Paramount signs to Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store

It has been announced today that Paramount Pictures will be bringing its catalogue of films, which include blockbusters such as 'Transformers' as well as classics like 'The Godfather', to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store in the UK. The films will be available to Xbox 360 owners for download in either high definition or standard definition direct to their consoles. This move is designed to increase the Xbox 360's desirability as an all-in-one media centre for your home.

Transforming the way we rent movies

From Tuesday 19 February Xbox LIVE subscribers will find 'Transformers' available for download-to-rent from the Marketplace Video Store, and to witness the epic battle between Decepticons and Autobots will set you back 250 Microsoft Points for the standard definition version, whilst the high definition version will cost 380 Microsoft Points (around £2 and £3.20 respectively). Each film is available to watch up to 24 hours after the initial viewing, and up to 14 days after purchase.

Alex Carloss, the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Worldwide Digital Distribution at Paramount Digital Entertainment remarked "We’re excited to be involved in the...European launch of Xbox LIVE’s Video Store and look forward to watching this service grow. To deliver Paramount’s top films to people in their living room via a games console fits perfectly with our global digital distribution strategy.”

Will this spell the end for video rental shops?

The addition of Paramount Picture's strong catalogue of popular movies should convince a lot of Xbox LIVE subscribers to use the Marketplace Video Store for the first time, and coupled with the low prices and convenience of having a movie delivered straight to your living room, the already beleaguered video rental shops may find themselves with a few less customers in the coming weeks. The main obstacle in digital distribution's rise in the UK's video rental market is slow internet connection speeds, however these will hopefully be increasing soon so we won't think twice about downloading a 7GB movie for a night's entertainment. If you have a fast enough broadband connection and a Xbox LIVE subscription, then the choice between braving the cold February weather to get to your nearest Blockbuster store or staying in the warmth of your house as Xbox LIVE does all the hard work really should be a no-brainer.

Forthcoming attractions:

Movies to lookout for this spring on the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace this spring include:

• Transformers (available in SD and HD)
• Goodbye Bafana  (available in SD and HD)
• Intersection  (available in SD)
• Primal Fear (available in SD)
• Intersection  (available in SD)
• Primal Fear (available in SD)
• Clear and Present Danger (available in SD)
• Naked Gun 2 & 1/2: The Smell of Fear (available in SD)
• Naked Gun 33 & 1/3 (available in SD)
• Top Secret! (available in SD)
• Bug (available in SD)
• Hardball (available in SD)
• The Phantom (available in SD)
• Orange County (available in SD)
• 1408 (available in SD and HD)
• Disturbia (available in SD and HD)
• Hot Rod (available in SD and HD)
• A Mighty Heart (available in SD and HD)
• Heartbreak Kid (available in SD and HD)
• Stardust (available in SD and HD)
• In to the Wild (available in SD and HD)