It’s the Xbox 360’s first birthday and to celebrate this event, Microsoft has officially  launched the ability for Xbox Live users to download movies and television shows directly onto their console. As Microsoft puts it, the 360 is the first AND only (for now) console to provide HD and standard definition TV shows and movies to the user.

Remember one thing – television shows are download to own while movies are download to rent. That’s an important fact to remember when you wonder why you can’t view a movie you purchased awhile back.

Here are the details to the new service made available starting today for the Xbox 360.

  • Current content is coming from CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment with more to come
  • You can control what video content gets displayed via the Family Settings feature on the console. Content is then controlled based on the movie or television show ratings or you can block explicit or unrated video content for yourself or your children
  • Now the juicy stuff – the costs:
  • TV Shows:
  • Standard Definition shows will cost 160 Microsoft Points (or 2 dollars). This is right in line with Apple iTunes costs which is $1.99
  • High Definition shows will cost 240 Microsoft points (or 3 dollars). No one else does this so Microsoft can experiment with costs here
  • Library Movies:
    • Standard Definition movies will cost 240 Microsoft Points to rent (again, 3 dollars).
    • High Definition movies will cost 360 Microsoft Points to rent ($4.50)
  • New Movies:
    • Standard Definition movies will cost 320 Microsoft Points to rent (or $4 dollars)
    • High Definition movies will cost 480 Microsoft Points to rent (or $6 dollars)

    Here’s one nice thing – if you purchase a high definition TV show or movie, you can also download the standard definition version at  no additional charge. 

    Here’s the link to the official press release information on the Xbox’s website.

    In the meantime, here’s some more info on the service courtesy of Elle at Xbox.com.

    You can get to the content via the Media blade on the Xbox 360 Dashboard. Within the Media blade, there’s a new button called Video Marketplace which appeared after the November update rolled out. Go into the Video Marketplace to browse through the content that is now available to download.

    Content is nicely grouped into different categories (which I’ll go over later on tonight once I play with the system) and you can even see a list of the top fifty downloads in each category.

    One important user interface addition to the Video Marketplace – they’ve added the “Twist” user interface to the Dashboard making it far easier to navigate loads of content. IS NICE!!

    Finally, you’re probably curious about the usage rights. I sure am. There are basically two kinds of content on the Video Marketplace – Purchase and rental.

    For Purchase, you buy the video, download it to your console and then it’s basically yours to view from any profile on the console. One nice thing – you can download and view the video on any other console as long as you’re signed into Xbox Live with the profile you originally downloaded the video with.

    Rentals are a different beast altogether. It’s best described as a combination of pay per view and rental service. When you rent a video from Xbox Live, you have 14 days to watch the video. However, once you start watching the video, you have 24 hours to finish the video – as long as it’s within the 14 day time limit.

    Unlike videos, you must watch the videos on the console you originally downloaded them on. Finally – the 14 day countdown begins the moment you confirm the rental – whether you started the download or not. I think that’s a bit annoying. They should start the timer once you commence with the download or at least had the download finish. Oh well.. I suppose if you don’t have a broadband connection, you shouldn’t be using this service anyhow.

    Find out more from Elle.

    [Check out the press release]

    [Check out Elle's commentary on the new service]

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