May 24, 2004Video DownloadSony to add video to Connect download service
24/05/2004 07:19:27 Sony plans to add video content to its Connect music download service later this year, accoridng to the head of the company's entertainment operations. "Sony Connect, our music download service, has just been launched at beta-testing level and video downloading will follow later this year," vice-chairman and chief operating officer of Sony, Howard Stringer, said. A company spokesperson downplayed the remarks and said that while Sony was considering a video download service it has made no decision on timing or the type of video content that may be offered. Sony launched its Connect music download service in the US on May 5 and plans to launch the service in June in the UK, France and Germany. It's a direct competitor to services such as Napster and Apple's iTunes Music Store, which launched a year earlier on April 28, 2003. Users of Connect can legally download songs and listen to them on a PC or compatible hardware device. Connect charges $US0.99 per song or from $US9.99 for an entire album. The songs are encoded in Sony's ATRAC3 format and protected against unauthorided copying with the company's MagicGate system. Sony has some experience in video download due to its involvement in Movielink. Launched in November 2002, the service is a joint venture of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal and Warner Bros. and offers users the ability to download movies and watch them at home at any time during a 24-hour period for a flat fee. Through its Sony Pictures unit, Sony has access to a large amount of television, music video and movie content. Sony-produced television shows include Seinfeld, Days of our Lives, The Young and the Restless, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune while its movies arm has been responsible for recent hits including Spiderman, Charlie's Angels and Men In Black. This library could grow substantially depending on the outcome of current talks with MGM over a takeover of the company by Sony. Exclusive talks were currently talking place between the two companies regarding a possible acquisition, Stringer said. ARNnet | Sony to add video to Connect download service Posted by Craig at May 24, 2004 08:51 PM |