Ka-CHING!

During yesterday's marathon of reporting on the all-new and totally tubular Popzara Blogs, we mentioned that Sony intends to revolutionize downloadable rentals for the home console market.  Or at least on their particularly favorite console, the PlayStation 3 by way of the PlayStation Network.  A surprising number of super-cool studios have signed on to digitally distribute their cinematic wares through the Sony service, including such big-wigs as 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros.  Like it or not, debuting with over 300 different movies and 1,200 television episodes is a lot to absorb for any new service, let alone much maligned for its lack of creativity.

But even more interesting is the new service's ability to play downloaded content not just on your PlayStation 3, but the PSP as well.  This could be the deal-breaker for those dual-console owners looking to maximize the usefulness of both consoles in ways that Remote Play and other attempts at unification have failed to do.  The ability to bring the film/show with you is big-business in the growing world of digital delivery, and the ability to further enhance the PSP experience is certainly one giant feather in Sony's camp that only Apple can challenge (with their iPod).  Microsoft?  Not so much.

For a better look at the service, I'd recommend simply flipping on your big old PlayStation 3 and checking out the service for yourself (it went live as of last night).  No reports of any real issues thus far, which is common with such a large undertaking.  Or, if you'd prefer to see things the old-fashioned way, the details are included in the press release blurb just down below.  Knock yourselves out, and best of luck to Sony in this brave new world...

FOSTER CITY, Calif., July 15, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today launches the company’s new video delivery service on PLAYSTATION®Store for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems in the United States. Consumers will have the ability to download full-length movies, television shows, and original programming accessible through the PLAYSTATION Store on PLAYSTATION®Network. With nearly 300 full length movies and more than 1,200 TV episodes, many available in both standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD), PLAYSTATION Network’s video delivery service makes PS3 the ultimate entertainment platform and enhances PSP’s status as a portable entertainment marvel. PLAYSTATION Network’s video delivery service will become available later this evening.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) will initially make available to consumers content for video rental and electronic sell-through from top movie studios including: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. Entertainment as well as titles for rent from The Walt Disney Studios and a wide-ranging menu of popular titles from a variety of television partners.

“PLAYSTATION Network’s video delivery service capitalizes on the superior value and entertainment potential of PS3 and PSP – not only for gaming enthusiasts, but also for the millions of consumers looking to buy the best, most versatile solution for their home entertainment system,” said Jack Tretton, President and CEO, SCEA. “The collaboration of Sony’s film, TV and entertainment business units, coupled with our hardware and content offerings, provide consumers with entertainment experiences unlike any on the market.”

The video delivery service will have full integration in the PLAYSTATION Network, utilizing the same login, wallet management, and user interface of the newly revamped PLAYSTATION Store. Video will be categorized, for example, by top rating, alphabetical order, television shows, and movies and content is also fully searchable, for example, by title, producer, studio and cast. In addition, PS3’s progressive downloading means users can view content shortly after the downloading process begins. Background downloading is also a feature of PS3, allowing users to access other platform features such as gaming and other XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) content while a video is downloading to their consoles.

20th Century Fox’s “Alvin and the Chipmunks”, Lionsgate’s“3:10 to Yuma”, MGM’s “Rocky”, Paramount Pictures’ “Cloverfield”, Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man”, and Warner Bros. Entertainment’s “10,000 B.C.” are a few of the titles available for electronic sell-through on the video service at launch. Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” will also be available for rent.Additionally, SCEI will be introducing original exclusive content such as Xam’d: Lost Memories, an anime series developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, delivered in SD and HD.

Consumers who rent a movie from the video delivery service have 14 days to watch the content. Once content playback is started, consumers have a full 24 hours to enjoy their rental. Pricing for rental movies at launch ranges from $2.99 to $5.99, and pricing for purchased movies ranges from $9.99 to $14.99. Sony has also adopted Marlin Digital Rights Management technology, an open industry standard for protecting and managing digital content, to provide consumers with flexible access to their content while ensuring digital rights are protected. Usage rules of the video download service will allow content for purchase to be shared on multiple activated devices including PS3 and PSP systems per PLAYSTATION Network account, depending on the type of content purchased by the user.

One of the biggest value propositions of PLAYSTATION Network’s video delivery service is the ability to transfer digital content onto the PSP from the PS3. For the initial electronic sell-through or rental price, consumers can also transfer content onto multiple devices. The connectivity between PS3 and PSP platforms provides a seamless solution for those looking for entertainment experiences on their own terms – on the go or in their living room – all with a new-found freedom of not having to worry about TV schedules, movie listings or viewing on a desktop PC.