PlayStation might be joining Movies Anywhere

[kannibaliztik]

Originally Posted by gaastra

Movies you buy on ps4 don't port to ma so to me they really are not. When movies i buy port over then i'll see them as part of ma.

Sony the studio is MA, Playstation store is not. They are not the same thing.

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by kannibaliztik

Sony the studio is MA, Playstation store is not. They are not the same thing.

Correct! "Devices" don't join MA, retailers-distributors of content do. Studios like Sony, Disney, WB are members (Lionsgate, Paramount, MGM as of this writing are not). Retailers of movies are also MA members like iTunes, Vudu, Fandango, Comcast, DirecTV, Microsoft, Amazon (and I might be missing one or two off the top of my head).

As the current landscape of Movies/TV is constantly changing, I expect both the studios/distributors to change with the times. There are "lengthy" TV movies/specials already in MA, so a switch to add TV episodes should be soon coming. And of course additional studios could join MA as well. Despite the pandemic, I feel Paramount is closest. While I have no evidence I feel strongly that once Paramount+ is introduced, a membership into MA is not far off perhaps the same day or later in the year.

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by tjritter79

Correct! "Devices" don't join MA, retailers-distributors of content do. Studios like Sony, Disney, WB are members (Lionsgate, Paramount, MGM as of this writing are not). Retailers of movies are also MA members like iTunes, Vudu, Fandango, Comcast, DirecTV, Microsoft, Amazon (and I might be missing one or two off the top of my head).

As the current landscape of Movies/TV is constantly changing, I expect both the studios/distributors to change with the times. There are "lengthy" TV movies/specials already in MA, so a switch to add TV episodes should be soon coming. And of course additional studios could join MA as well. Despite the pandemic, I feel Paramount is closest. While I have no evidence I feel strongly that once Paramount+ is introduced, a membership into MA is not far off perhaps the same day or later in the year.

PlayStation has a PlayStation video store that is a retailer and not part of MA.
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/playstation-video/

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by Greyman

PlayStation has a PlayStation video store that is a retailer and not part of MA.
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/playstation-video/

But...isn't that specific to a Playstation "DEVICE"?

[BlakkMajik3000]

While Playstation(under Sony Interactive Ent.) and Sony Studios (already part of MA) are indeed part of the giant Sony conglomerate, believe me when I tell you they pretty much operate as separate entities entirely.

I agree it's weird that one arm of the company supports MA while the digital storefront of a different arm doesn't, but that's corporations for ya.

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by tjritter79

But...isn't that specific to a Playstation "DEVICE"?

It is a retail store which is therefore theoretically able to join MA.

There is a PlayStation video app for android and iOS, and also compatible Bravia and Android TVs and Bluray players, so it is not limited to one device.

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by Greyman

It is a retail store which is therefore theoretically able to join MA.

There is a PlayStation video app for android and iOS, and also compatible Bravia and Android TVs and Bluray players, so it is not limited to one device.

It may INDEED be a retail outlet, but much like Playstation Vue, most people see the name and immediately assume you NEED a Playstation in order to get it. Like what was pointed out above, Sony Studios and SIE are two different organizations. If the video store, like Vue was, comes under the guise of SIE, there may not be a way to seamlessly join the two. In the long run, it may be easier to just put the MA app on the PS store to be downloaded.

[Cplhicks]

Well, rather than joining Movies Anywhere which would've been nice, Sony has decided to kill off Video sales and rentals on playstation completely. No one was buying stuff because they didn't want it stuck on the playstation, Sony.

https://blog.playstation.com/2021/03...tation.Blog%29

[Mr. Kino]

Originally Posted by Cplhicks

Well, rather than joining Movies Anywhere which would've been nice, Sony has decided to kill off Video sales and rentals on playstation completely. No one was buying stuff because they didn't want it stuck on the playstation, Sony.

https://blog.playstation.com/2021/03...tation.Blog%29

Not surprising. Can’t imagine many people rented, let alone bought films and tv shows through the PS Store. It’s fine that they will still be accessible after august, but it would have been a finer gesture if Sony at least gave MA codes to existing purchases as a parting gift.

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kino

Not surprising. Can’t imagine many people rented, let alone bought films and tv shows through the PS Store. It’s fine that they will still be accessible after august, but it would have been a finer gesture if Sony at least gave MA codes to existing purchases as a parting gift.

