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Bypassing Blu-ray, Sony to stream first-run movies to Bravia TV

By Tim Conneally, BetaNews

October 14, 2008, 10:49 AM

Sony's Bravia Internet Video Link will receive its first movie premiere, Hancock, on October 28, before it is released on any other media.

Early in the summer, Sony CEO Howard Stringer announced that broadband-connected Bravia TV's would receive a streaming movie service, beginning with the premiere of Sony Pictures' Hancock.

Today, the film's official launch date on Sony Bravia Internet Video Link has been announced. Beginning October 28 -- pre-empting both the DVD and Blu-Ray release by 28 days -- the film will be available to Bravia Internet Video Link owners.

For $9.99, users will have a 24-hour rental period on their Bravia Internet Video Link; either in 720p or 480p definitions. As an additional incentive, those who purchase the rental stream and register online will receive a free Blu-ray copy of the film.

According to TiVo's Stop||Watch commercial rankings for July of this year, Hancock was the most watched advertisement of that month.

The Bravia Internet Video Link Module costs $299 and adds the familiar Xross Media Bar (XMB) interface popularized by Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PlayStation3 to Bravia TVs.

Add a Comment (14 Comments)

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By foxfyre

edited Oct 14, 2008 - 12:16 PM

"Bypassing Blu-Ray"...

Sigh.....

Come on folks... Does anyone here understand the fact that the delivery systems are complimentary? And that while hard copy Blu-Ray media can certainly be used for distribution, it is still fundamentally a storage medium?

Score: 0

By bakura

posted Oct 14, 2008 - 11:48 AM

$9.99 for a movie rental?
On top of having to purchase a $299 device for the privilege to do so?
No thanks!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 14, 2008 - 12:11 PM

*sigh*

Reading comprehension these days...

As an additional incentive, those who purchase the rental stream and register online will receive a free Blu-ray copy of the film.

You are essentially pre-ordering the DVD, the flick on your system before it's released to the public is a bonus.

Score: 0

By bakura

posted Oct 14, 2008 - 3:38 PM

I can read just fine, but thanks for taking the jab anyways. The fact is, I still wouldn't pay $10 for a movie rental if that's the price they're sticking with for future movies (which I realize they haven't stated yet).

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 14, 2008 - 4:22 PM

If you're in the market for a new TV, you might.

If not, well...duh?

I suppose it really depends on the way the price it *after* the promotion.

...and sorry about the jab, but really your comment seemed to pertain only to the promotion, since that was what the article was about. I don't read minds, ya know. :)

Score: 0

By yountmj

edited Oct 15, 2008 - 8:25 AM

"...and sorry about the jab"

*gasp*

We are about to experience a complete systematic failure. I don't think this has ever happened! ;)

...dogs and cats sleeping together... mass hysteria!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 15, 2008 - 9:29 AM

I have admitted my mistakes before. Perhaps it's just so rare that I make them that they go unnoticed?

//it's a joke people, settle down....

Score: 0

By bakura

edited Oct 14, 2008 - 5:29 PM

No worries. :) I'm interested to see where the whole video on demand market takes us.

I like Amazon's VOD service, but they don't have shows in HD. But they do allow you to re-download purchases, so you don't have to worry about storage.

Score: 0

By Niro

posted Oct 14, 2008 - 12:26 PM

They really should have some sort of reading comprehension test in the registration process. Something like:

"Palin thinks she has foreign policy experience because she can see Russia from her state"

Q: What Country can Palin see from her state?

I bet that would weed out alot of these posters...although I guess it would make the forums pretty dead wouldn't it?:)

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 14, 2008 - 1:03 PM

It'd be too easy. Anyone could google that....

It should be:

Complete the following line: (locking the browser)

"My hovercraft is full of _____" ;)

Score: 0

By yountmj

edited Oct 15, 2008 - 8:30 AM

LOL

Googling defeats the "reading comprehension" aspect of his test though, and serves to prove his point.

Most people aren't going to search for something they didn't want to know in the first place. :)