's simply too high-impact to wait for a weekly roundup. Announced at a London event by UK Head of Xbox Neil Thompson, Xbox Live users in the United Kingdom will finally have access to NBC Universal films. The move comes nearly a year after this same announcement was made in the US, and while there's been no word yet, we're crossing our fingers that the pond jump is just one of many that'll take place.

[Via Joystiq]

Bad news first: there might be a bit more competition than you expected for that home theater giveaway. Good luck bringing down Netflix's shooting star though, as if last week's good news train wasn't enough comes news that over a million Xbox Live Gold members have already downloaded and activated the Watch Instantly app since its NXE debut last November. That's more than 10% of Netflix's just announced 9.4 million subscribers who've already watched over 1.5 billion minutes of TV and movies through their consoles. They're not the only ones happy, while streaming may be eating into DVD rentals, Xbox Live Marketplace rentals are up 174 percent year over year. The streaming library is up to 12,000 titles, with a "growing percentage" in high definition, for the rest of the celebratory details check the full PR after the break. Nothing left for us to say but congratulations and hey, if you get a minute, could you fix Nilay's HD streaming on the Xbox? Thanks.

Seriously, who's not on watch for digital downloads these days? DVDs? Check. Blu-ray Discs? Check. Pay-TV operators? Check. According to new data gathered by Research and Markets, "console-affiliated media portals such as Microsoft's Xbox LIVE and Sony's PlayStation Network will soon become formidable competitors to incumbent pay-TV services." As the report notes, the digital downloads available via these services will eventually become "compelling alternatives to traditional TV programming by providing a more immersive, interactive video experience." Of course, this "research" comes at a time when everyone and their mother are jumping on this bandwagon, but it's still reasonable to assert that most anything providing access to content via the internet has a serious chance to replace traditional pay-TV services. Whether or not that actually happens en masse, however, remains to be seen.

Microsoft just announced Universal, and NBC Universal programming is coming to Xbox Live, delivering The Office, Monk, Battlestar Galactica, The Mummy, Bourne Supremacy and others to the service. Xbox Live Video Marketplace now claims over 10,000 movies and TV shows on the marketplace, which it says puts it as the number one HD provider. MGM and Constantin are pushing things forward in Europe, adding 700 new titles to the library starting today. Check out more details from the E3 keynote in the live blog.

Looking for all that ABC and MGM HD content on Xbox Live? You won't have to wait long, with the first three seasons of Lost up now plus the just-aired season 4 premiere (Hurley was all ZOMG!, and Benry was like Bu-bu-but...) available for purchase at 12:01 a.m. PST for 240 MS points ($3 U.S.) per episode -- just barely missing the original "later this month" promise. Due later on in February are hits like the High School Musical series and other content from the Disney Channel, and MGM's releases hit on the 18th. Mr. Brooks, the Rocky series, The Usual Suspects, Saw IV, and Michael Clayton are all coming soon in HD (if you want to call it that). Looks like someone's gearing up to take on the Apple TV, how about a price cut, or loosening up on the DRM?

While HD DVD and Blu-ray have both lost key supporters recently, Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace seems to just keep adding new content providers, this time bringing MGM and Disney-ABC Television Group to the fold. Conspicuous in that both are exclusive Blu-ray supporters, Xbox 360 owners will -- later this month -- have access to ABC hits like Lost, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives in HD the day after they air. So far, MGM's announced just classic and catalog flicks like the Rocky series and The Usual Suspects, with "most" available in HD. Still looking for a Blu-ray add-on or built in HD DVD?

Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace keeps adding content, this time partnering with ESPN to offer commercial-free versions of NCAA football games and TV shows in HD. The games will be available within 48 hours of their conclusion for $4.50, and TV shows are $3 each. Digital distribution is continuing to pick up steam, but we're not sure how many people will pay that price for a replay of one NCAA game.

The already nicely priced Xbox 360 HD DVD player just got slashed to $179. The new US-only, retail pricing also includes 5 free HD DVD flicks when purchasing the player between August 1st and September 30th -- you know, the same time period 300 and Heroes goes on sale in HD DVD format. Unfortunately, the free titles must be made from a selection of just 15 pre-selected films which Toshiba considers "popular." Nevertheless, the $20 price cut makes the Xbox 360 HD DVD player all the more enticing as an easily hacked, USB-player for HD flicks on your PC.

Update: Xbox 360 owners will be getting downloadable treats to promote the add-on, Microsoft announced that the movie 300 will be available on Xbox Live Video Marketplace in HD starting August 14th. In a repeat of the South Park promotion earlier this year, the first episode of Heroes will be made available for free prior to the release of the boxed set on HD DVD for a limited time.

[Thanks, Andrew and PacoDG]

Microsoft's E3 conference is still ongoing, but they were more than happy to note that Xbox Live Video Marketplace has already raked in more than $125 million in revenue, and is bigger than any cable providers' VOD offerings. As if that wasn't enough, for everyone who thought Blu-ray would be their only option for Disney films in HD, Microsoft announced that it is bringing both catalog and new releases to Xbox Live, in high definition, starting tonight. Our friends outside the U.S. have something to look forward to as well, because it plans to bring the video marketplace to Canada & Europe by the end of this year. Check out the live blog for more details.

Update 1: Check out the official details after the break.

Update 2: More info from Reuters indicates 35 titles from Disney are available now, including Bridge to Terabithia, The Queen and Deja Vu, but no Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (currently available on iTunes in theaters) on the way yet.

Microsoft scored another debut of animated content moving to HD for the Xbox Live Marketplace, as it recently announced the anime classic Akira will headline the rollout of anime from distributors FUNimation and Geneon. Despite initial growing pains with slow downloads and that too-small hard drive that's so expensive to upgrade, Lions Gate recently revealed that its movies have been rented 150,000 times on the service and called it a "promising sign" for their library and digital delivery. Along with the anime, expect content from Logo and CMT to also hit the service starting Monday, although no word on what, if any, of that will be in HD.

Read - More Content Coming on Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace US [Via Joystiq]
Read - Xbox Live boosts Lions Gate revenues

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).

The Xbox Live Video Marketplace is getting some of the truly compelling content we've been waiting for, as Wired is reporting that the first high definition episode of South Park will be available for download tomorrow. At the incredibly great price of free -- for the first two weeks -- all Xbox Live members can download the "Good times with Weapons" episode. If you for some reason don't have a 360, or don't have the internet and are reading this via teletype, Best Buy will also be making the episode available on HD DVD discs free with the purchase of an Xbox 360 or the HD DVD add-on between March 20th and April 3rd. Animated TV shows have been missing in HD for too long, hopefully we'll see more of those and more HD content on XBLM -- like HD Battlestar Galactica episodes we don't have to wait 6 months to see, as suggested by our friends at Joystiq.

[Via Joystiq]