Washington, D.C.
(February 16, 2007)
-- Sony may be planning to offer High-Definition movie
downloads for its PlayStation 3 video game console.
Sony Studios Worldwide President Phil Harrison tells the web site IUP that PS3 will soon add some cutting-edge HD features.
"I think PlayStation 3 needs to stand for gaming and digital entertainment in the living room pushing the envelope of High Definition, pushing the envelope of broadband, and of course that includes more than just games," Harrison said.
The studio executive added that he was not ready to make any announcements but "it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we will have that (downloads) on the network very shortly."
Sony Studios Worldwide President Phil Harrison tells the web site IUP that PS3 will soon add some cutting-edge HD features.
"I think PlayStation 3 needs to stand for gaming and digital entertainment in the living room pushing the envelope of High Definition, pushing the envelope of broadband, and of course that includes more than just games," Harrison said.
The studio executive added that he was not ready to make any announcements but "it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we will have that (downloads) on the network very shortly."
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If Sony adds HD downloads to the PS3, it would join Microsoft's XBox 360 which has offered 720p high-def (and standard definition) movies and TV shows for a few months.
However, Sony's entry in the HDTV video download business could have a bigger impact with the company owning a movie studio and TV production unit.
Could Casino Royale be available as a HD download on PS3?
The PlayStation 3 already has a Blu-ray HDTV DVD player inside.
Harrison also discounted rumors that Sony will soon lower the price of the PS3, which costs $499 or $599, depending upon the console's hard drive. A Sony official recently said the company could lower the production cost on each unit.
"Well, do you know what he said was, cost reduction, not price drop, and there's a big difference between cost reduction and price drop," Harrison told the web site. "So, that I believe is where the confusion came from. Obviously, we are investing our money in making PlayStation 3s cheaper to manufacture -- that's part of our business plan."
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
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If Sony adds HD downloads to the PS3, it would join Microsoft's XBox 360 which has offered 720p high-def (and standard definition) movies and TV shows for a few months.
However, Sony's entry in the HDTV video download business could have a bigger impact with the company owning a movie studio and TV production unit.
Could Casino Royale be available as a HD download on PS3?
The PlayStation 3 already has a Blu-ray HDTV DVD player inside.
Harrison also discounted rumors that Sony will soon lower the price of the PS3, which costs $499 or $599, depending upon the console's hard drive. A Sony official recently said the company could lower the production cost on each unit.
"Well, do you know what he said was, cost reduction, not price drop, and there's a big difference between cost reduction and price drop," Harrison told the web site. "So, that I believe is where the confusion came from. Obviously, we are investing our money in making PlayStation 3s cheaper to manufacture -- that's part of our business plan."
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of
TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of
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Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The
Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial
Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood
Reporter. He can be reached at
swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
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