If you’re looking to watch a movie on your PS3, you’re about to get one more choice from where to stream. In the already crowded market of Netflix, the PS3 Video Store, Hulu Plus, MLB and NHL streaming, Sony announced today that they’re adding VUDU to the console on November 23rd.
For those of you that don’t know, VUDU is a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart and is currently available as an app on some HDTV’s, Blu-Ray players, and the much loved Boxee Box and service. You can drop money into your account and rent movies in 1080p HD with 5.1 channel surround sound all over your streaming internet connection. Think of it as Netflix without the monthly fee or the PS3 Video Store without the downloads. Or, if you want to compare it to the Xbox 360 side of things, think of it like how the Zune Marketplace works.
Personally, this addition to the PS3 does nothing for me. There are already plenty of video streaming options on the console, but hey, another one isn’t going to hurt anyone, really. It could allow Sony wiggle room to not have to pay for streaming rights for some videos in the PS3 Video Store and just direct people over to the VUDU app. But the big drawback for me is having to maintain yet another online wallet. If Sony can somehow manage to integrate it with your PSN account wallet, I might give it a shot. But as it is, I already have money in my PSN account and Banana Bucks over on Xbox Live that I can use for movie rentals if I so choose.
Now if only someone would add Pandora support to a console…


