Een vaak gehoord excuus voor het downloaden van TV series is dat er geen betaalbaar alternatief beschikbaar is. Maar vandaag is bekend geworden dat de TV zender HBO zijn TV series via de PlayStations Store beschikbaar gaat stellen. Alleen $2.99 voor één aflevering van True Blood is wel behoorlijk duur, als je weet dat ze oudere en andere shows voor 99 cent gaan aanbieden. Het is overigens niet bekend of deze service naar Europa komt, dus toch maar weer leechen via de bekende wegen als Torrents of Nieuwsgroepen.

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Sony Corp. (SNE, 6758.TO) has agreed to offer Time Warner Inc.'s (TWX) HBO programs through its PlayStation 3 in the latest of a string of deals that positions the video-game-console maker as a media and entertainment distribution channel.

Sony, which has 47 million registered PlayStation users worldwide, has signed similar deals with major film studios and TV networks, as well as with Netflix Inc. (NFLX) and MLB.TV.

It's all part of a bid by gaming console makers like Sony, Microsoft Corp. ( MSFT) and Nintendo Co. (NTDOY, 7974.OK) to use their ability to bring Internet access to the TV and to branch out beyond video games, becoming an all-around set-top box for the video-game generation by offering an integrated, home entertainment experience.

Both companies declined to provide details about the revenue-sharing split in the deal, but their agreement will allow PS3 users to pay a premium price to download episodes from 11 HBO series, like "Big Love," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Entourage," as they become available for sale in the DVD format roughly 11 months after premiering on the network. Sony plans to add new HBO material every Tuesday to expand the offering.

The time-lag, according to HBO Home Entertainment President Henry McGee, will preserve the pay-TV industry's business model, because it won't incentivize cable and satellite subscribers to drop their TV service.

Meanwhile, it gives the company a new film sales channel to offset declines in DVD sales and provide more attractive profit margins.

McGee said an episode of the HBO series "True Blood" will be available for download through the PS3 for $2.99, while episodes from most TV dramas on the PlayStation are priced at 99 cents per episode.

"We can use this platform to reinforce the premium positioning for HBO," said McGee, adding that PlayStation's demographic is an attractive one--largely males ages 18 to 34 that are affluent, educated and diverse.

"The download business in general has become an important profit contributor for us," said McGee said. "It's not yet nearly as large as the physical sales channel, but the trend is a good one.