April 18, 2008
When XBox Meets Disney, the Results are Awesome
Because of the internet, the world is a different place, and changes happen overnight. It has metamorphosed the way we make friends with one another, the way we study, and the way we entertain ourselves. About a year ago, for instance, the Xbox Live Marketplace was started to allow users to download movie rentals on demand. This innovative service was embraced immediately. Within seven months, more than 10 million movies had been accessed via Xbox's online downloading service. Currently, it is the only company renting on demand movies in high definition.
Their initial successes emboldened Microsoft Game Studios to form an agreement with the entertainment industry giant, Walt Disney Studios. The partnership was announced in July 2007 and included thirty-five films. New and old Disney classics are among the offerings, as well as movies from Miramax, Touchstone, and other Disney holdings. Therefore, there are films to appeal to viewers in every age group from toddlers to golden agers (assuming they have Xboxes!) The number of movies will increase in the future, as the agreement calls for on demand rentals for new releases as they become available to the public.
Currently, movie downloading via Xbox Live is only offered to US residents, but the numbers are incredible for something so newly introduced. Microsoft Game Studios has 7 million subscribers, and they project that number will jump to over 12 million within a year. The addition of Disney movies in the Xbox Live Marketplace is an especially big draw for the company. When Xbox meets Disney, the potential for success is incredible.
Clearly, the public has welcomed this new way to enjoy movies in the home. No one has to go out to the video store; no one has to wait endlessly to catch that hot new release everyone else in the country has also been anticipating! On demand rentals allow you to get the films you want when you want them.

Filed under Digital, Entertainment, Movies, Visual Arts by Steve Collins









