Xbox Live TV Shows, Movies Go Live

Microsoft began offering access to hundreds of television programs and movies through the Xbox Live service Wednesday, drawing on content from partner networks CBS, MTV Networks, TBS, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and movie studios Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros Home Entertainment. Content would be made available in both high-definition as well as standard-definition formats.

Users would be able to download and own the television shows, as well as rent movies. High-definition TV shows cost 240 Microsoft points, and standard-definition 160 points. New release HD movies would cost 480 points, and SD 320; meanwhile, classic films would be sold for 360 points in HD and 240 points in SD. HD purchasers would also be permitted to download the SD version at no charge, Microsoft said.