Accessing and Viewing Entertainment Content on Nontraditional Devices

By Carolyn Giardina

The interest in accessing and viewing entertainment content on nontraditional devices was growing this year at Electronic Entertainment Expo, the annual computer and video games convention better known as E3, which occurred in June at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

An estimated 41,000 attendees previewed upcoming titles such as James Cameron’s 3D “Avatar,” “The Beatles: Rock Band” and a new version of Wii Fit. More than 40 million subscribers use the entertainment networks of Xbox Live and Sony’s PlayStation Network, said Michael Gallagher, CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, which puts on E3.

Gallagher also reported that during the first three months that Netflix was available through Xbox Live, over 25 million hours of movies and TV programming was viewed.

And now content availability it poised to grow. Sony Computer Entertainment America confirmed that its PSP portable system would offer direct access to PlayStation Network’s video delivery service, where users can download movies and television programs to the mobile device.

Also at E3, Sony’s video delivery service announced content from 16 new partners in Hollywood, anime and sports. With these partners, Sony expects its service to offer nearly 1,900 movies and 9,400 TV episodes.

Hollywood content partners include Showtime Networks, Starz Media, Summit Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, HDnet and Magnolia Pictures. Among the sports partners are HDNet Fights, UFC, Wrestling from TNA and Video Action Sports.

PlayStation Store will feature TV shows such as Showtime’s “Dexter” and E!’s “The Soup.” A new anime channel will be added to the lineup.

Meanwhile, Microsoft revealed that Xbox would deliver 1080p movies and TV with 5.1 surround sound, instantly on demand and direct to consoles connected to compatible HD TVs through the Xbox LIVE social entertainment network.