Video Marketplace Launches

[Zeus]

To celebrate the one year birthday of the Xbox 360, Microsoft has launched the video marketplace. Currently there are 47 TV series to chose from, starting at $2 each. There are also 48 HD movies available, of which half can be displayed in HD, with newer titles costing $6 each.



Currently there are 47 TV series listed for download, though some, such as Late Night with Conan O'Brien, have no episodes available. Only a few of the shows are available in HD. Cost for shows are 160 Microsoft Points ($2) for standard definition and 240 MP ($3) for high definition episodes. An hour-long episode can run about two gigs, so expect your hard drive to fill up fast as you catch up on NCIS. Highlighting the first wave of available TV shows are South Park, Star Trek: The Original Series and, of course, Viva Piñata.

Of the 48 movies available at launch, only a half-dozen are offered in HD. Newer movies run 320 MP ($4) for standard def and 480 MP ($6) for HD. If you do choose to download a high-def movie, be prepared to wait, as they average about five gigs. Even the new releases aren't all that new, with V for Vendetta seeming to be the most current. As for older flicks, expect to pay 240 MP ($3) for SD and 360 ($4.50) for HD.


News Source: <A href="http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/747/747321p1.html" target="_blank">IGN</a>

[Verve]

so it's not streaming, you can watch the movies again and again once paid and downloaded? that would be fair pricing, at last.

[KPunk]

Nice this is awesome. One year after launch this gets released, and Small arms also gets released.

[wigsplitta]

It's going to be interesting to see how long this service will be around. I don't think it's going to be adopted by most. I browsed through it and thought it was a waste of time. I already pay for cable and XBox Live. I can order movies through my cable box and they are in HD. I also have on demand channels plus a DVR so why would I pay more to download the stuff I can watch at any time? They should have traded off ad space for free shows or something. Maybe show commercials. Now if they had a way to get the content to my ipod I might go for that. Prices are a little steep for dated material not to mention that the caost of 720p content is more than 480p. Stupid

[Rubric]

There are far too many ways to acquire & watch content w/out buying it off this service. Yeah, it may be a hassle having to convert all your vids to .wmv, but it's really not that big of a deal to most. I'm sure it will be semi worthwhile, but I can't see it being a huge money maker.

[wiggim]

anyone download anything yet to see what its all about? if the download times are reasonable or just outrageous, quality is good, any in-movie/show commercials or ads?

Its a great service for those who only get 1-2 channels but have high speed Internet (isn't that an oxymoron right there?)

But I guess, it might make a go of it if the speeds are decent and tighter DRM is in place from satellite/cable providers for high def content.

[wigsplitta]

anyone download anything yet to see what its all about? if the download times are reasonable or just outrageous, quality is good, any in-movie/show commercials or ads?

Its a great service for those who only get 1-2 channels but have high speed Internet (isn't that an oxymoron right there?)

But I guess, it might make a go of it if the speeds are decent and tighter DRM is in place from satellite/cable providers for high def content.
Haha actually I've been thinking about dumping the cable tv. I pay about ummm 70-80 bucks a month and I think of that in terms of 1 game per month. I just don't know if this service could replace cable tv though. I only watch certain shows but I like to have it there when I come home and sit down. I did some video downloads and they seem to download pretty slow compared to my pc. If they had a show subscription then I would probably go for it. You know like if I could download all of the adult swim content I wanted for a monthly fee.

[seann33uk]

I would of tried to download them (even check out whats available) but unfortnatly we over at "nearing the end of the line" UK haven't got these yet.:(

[Mystical Itachi]

Nice, i will be using that service since i dont have a HD-Box and am not paying for HD Channels.

Besides, those prices are nothing compared to when you go out everyday and spend $6+ eatting in fast food places. (wich i totaly stoped) ...so instead getting up and renting some movies..ill just be downloading them.

[jayo2000]

I was excited to hear about this. however i was disapointed :( as i'm in europe and the video market place is only for north america at the moment.

So for fun i set up a new live account with an address in north america to see if that would allow me access to the movies and tv shows in the video marketplace.

Well to my surprise :eek: this worked no problem. hd tv show that aren't even on tv here yet.

thanks microsoft for making this so easy. :rolleyes:

[KainXS]

its horrible
it takes me damn near 8 hours to download a movie
and i tried to download a 30 minute episode and its like 2 hours

WTF MAN

[Scorpion3]

its horrible
it takes me damn near 8 hours to download a movie
and i tried to download a 30 minute episode and its like 2 hours

WTF MAN

That's not their problem, that's your crap connection. Either that, or you were trying to DL a HD game and your connection is a T3 or something.

[wigsplitta]

I was excited to hear about this. however i was disapointed :( as i'm in europe and the video market place is only for north america at the moment.

So for fun i set up a new live account with an address in north america to see if that would allow me access to the movies and tv shows in the video marketplace.

Well to my surprise :eek: this worked no problem. hd tv show that aren't even on tv here yet.

thanks microsoft for making this so easy. :rolleyes:
I knew there was some easy way to work around that.