The Sony PS3 got an early Christmas present in the shape of ITV Player and 4oD added to its TV on demand options. We’ve already checked out how it works in our review: first look, but SCE isn’t stopping there though. We just had a chance to chat to a Sony exec about it, and what we can expect in the future. Read on for the details.
In a telephone interview this morning, UK PlayStation marketing manager Adam Boita revealed what entertainment services he would like to see added to the games console, and that they’ll only “continue to get better”.
Given the delay between BBC iPlayer launching on the PS3 and the rival services from other terrestrial broadcasters, we asked if Sony had to reach out to them to add the services, or if there had been a change of hearts at the channels. His answer? Some coincidence, and a “bit of mutual appreciation…We already have very vibrant and active connected community on PS3, and obviously from the TV content side, they would like access to grow their audience.”
“We were speaking to both of these guys at a similar time, and we wanted to get both of them live before Christmas if we could.”
Boita explained that the services were added as web browser shortcuts rather than native apps which require a download, as Mubi and Lovefilm on PS3 are, to push the XMB icons out to customers without any action required – something we witnessed ourselves yesterday when we turned our PS3 on and found the services ready to go. “Wherever possible, we want to make it as easy as possible to access these services..the least amount of steps they need to get onto these services the better quite frankly.”
Boita unsurprisingly wouldn’t reveal what other services were in the pipeline for next year, but did add that Sony is “obviously looking at more future developments in this space”. He also shared what he’s personally like to see: every catch up service under one roof. “I think it would be great to have all the digital channels as catch up services, that would be fantastic”.
Boita didn’t name names, but the two glaring omissions on the PS3 right now are Sky Player, available on Xbox 360 for Gold Live subscribers, and Demand Five, which Virgin Media is preparing to launch on its TV service, so we’ve got our fingers crossed that a Sony deal might not be too far behind.
What about HD though? Netflix, the US equivalent of Lovefilm, offers HD movie streaming through the PS3 in America, but most services in the UK are still sticking with wishy washy standard def on the console. Is that high on Sony’s agenda? “The PS3 is a HD console….if that means HD TV, then hopefully we’ll work towards providing that in the future”.
With BBC iPlayer, the PlayStation video store, Mubi, Lovefilm, ITV Player and 4oD all arriving on the console in little over a year, it’s starting to reach the point where we have to ask whether the Sony PS3 is even a games console first and foremost anymore.
“Yes, first and foremost,” Boita said. “We’re still committed to creating great [game] IP and developing new IP.” Instead, the attitude is that these extras are used to persuade the whole family over. “In terms of creating tipping points for other consumers to come in, it all starts to add up.”
