PS3 Informer

Stream LoveFilm Rentals Direct to PS3 Soon in the UK

America has Netflix, but over here in the UK we have another option for subscription movie rentals: LoveFilm. Playstation 3 owners might soon become better acquainted with the service, as Sony recently announced a partnership to bring LoveFilm to millions of PS3 users across the UK. An agreement between the companies will see LoveFilm become an official PS3 integrated subscription film service partner. LoveFilm subscribers will be able to stream the UK's largest choice of subscription titles directly to their TVs, through their PS3s and open a new world of interactivity with LoveFilm.

This is a much bigger deal for the fledgling movie rental company than it is for Sony. The partnership will soon take LoveFilm, currently with 1.4 million subscribers, into PS3's three million-and-growing UK households. It is the most significant extension to date of LoveFilm's direct-to-TV rollout which began in March when LoveFilm launched on SONY BRAVIA Internet Video TVs, Blu-ray players and Blu-ray Home Theatre kits.

LOVEFiLM Chief Executive, Simon Calver, said,

"This is game-changing for LOVEFiLM and transformational for the UK home entertainment market as a whole. PS3 already has a very large installed customer base of all ages, all of whom will soon be able to benefit from our unique combination of instantly available content, streamed through their PS3, as well as DVD, Blu-ray & Games rental by post. To become PS3's partner for our service is a tremendous endorsement of the value, choice and convenience offered by LOVEFiLM."

The LOVEFiLM service will become available on the XMB (Xross Media Bar) on all internet-connected PS3s, providing most members of LOVEFiLM on subscription packages access to thousands of titles from major studios and independents, streamed instantly to their TV via their PS3, in addition to the rental by post services. Members will be able to scroll through titles on the page, also search through categories including 'Pick of the Week', 'Most Watched' and 'Highest Rated', view ratings and search through the LOVEFiLM instant offering by title, actor and genre. LOVEFiLM will offer any PS3 users who are not already LOVEFiLM subscribers, exclusive incentives to join the service, including free trials.

"We know there is a huge interest within our audience for film, and so the addition of LOVEFiLM to our current range of services is a very natural fit and one which significantly enhances the value proposition of PlayStation 3," said Ray Maguire, MD of Sony Computer Entertainment UK. "LOVEFiLM has a proven track record of success and innovation in the film distribution field and is a very welcome addition to the PlayStation family that I'm confident PlayStation gamers will embrace enthusiastically."