Bypassing Blu-ray, Sony to stream first-run movies to Bravia TV

Sony's Bravia Internet Video Link will receive its first movie premiere, Hancock, on October 28, before it is released on any other media.

Early in the summer, Sony CEO Howard Stringer announced that broadband-connected Bravia TV's would receive a streaming movie service, beginning with the premiere of Sony Pictures' Hancock.

Today, the film's official launch date on Sony Bravia Internet Video Link has been announced. Beginning October 28 -- pre-empting both the DVD and Blu-Ray release by 28 days -- the film will be available to Bravia Internet Video Link owners.

For $9.99, users will have a 24-hour rental period on their Bravia Internet Video Link; either in 720p or 480p definitions. As an additional incentive, those who purchase the rental stream and register online will receive a free Blu-ray copy of the film.

According to TiVo's Stop||Watch commercial rankings for July of this year, Hancock was the most watched advertisement of that month.

The Bravia Internet Video Link Module costs $299 and adds the familiar Xross Media Bar (XMB) interface popularized by Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PlayStation3 to Bravia TVs.