Disney-ABC will make hit programmes including Lost and Desperate Housewives available via Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace this month, with MGM adding its library of movies as well.
The Disney-ABC deal is significant for Microsoft since the Mouse initially resisted joining the company's TV and movie download service, which launched just over a year ago.
Tied to its Xbox 360 games console, Xbox Live Marketplace has quickly become the second most popular legitimate TV download service in the US after Apple's iTunes. In download-to-rent movies it is market leader.
Aside from flagship dramas Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy, Disney-ABC will bring kids series such as Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody to the Xbox. ABC News archive content dating back to 1963 will also be available.
The Mouse's initial frostiness towards Xbox thawed late last year when it began offering select movies via the console. But the latest deal brings an extra 500-plus hours of content in both standard and high definition.
"This new agreement will not only provide incremental viewing opportunities, but also provides a wealth of promotional opportunities to further awareness of our shows and brands," said Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, in a statement.
MGM, meanwhile, will add titles such as Rocky, Terminator and Silence of the Lambs to this category on Xbox Live, joining the likes of CBS, MTV, Paramount Turner and Warner Bros. The move takes Xbox to over 3,500 hours of video.
"Xbox Live, when we're done integrating this content, will offer more than twice as many hours of on-demand HD content as any cable or satellite provider," said Microsoft entertainment and devices division president Robbie Bach yesterday at CES.
"Over 35 studios and networks are supporting us now and it's quite clear that online distribution is going to be a powerful force in the future of video," he added, revealing that Microsoft has now passed 10 million Xbox Live members ? a milestone the company didn't expect to reach for another six months.
Rumours are abound that Virgin Media and Microsoft Xbox Live high definition movie downloads should take between 15 minutes and half an hour to download by the end of the year on some broadband services.