First, as mentioned earlier, Sony is ALREADY part of Movies Anywhere.
Second, part of the problem is everything associated with the PlayStation is run by SIE (Sony Interactive Entertainment) and not by Sony Studios. This was the same problem that led to the demise of PlayStation Vue which closed up last year. Had there been a "seamless" way for Sony to cross-manage and permit MA titles through PS Store purchases, likely that bridge would have been crossed when MA formed and announced Sony as one of their partners.

Concentrating as a gaming platform can only be great news to gamers who see various competition with MicroSoft's offerings. Besides, the PS historically used way to much power to justify its use as a streaming device. Not when its just as easy to plunk down the cost of a game for a separate streaming device that uses less power and resources and doesn't contribute to wear and tear on what you likely spend to play games on.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Cplhicks

Well, rather than joining Movies Anywhere which would've been nice, Sony has decided to kill off Video sales and rentals on playstation completely. No one was buying stuff because they didn't want it stuck on the playstation, Sony.

https://blog.playstation.com/2021/03...tation.Blog%29

I think I only have one movie on there. The DCAU movie "Batman: Year One" that came free with a game. I got it on VUDU years later, so it's already in my MA account, and I'll probably buy it again once it's upgraded to 4K.

I do have some free episodes of TV shows on there, most of which I own elsewhere as well, but they wouldn't have been MA anyway, so other than an episode or two, I'm not out much.

I personally think Sony should offer the Bravia CORE service on the PS5, and join MA with it.

[Cplhicks]

I never really bought anything there for this exact reason. With no MA or even UV when that was around, it’d be trapped there. More retailers in streaming is always good though, for better sales and more backup. I’d hare to think of Vudu or something else closing up shop because ‘everyone streams now.’

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

I personally think Sony should offer the Bravia CORE service on the PS5, and join MA with it.

Well, the easiest solution from SIE standpoint, why not just offer the MA app on the PS's? Yeah, perhaps that would impact PS video sales....but isn't shutting it down basically the same end result?

PS4 didn't offer YT TV or any other "live" TV service until Vue shut down. Part of smart business decisions involve not making multiple mistakes. Shutting down Vue should have been an eye awakener, instead, they slept right through it IMO.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by tjritter79

Well, the easiest solution from SIE standpoint, why not just offer the MA app on the PS's? Yeah, perhaps that would impact PS video sales....but isn't shutting it down basically the same end result?

MA isn't really competition since you can't buy from them. MA supporting retailers like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, VUDU, and YouTube apps are already on the PS5, so it's not like they didn't already have competition from MA retailers.

Originally Posted by tjritter79

PS4 didn't offer YT TV or any other "live" TV service until Vue shut down. Part of smart business decisions involve not making multiple mistakes. Shutting down Vue should have been an eye awakener, instead, they slept right through it IMO.

Call it a intellectually bad day for me, but I'm a little lost. I don't personally subscribe to any live TV service, and I haven't had a Playstation since the PS3, so maybe I'm missing something.

It seems like the first sentence of the paragraph above goes with the top paragraph in your post, and not the second?

IF you're saying that Sony should have learned from the demises of Sony Pictures Store, ULTRA, and now PSN before launching a new service, you make a fair point. HOWEVER, CORE at least has a gimmick to it that the others don't have. Do I feel it will be around 10 years from now? No, but hopefully it's very existence will encourage other retailers (like Apple) or Movies Anywhere to offer the "option" to stream at high bitrates.

If I've misunderstood your point(s), please explain to me like I'm a dummy. I won't take offense.

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

MA isn't really competition since you can't buy from them. MA supporting retailers like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, VUDU, and YouTube apps are already on the PS5, so it's not like they didn't already have competition from MA retailers.

While you cannot buy from MA, they DO point you towards retailers as you pointed out....those retailers ultimately become competition to PS Video...which I think SIE 'specifically' was trying to avoid...otherwise they would have certainly added the MA app LONG already. I gave you the hamster wheel, you just refused to spin it!

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Call it a intellectually bad day for me, but I'm a little lost. I don't personally subscribe to any live TV service, and I haven't had a Playstation since the PS3, so maybe I'm missing something.

