On Tuesday it was announced that Playstation 3 owners in the US would be able to watch their first pay-per-view WWE events on the console (WWE PPV launched on Xbox earlier this year). This Sunday's SummerSlam will launch the console’s Live Events application, and other content besides wrestling is already being planned.
It’s a small announcement towards the end of a console’s life cycle, and one that doesn’t currently seem to be launching in Europe. But it’s yet another indication of how game consoles are becoming one of the most prominent methods for distributing and viewing television content.
Boot up an Xbox 360, PS3 or even Wii and you can access a huge amount of video content almost instantly. Sky has settled on Xbox, with subscribers able to access live and VOD material on their console. Channel 4 offers dedicated applications for 360 and PS3, and Irish viewers can download the RTÉ Player app for PS3.
Netflix is accessible on all the major consoles (including the WiiU), and they’re second only to PC as the most popular devices for the video service (PS3 consoles have even fitfully been the single largest source of Netflix traffic). With Netflix’s ongoing commitment to original content, it illustrates that many people are now watching brand new shows through their consoles rather than through traditional cable or digital.
New consoles
The next generation Xbox and Playstation consoles, meanwhile, are due to launch before the end of the year, and will bring with them even deeper integrated television services. Microsoft particularly have been very vocal in their allegiance to TV, making it one of the main focuses of their May reveal of the Xbox One - so vocal, in fact, that many gamers were appalled, and subsequent Xbox events have kept the topic on the sidelines to highlight the games instead. Probably because of this brilliant re-edit:
Alongside the familiar content deals forged with the likes of ESPN, though, the most noteworthy aspect of Microsoft’s interest in TV is that the company will be producing unique shows just for console owners. Xbox exclusive content will start with a live-action serial of the popular Halo games, with recent reports suggesting a remake of cult sci-fi show Blake’s 7 will follow. These will be major expansions of the short-form fan series - such as gaming sitcom The Guild - that have previously enjoyed some Xbox exclusivity.
Consoles are, of course, some way from completely replacing traditional methods of television viewing. They don’t have an exclusive claim on streaming TV, either - other devices like Apple TV or Google’s forthcoming Chromecast offer several of the services the consoles do, as do tablets and even smartphones. TV manufacturers and digital providers have consistently upped their game with in-built VOD offerings, while many households simply do not own a console.
In Ireland, we’re not even getting the whole range of services being offered, with the likes of Hulu or HBO Go still US only and likely to stay that way as rights issues continue to restrict the content available internationally. The Xbox One launch was notable for the amount of US-centric TV announcements and the lack of European equivalents. Microsoft has also been criticised for restricting access to the likes of Netflix to those paying for the Xbox Live Gold subscription (costing approximately €50 a year).
All these points considered, though, consoles continue to grow into one of the major sources for television content, and the next-generation is likely to see that trend continue in fascinating new ways. The television will be televised... on game consoles.
