Sony's PlayStation 3 has offered European users a range of options for downloading and streaming video content over the Web including the PSN Store, Mubi, and BBC iPlayer. One thing that was missing was a third-party commercial service equivalent to the long-standing American Netflix offering. Sony today addressed that complaint by adding Lovefilm to the XMB. Confirmed in October this year, the service will allow PlayStation 3 owners access to Lovefilm’s online streaming library, which includes just under 2,000 films from several big name studios, including Sony, Warner Brothers and Paramount. PS3 users can access the service via an update to their PS3s, which adds Lovefilm to the XMB. The download allows Lovefilm subscribers with an active Internet connection on their consoles to begin streaming as soon as they sign in and activate their accounts. As well as streaming movies, the new application allows users to order DVDs for delivery at home.
Lovefilm has also promised that in addition to the “thousands” of movies available to stream, it will be offering several exclusive deals and trials for PlayStation users. Subscription prices start from £5.99 a month, which will give users two hours of online time, rising to £9.99, which will grant unlimited access.
Though Lovefilm access is currently only available on the PS3, Xbox 360 users can rent films from Microsoft's Zune Marketplace, as well as music for £8.99 a month. They can also access Sky's Sky Player service from the console, complete with movies and TV shows, if they hold a Sky subscription.
