Sony has announced a new strategy of providing internet connectivity for all their devices, including TV's, which would allow them to access and purchase content from their own service. Seems like a pretty risky strategy to me...

http://www.forbes.com/2008/06/27/sony-apple-platform-tech-intel-cx_mji_0626sony.html

The company aims to have virtually all its electronic products networked and Wi-Fi capable by March 2011.

Sony said it will start rolling out its new video services to the PlayStation 3 game console this summer. Over the next three years, the company plans to distribute the content to a host of consumer electronic devices, including computers and its line of BRAVIA LCD TVs, and later to mobile phones and portable video players.

On the other hand, a number of people on this forum have stated the opinion that Internet digital distribution is the way the market is headed vs. Blu-Ray (physical) disk distribution.

Sony may see itself as having no choice, risky or not.

On the other hand, a number of people on this forum have stated the opinion that Internet digital distribution is the way the market is headed vs. Blu-Ray (physical) disk distribution.

Oh, I don't disagree with that at all. What I question is the consumer's willingness to pay more for a Sony TV set because it includes hardware which allows you to access their proprietary online download service. Sony just doesn't have a track record of getting that right.

This is already happening. Microsoft has the Xbox Live Marketplace where whole TV Episodes can be downloaded like iTunes and Sony doing the same to the PlayStation Network is just a matter of time before it happens.

Oh, I don't disagree with that at all. What I question is the consumer's willingness to pay more for a Sony TV set because it includes hardware which allows you to access their proprietary online download service. Sony just doesn't have a track record of getting that right.

Well they figured out Blu-Ray, so maybe they're learning.