Sony is reportedly negotiating licensing deals with studios to distribute videos online through a long-promised service for the PlayStation 3.
Citing studio executives, The
Los
Angeles Times newspaper reported Monday that Sony could
launch the service as early as summer. According to the article, the Japanese electronics giant is talking with major Hollywood studios on distribution of their movie and
television program content for the service.
Sony marketing executive said in a blog post last week
that news could come soon.
"Ultimately the goal of the PlayStation Network service will
be to break through the overwhelming clutter of digital
media to give you the TV, movies and gaming content you
want. More on this very soon ...," Sony's Peter Dille wrote
on its PlayStation blog.
Sony said in March the latest upgrade to the PlayStation
will enable the device to stream video from the Web. It has
said since at least 2006 that it plans to provide video
services through its game console.
The company has sold 10.5 million of the
machines since they went on sale in late 2006.
Sony's competitor Microsoft said that about 10 million subscribers to its Xbox live service
have access to thousands of hours of television shows and
movies to watch using the Xbox 360 gaming console.
Beta Testing for Playstation Home Expaned
in related news, Sony announced today that it will expand the Closed Beta testing for PLAYSTATION Home in Summer 2008. Following completion of the Expanded Closed Beta test, the PLAYSTATION Home Open Beta service will commence in Fall 2008.
"We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today," said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Details of the Closed Beta testing features, registration for the test and the opening of the service will be announced as they become available.