HD Marketplace content to become global
If you live outside of the US, and were dissapointed to discover that the HD content coming to the Marketplace would not see the light of day anywhere else: fear not, for it has been confirmed that it will be reaching other continents soon.
Aaron Greenberg, XBOX’s Group Product Marketing Manager, gave an interview a few days ago, where he let slip some of Microsoft’s intentions:
GR: So obviously is this something that might go over to the Windows marketplace as well. Will there be some sort of integration there so people can purchase content to keep it and use it with both systems?
Greenberg: Well, right now what we’re doing is really specific to the XBOX 360. It’s also for the U.S. only, but the platform is built and we’re able now to get more locally relevant content on the market as we span across the world. We also, as you know, are doing things to bring the functionality of Live to Windows and mobile phones, and things like that. Right now, this entertainment strategy is really focused on adding TV, movies, and other entertainment content to the XBOX 360 experience.
Sounds very promising, as he suggests that region specific content may already be sorted out, and they are just getting it on the Marketplace (which takes time?). But it is reassuring, because it means that we all have something to look forward to in the coming months.
My one hope though is that content providers don’t ask Microsoft for tighter controls on the region lockout. They might get upset if a show that comes out in the UK a lot later is placed on the American Marketplace, only for the whole of the UK to download it and no-one watch it on TV. Personally, people should be able to view everything, so please Microsoft, leave it be.
Meh…America is all that matters :). They should just not sell Gears of War to them darn UK people :p. They don’t want it anyway.
lol jk
Haha yeah right, OK. You Americans do get everything though. It’d be nice for us Europeans to get something as huge as this exclusive to Europe for a while! See how you all moan then!
America is spoiled and americans don’t realize it.
Agreed.
Btw, i’m an American.
I take is that it negotiations were simpler and quicker with the American media companies. Some contracts were signed and the money to build out the network was spent to support this. Now the US is getting TV and movie rental downloads.
As a result the network has been built, essentially subsidised by the American consumers who purchase the content. Now the negotiations with European content producrs can begin (and are probably happening in earnest right now).
With the network built Microsoft is coming to the table with a much more attractive outlet for the European content producers. It is much more compelling now.
I give it 6 months or less. Until we see localized content in many regions where the XBox is sold.
May not have been simpler and quicker, you don’t know how long MS had been working on this.
I do hope that we will be able to chose the language for movie. If I have not the choice to look at a movie in the original version with subtitles, then this is a no-no for me.
Bring the famous, swedish sit-cot Rederiet to the marketplace!
I reckon they will try to get it working for the UK/europe in time for march.
Carabus wouldn´t it be much sweeter with the cult classic Varuhuset instead?
Mehh… I really couldn’t care less about region specific content.
I’m dutch, but I never watch dutch television.
I was hoping those American shows would be downloadable for everyone, anywhere, when I read ‘HD Marketplace content to become global’.
European television for the loss
so will my usa account work for this content.