It seems like the first sentence of the paragraph above goes with the top paragraph in your post, and not the second?

IF you're saying that Sony should have learned from the demises of Sony Pictures Store, ULTRA, and now PSN before launching a new service, you make a fair point. HOWEVER, CORE at least has a gimmick to it that the others don't have. Do I feel it will be around 10 years from now? No, but hopefully it's very existence will encourage other retailers (like Apple) or Movies Anywhere to offer the "option" to stream at high bitrates.

If I've misunderstood your point(s), please explain to me like I'm a dummy. I won't take offense.

I wasn't addressing CORE as I'm of the opinion that's going to be limited to BRAVIA TV's only...and if that's the case albeit too limited for MA to "merge" with...but again likely the Android base OS will support an MA app anyway, so...

Keep in mind it was SIE not Sony Studios handling everything on the PS platform from games to videos to movies/TV shows to streaming services. SIE should have learned from the demise of Vue that PS Video was going to follow suit, and they KNEW Vue was dying otherwise why deemphasize Vue with lack of advertising and promotion then offer it for sale? This was my point that SIE SHOULD have learned! Fubo bought the carriage agreements ONLY because it benefitted them, since with less subscribers than Vue, Fubo rights fees were likely higher that what Vue was paying. Fubo has since added ESPN and has been growing....slightly.

In short, Sony is too large to seemingly accommodate TV streaming, gaming and store-front purchases into a gaming console run by a single entity. I'll bet MS doesn't have the same issues, but then again, MS allowed cross-play as well and Sony didn't.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by tjritter79

While you cannot buy from MA, they DO point you towards retailers as you pointed out....those retailers ultimately become competition to PS Video...which I think SIE 'specifically' was trying to avoid...otherwise they would have certainly added the MA app LONG already. I gave you the hamster wheel, you just refused to spin it!

Unlike the iOS app, the tvOS and Roku apps don't point you to any retailers. It simply allows you to play your current library. A similar type app for the Playstation could have been made, and certainly would have been less competition than VUDU, Amazon, Apple, and YouTube, though it would draw attention to the fact that the PSN Store didn't support MA.

Originally Posted by tjritter79

I wasn't addressing CORE as I'm of the opinion that's going to be limited to BRAVIA TV's only...and if that's the case albeit too limited for MA to "merge" with...but again likely the Android base OS will support an MA app anyway, so...

Okay, that's part of what threw me. You quoted my sentence saying that I think Sony should add the CORE service to the PS5 and that CORE should join MA.

Originally Posted by tjritter79

Keep in mind it was SIE not Sony Studios handling everything on the PS platform from games to videos to movies/TV shows to streaming services. SIE should have learned from the demise of Vue that PS Video was going to follow suit, and they KNEW Vue was dying otherwise why deemphasize Vue with lack of advertising and promotion then offer it for sale? This was my point that SIE SHOULD have learned! Fubo bought the carriage agreements ONLY because it benefitted them, since with less subscribers than Vue, Fubo rights fees were likely higher that what Vue was paying. Fubo has since added ESPN and has been growing....slightly.

VUE is a completely different type of service though. It's basically a competitive IPTV service that lasted less than five years, whereas the PSN Video store has been around since at least 2008.

Personally, I'm not surprised that VUE went defunct. Most people associated it with the Playstation, and as I said above, it's basically cable TV, in a time where many people are dropping cable TV service.

Originally Posted by tjritter79

In short, Sony is too large to seemingly accommodate TV streaming, gaming and store-front purchases into a gaming console run by a single entity. I'll bet MS doesn't have the same issues, but then again, MS allowed cross-play as well and Sony didn't.

Discounting MA support altogether, it certainly helps that Microsoft allows you to not only view/purchase video content on the Xbox, but on PCs and Windows tablets as well.

Apple had iPhones, iPads, iPods, Macs, and have now opened up their store to TVs, media streamers, gaming systems, etc.

The PSN Store was essentially Playstation only. ULTRA was Sony TVs, though it at least supported Ultraviolet. CORE will (apparently be) only on BRAVIA TVs, and may or may not support Movies Anywhere. Doesn't strike me as something with staying power without plans to expand.

[Weekendcollector]

Hope this happens

[avs commenter]

I don't think Sony has any grand plans for Bravia Core to be anything more than it currently is.