Playing Catchup With Xbox, Sony Adds NBCU Content To PlayStation Network
This story was written by Tameka Kee.
*Sony* boasts that its PlayStation Network has more than 20 million registered users, beating Microsoft's Xbox Live with 17 million, despite being about four years younger. But thanks to its Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) deal, Xbox Live's content library has more than 30,000 movies and TV showsand since PlayStation Network users have only been able to download movies and TV shows since last July, Sony (NYSE: SNE) has been stuck playing catch-up. But the company is making some strides: It announced a major deal with NBC Universal (NYSE: GE) today, giving gamers access to shows like 30 Rock and Battlestar Gallactica, and movies like The Incredible Hulk and Burn After Reading.
Rentals cost between $2.99 and $5.99, while purchases cost between $9.99 to $14.99, per VentureBeat, and TV shows will be available the day after they air. The NBCU deal follows news that Sony added shows from across MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA) channels, including MTV, Spike and Nickelodeon. Sony says the PlayStation Network now offers over 1,300 movies and more than 4,500 TV episodes, with episodes available in both standard definition and HD. One major advantage over Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is that the content is portable, since the PlayStation Network is accessible through the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld device. Release.
By Tameka Kee