Games consoles are continuing to build momentum as a home for online video. The latest innovation sees live video come to the PS3, with MLB.tv streaming games via the Sony console to U.S. subscribers.
Online Video On Consoles
The current generation of games consoles are perfectly placed to become central hubs for entertainment of all kinds, including online video.
There are millions of consoles – the PS3, Xbox 360, and the Wii – installed in homes around the world, all of which can be hooked up to the Internet with the utmost of ease.
Various companies are taking advantage of this fact. Netflix is available on all three consoles, with the iPlayer, VidZone, and video rentals also available. There’s even a rumor that the Xbox 360 could be getting its own dedicated TV channel.
And now Major league Baseball is getting in on the act.
MLB.tv
is Major League Baseball’s Internet subscription service, which makes 2,430 regular season games available to watch online. For a price, obviously.
The basic service costs $19.95 a month or $99.95 for the whole season, with a premium service with a couple of added extras available for $24.95 a month or $119.95 for the season.
MLB.tv is a huge success, with lots of subscribers making it one of the most profitable online video services on the Web. MLB.tv is already available on PC and Mac, the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, Roku, and Boxee, and is now coming to the Playstation 3 as well.
MLB.tv On PS3
All current MLB.tv subscribers can now watch games live on their PS3s, with a downloadable app available from the Playstation Store. Any PS3 owners who want to get access need to subscribe as normal.
Games are available up to 720p resolution, with the PS3 becoming a DVR enabling viewers to pause and rewind the action. Split-screen and multi-game options are also available.
The obvious advantage to using the PS3 to stream MLB.tv is the ability to watch on a big-screen TV rather than a monitor or laptop screen.
Conclusions
There are 12 million PS3 owners in the U.S. at this time, and that’s a lot of potential subscribers. There’s also a chance that MLB.tv could come to the Xbox 360, but it won’t happen until at least July thanks to Sony scoring an exclusivity deal until the MLB All-Star Game.
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