Sony's Crackle expands content on PS3, Roku

March 29, 2011
Sony's Crackle expands content on PS3, Roku

by Don Reisinger




Sony Pictures Entertainment's Crackle online video platform is expanding its service on several devices, the company announced today.

When users boot up their PlayStation 3 consoles, as well as Roku set-top boxes, they will find all of Crackle's programming available. The full content lineup is also coming to Sony's line of Blu-ray players and Bravia televisions. Previously, users had access only to a small portion of Crackle content on those devices. The news follows an announcement in November that Crackle would be available to Google TV owners through an optimized Web site.


Crackle, which was founded in 2007, is an ad-supported, free-to-play video service. Users will find a slew of movies and television shows available on the platform's Web site that can be viewed from the browser.

Although streaming services are often compared to Netflix, Crackle's option is perhaps most similar to Hulu. However, unlike Hulu, which has a solid selection of new content, Crackle users aren't able to watch most new shows in their entirety on the site. The most popular television shows on the service right now--"Married with Children" and "Who's the Boss?"--date back quite awhile. The available films on the service are also somewhat old, though there are big names, like "Spiderman 3" and "Ghostbusters."

By expanding its service, Sony will find itself up against serious competition. The leading streaming-video provider in the space, Netflix, is running on many of the devices Crackle is available on. Moreover, both Amazon's Instant Video platform, which launched last month, and Hulu Plus are competing for the same consumers' attention.

Sony Pictures Entertainment said that the average Crackle user spends 50 minutes per visit watching its content.

Even so, those users don't make up a large portion of the market. According to NPD, 61 percent of all movies downloaded or streamed over the Web were done so on Netflix's service. Comcast came in second with 8 percent market share.

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Crackle starts streaming all of its free movies to Roku, PS3, Sony TVs and Blu-ray players

Richard Lawler
Mar 29th 2011




Sony's Crackle has had a more successful life so far than its previous iteration as Grouper, streaming movies, TV shows and shorts to various devices since launching back in '07 and announced today its full library will be streaming to the PS3, Roku boxes, Sony Blu-ray players and Bravia TVs. Expanding full access from just the Google TV (there's also an Android app that currently streams some of the items) it's taking credit as the only provider offering free full length flicks including Ghostbusters, Bad Boys, A Few Good Men and more for free on these platforms. The drawbacks are video that tops out at 480p standard definition and Hulu-style commercial interruptions but if you absolutely must watch Weekend at Bernies II without spending any money it is an option -- at least, as long as the PS3 browser doesn't crash with an out of memory error like it did for us. It did work better on more capable platforms, so check out the full details in the press release below:



Programming Expansion Brings the Best Selection of Free Content to Internet Connected TVs and Devices

CULVER CITY, Calif., March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Crackle, Sony Pictures Entertainment's multi-platform video entertainment network, announced a major programming expansion today; extending its full suite of ad-supported full-length movies and television series to all consumers with PlayStation 3 game consoles; Roku streaming players; Sony's Blu-ray players, BRAVIA televisions and Streaming Player with wifi; in addition to its previously announced launch on Google TV. With these expansions, Crackle becomes the only digital network to feature free-to-consumer full-length, unedited movies and television series on these platforms; it was announced today by Eric Berger, senior vice president, digital networks, Sony Pictures Television (SPT).

Crackle's ad-supported service provides consumers with a uniquely curated experience that includes hundreds of Hollywood movies in genres including action, comedy, crime, horror, thriller and sci-fi, plus thousands of TV episodes and award-winning Crackle original programming - all of which can be accessed online, via mobile, and now, on a broad selection of connected devices.

"Crackle is the best single source of ad-supported Hollywood films and television series on the internet," said Berger. "By making our extensive collection of content available on these platforms, we're bringing an unparalleled viewing experience directly to consumers through their internet-enabled devices."

On average viewers spend 50 minutes per visit to Crackle on connected TVs. Crackle can be found in the Channel Store on Roku, on the PlayStation 3 Internet Browser home screen and on all BRAVIA Internet Video devices including Sony Blu-ray players and BRAVIA televisions. Additionally, Crackle was a launch partner with Google TV and can be accessed via the Spotlight section.

A sampling of Crackle's current and upcoming movies includes:

* "The Da Vinci Code"
* "21"
* "Ghostbusters"
* "Bad Boys"
* "Big Daddy"
* "Gridiron Gang"
* "We Own the Night"
* "Eight Millimeter"
* "Ultraviolet"
* "A Few Good Men"
* "The Patriot"
* "Mr. Deeds"


Titles are refreshed frequently featuring approximately 20 new titles per month from Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics. Crackle on PlayStation 3 and Google TV is available to audiences in the U.S. and Canada. Crackle on Roku, Sony's BRAVIA, Streaming Player and Blu-ray devices is available in the U.S. only.

Crackle, Inc.

Crackle, Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, is a multi-platform next-generation video entertainment network that distributes digital content including original short form series and full-length traditional television programming and feature films from Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems and others. Crackle is one of the fastest growing entertainment destinations on the Internet today, offering audiences quality programming in a variety of genres, including comedy, action, sci-fi, horror, music and reality. Crackle reaches an impressive audience through its diverse online and mobile distribution network. Visit Crackle at Crackle - Watch Movies Online, Free TV Shows, & Original Online Series
Crackle - Watch Movies Online, Free TV Shows, & Original Online Series

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Sony brings free, full-length movies to the web, internet-connected TVs


Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Movie studios are giving consumers even more reasons to stay away from their local video stores, offering free ad-supported movies on internet-connected devices and cheap new releases on social networks.

Warner Bros. Pictures recently started streaming blockbuster movies like Inception and Harry Potter on social network Facebook in exchange for Facebook credits (which equate to around $3 or $4 per movie).

The trial was extremely successful and is now being expanded to include additional titles.

Movie streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu - where users pay a flat monthly fee to watch on-demand titles - has also risen to popularity in the US.

Regular TV remains the most common form of consumption for small-screen fare, but the availability of new flexible and on-demand movie and TV watching solutions is making it easier for consumers to make the switch to on-demand and internet streaming services.

Sony Pictures Entertainments is pushing for its multi-platform video entertainment network Crackle to make its way onto more screens in the house.

The company announced it is expanding its digital movie service to offer consumers one of the most comprehensive selections of ad-supported full-length films and TV series on the web.

The service will appeal to cash-strapped consumers who are not interested in watching regular TV programming and also provides an alternative for consumers who might otherwise turn to P2P networks to get their fill of free on-demand movies and TV programs.

Sony's selection of movies and TV series will be available to US and Canadian viewers on PlayStation 3 game consoles and Google TV. Viewers in the US will also have access to the service via Roku streaming players, and Sony's internet-connected Blu-ray players and BRAVIA televisions.

International viewers can also get a glimpse of Sony's digital offering in their web browser via Crackle - Watch Movies Online, Free TV Shows, & Original Online Series or the Google Chrome Crackle Web App.

"Crackle's ad-supported service provides consumers with a uniquely curated experience that includes hundreds of Hollywood movies in genres including action, comedy, crime, horror, thriller and sci-fi, plus thousands of TV episodes and award-winning Crackle original programming - all of which can be accessed online, via mobile, and now, on a broad selection of connected devices," said Sony in a March 29 press release.

Crackle's current selection of movies includes titles such as The Da Vinci Code, 21, Ultraviolet, A Few Good Men and Mr. Deeds. The titles are refreshed frequently, says Sony, with around 20 new titles per month from studios such as Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics.

To start watching, head to http://www.crackle.com.

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