I recall the discussions back in the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD format war days (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=953979) where Sony made it clear that Video Downloads was next up in their sights after blu-ray was won.

As more announcements (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/technology/17amazon.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1216526400&en=4bebfb6f9f18891c&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin) come to light recently is it fair to say the Download Services war (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14318676#post14318676)is fully underway?

Amazon.com July 17 reportedly began beta testing a proprietary video-on-demand service that gives consumers access to about 40,000 movies and TV shows for streaming and download...

The service, which includes most major studio fare with the exception of The Walt Disney Co., whose programming is earmarked for Apple’s iTunes, underscored a heady week for digital distribution of entertainment.


Sony's video-downloading service will face stiff competition from rivals like Microsoft Corp. and Apple Inc., which are already a step ahead in such services. Microsoft on Monday announced a deal with Netflix Inc. to stream movies over the Internet to the Xbox 360 game console.

Park Associates, a market-research and consulting firm, estimates that annual revenue from Internet video, including ad-based and user-paid services, could reach $5.3 billion by 2010 and $12.4 billion by the end of 2012 in the U.S. alone.


In this war it appears NetFlix is aligned with MS and Xbox. With Amazon on Sony's TV's can the PS3 be far behind?

Amazon, which is based in Seattle, is also pursuing the technology and media world’s holy grail — an Internet pipeline to the TV. It has struck a deal with Sony Electronics to place its Internet video store on the Sony Bravia line of high-definition TVs

The optical format war was great theater. This one may be less so but may last quite a bit longer and have even more participants....

hmmmm yess i too agree with you..

i thought the same thing as you but from what ive read amazon's stuff will still be on a pay per video basis and not the netflix subscription model. sony already basically has the pay per video model with their store so unless amazon adopts the subscription model i cant see it being too successful. again though this is from what ive read about the service basically being a streaming version of unbox.

i thought the same thing as you but from what ive read amazon's stuff will still be on a pay per video basis and not the netflix subscription model. sony already basically has the pay per video model with their store so unless amazon adopts the subscription model i cant see it being too successful. again though this is from what ive read about the service basically being a streaming version of unbox.

Good point. Since Sony's online service has no paid subscription base they may find it more difficult to make it worthwhile for a partner like Amazon the way MS is with Netflix.

Sony owns content however and already as a 360 and PS3 owner I can see that PSN store is taking advantage of exclusive use of Sony movie properties.

Dahlsim your right PSN store is taking advantage of exclusive use of Sony movie properties but if MS could strike another deal with say Warner or MGM to get blockbuster movies as soon as they hit dvd it would offset Sony's advantage with movie properties.