(sorry if you got this post twice in your feed, it accidently went out earlier incomplete)

There’s been a couple of big developments in the world of download-able Hollywood movie content over the last couple of days. Microsoft announced that it will begin streaming a portion of Netflix’s content over their Xbox Live marketplace service that is already out in the world renting and selling movies, television shows and other content. Score one for the Xbox. Combine this with the Roku set-top box that is delivering Netflix to people’s living rooms without the need for physical DVD delivery and you’ve got Netflix staking a claim to the digital living room unlike anyone else, Apple included.

The second development was the Playstation video store going live. It’s yet another video download and rental service but this one is deployed on the Sony PlayStation 3. One would think that it is positioned for success as the PlayStation 3 seems to have been built from the ground-up not only as a gaming console but more of a total entertainment hub. I seem to use my PS3 way more to watch Blu-ray movies and host Rock Band parties than play traditional video games even though the main reason I wanted the device was to play Gran Turismo!

This would seem to be putting a further nail into the coffin of DVDs but I’m still not convinced. For me, I love that DVDs offer the ability to build a collection that you and your friends can browse on your shelf or put into a little binder and have for all eternity … or until the next great physical format rolls along. As a collector, the digital download does not appeal to me for those movies I want to collect. A hard drive full of purchased movies does nothing but fill up and have the potential to crash. And as a filmmaker myself, all the supplements offered up with a Criterion disc makes it well worth the investment and the space on my shelf. And while there are those that would probably say that more media contained in less space is a good thing, I think that the potential of the next generation Blu-ray format makes the physical requirements worth the effort. Of course that is up for debate and it all comes down to personal choice and what you want out of your media in the end. I actually really like to have all three options available, phsyical dvd purchases, Netflix rentals by mail and the iTunes movie rentals. (If only I had more time to watch ….)

There will be an endless debate about which rental option and what format is better for consumers just as there is, has been, and probably always will be an endless debate about which system is better, the Xbox 360 or a PS3. I think it comes down to how the individual wants to pay for and own their content. The Xbox 360 requires both a Netflix account and a “Gold” level subscription to the Xbox Marketplace. Neither of those are free and they require a monthly fee. At the PS Store on the other hand you can just buy or rent a movie one month and consume nothing the next month, much like renting a movie on the Apple TV.

These two different models bring up yet another debate, that question of do you want to buy your media or just “rent” it. Rental costs can be somewhat low, such as the $12.99 monthly fee for Rhapsody Unlimited, and give you unfettered access to a vast array of content that you could never afford to buy on your own. You just have to keep paying that monthly fee to access it. Purchase costs, such as the iTunes model, are usually somewhat consistent depending on what you buy but over the years you can end up spending a lot of money on music or movies you might not consume in the long term. Personally, I choose the iTunes (or Amazon mp3 store) purchase model. I’m already asked to pay enough “monthly” fees for everything from cell phone, to cable, to gym, to Tivo …. so at some point I choose to draw the line and say ENOUGH with the monthly fees. Plus when the apocalypse happens and I’m waiting for either the government round-up, the Rapture or starvation, I want to be sure I can go while listening to my favorite music. That’s why I’ll keep a stockpile of batteries around for my external iPod power adapter.