The UMD is not yet dead, folks! At least, not in its usage that Sony intended, to be a universal portable format for storing all kinds of media. Sony Computer Entertainment of America and MTV have joined forces to distribute a variety of TV content to the UMD format. It is the first time a major TV content provider has collaborated with SCEA. And should already be available now at retail stores. Hopefully, this might help breathe new life into the quickly fading media format.

Phil Rosenberg, SCEA’s senior vice president of sales and business development, had this to say about the new collaboration and pushing forth the format:

“This collaboration with MTV is a key first step in meeting the needs of our consumers, who are utilizing PSP as a video player more than ever and are thirsting for more content, particularly short-form videos…MTV’s programming is hugely popular, and SCEA can utilize our internal resources to appropriately manage the publishing and distribution of these hit shows on UMD. This demonstrates our commitment to supporting the UMD video format by delivering what consumers want to watch at the right price. SCEA will continue to license movie, TV, and other video content, leveraging our sales and marketing strengths, as a strategic focus moving forward.”

And the price also makes sense too. At $14.95 for each of these movies, it should not put much of a dent in consumer’s wallets. Compare this to just 2 years ago when they were at $30, costing more than the DVD version, which may have more features. And now, with the release of the PSP slim and watching movies from its video-out, UMD movies are suddenly more enticing.

You can now following MTV titles at retail stores: Beavis & Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection, Jackass - Vol. 2 and 3, Wildboyz - Vol. 1 and 2, Viva La Bam - Vol. 2, 3, and 4, and Aeon Flux, which is a complete collection in 2 discs.

1. Just let it die……

   Why would you want to buy a movie that can only play on your psp when you can just download it in mp4 format and play it an a variety of different things.

   Posted by sP00N | May 19, 2008, 2:56 pm