Blockbuster on PS3 vs Netflix on Xbox 360
Filed under: Gaming | By: Peter Chubb
Posted on: December 1, 2008 | 3 Comments
We know that Netflix has partnered themselves with Xbox 360, and is part of the new Experience, Sony do not want to get left behind, which has started of a number of rumors that Sony and Blockbuster will offer video downloads.
Sony and Blockbuster have already fought side-by-side before, as Blockbuster was a huge fan of Blu-ray and said that they would support the Sony format over HD DVD. Blockbuster has been backed into a corner, as Netflix has signed up big streaming deals with LG, Samsung and TiVo and Microsoft.
Blockbuster now has to look for someone else who supports Blu-ray and Sony and the PS3 is the best bet. Blockbuster on-demand service is different to Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” feature; customers do not need to be subscribed to their DVD-by-mail service to take advantage of the service.
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Download set top boxes and download portable players ( ie Apple TV, VUDU, Hulu, PS3 ) are a thing of the past, only to be replaced by the technology used by service providers such as MyTVPAL ( http://www.mytvpal.com ) and Netflix ( http://www.netflix.com ).
Service providers like MyTVPAL offer 1080p instant blu-ray streaming video on demand and live tv over PC Player, set top box, and I think they will have a portable device out soon.
Keep in mind also that P2P is on the way out because it uses to much bandwidth, both up and down, and is unstable. I’m refering to service providers such as VUDU ( a one trick pony ) and Joost, who latest foray into portable video on demand on the itouch / iphone is frezing, buffering, and providing a horrible user experience even on my 6mbps connection.
Steaming video is a great addition for live tv an video on demand, but at the end of the day only those technology companies like Matrixstream ( http://www.matrixstream.com )will be able to support the best quality over the best effort public internet when doing a triple play ( set top box, PC Player, and portable device ) because currently where Netflix requires 8mbps for 720p streaming, MyTVPAL can support 720p streaming a 3mbps and 1080p blu-ray streaming at 6mbps.
Keep the above in mind when considering the average person today in the United States and Canada has between 1.5 - 3.0Mbps. So While MyTVPAL can service the majority of broadband users today in the United States and Canada in both 720p and 1080p today it will be years before Netflix, Blockbuster, and PS3 can service a fraction of the broadband population in high definition instant video streaming.
Comment Guy
That’s well and good for people who want to buy (rent) a video on demand. How about throwing a bone to BB’s monthly subscribers? Like 2 free on-demand movies per month?
I’m a netflix subscriber with a PS3, and this movie doesn’t make me want to support block buster. (And Vice Versa, my XBox friend who is a BB subscriber didn’t like the Netflix trial and will go back to BB).
I have a Netflix subscription and a PS3 and I can watch Netflix on my television through my PS3 with the program “Play on Media Server”. Who needs x-box or Block Buster?