XBOX 360 - XBOX 360 TO OFFER MOVIES -- FOR RENT

XBOX 360 TO OFFER MOVIES -- FOR RENT

Directly challenging Apple's iTunes Music Store and its iPod Video players, Microsoft announced today (Tuesday) that it will begin offering movies and TV shows for its Xbox 360 video game players beginning Nov. 22. While the TV shows can be permanently retained, the movies will only be available to "rent." They can be played from the game consoles directly onto the screens of television sets in the home. (An accessory capable of recording and playing HDTV movies is expected to become available later in the year.) Apple has said that it will introduce a device next year that will also allow films being sold on its iTunes store to be played directly on TV sets via personal computers. Warner Bros. and Paramount have agreed to provide movies for the Xbox Live Internet service; Disney is providing movies for the Apple service. Sony has already indicated that it will not provide films for the Xbox system since it competes with its own PlayStation game consoles. Microsoft did not announce pricing for the movie downloads, but today's Los Angeles Times, citing people familiar with the service, said that new movies would rent for $3.99 and older ones for $2.99. Apple charges $14.99 per movie for downloading-to-own but does not offer rentals. It said on Monday that Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest will be available for download on Nov. 7, and Disney's Cars on Dec. 5 -- the same dates that they will arrive in the stores on DVD.

07/11/2006