PS3 Goes Live with TVNZ Ondemand

TVNZ and Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand (SCENZ) have just announced that a TV on-demand service is now available on the PlayStation 3 console.

TVNZ Ondemand is the first catch-up TV service to be optimised for viewing on the living room TV through PS3. It’s a free internet broadcasting service that streams a range of TVNZ programmes in high resolution, including Go Girls, Shortland Street, MasterChef, The Apprentice, Lost, The Pacific, Big Bang Theory and Grey’s Anatomy.

TVNZ Ondemand offers about 150 series and last month delivered more than 1.5 million episodes to 316,000 visitors. To get TVNZ Ondemand on the PS3, update the PS3’s system software to version 3.10 or above to ensure sign-in to PlayStation Network. After a few moments, the TVNZ Ondemand icon will appear on the Xross Media Bar (XMB).

SCENZ’s director of sales and marketing, David Hine, said in a statement: “‘The PlayStation 3 is already a leader in home entertainment. The addition of catch-up TV services with TVNZ Ondemand further enhances this position. It is one more reason why the PS3 is far more than a gaming console. We are very proud to be associated with TVNZ as they are clearly a leader in their field and are continually looking to develop their offering.

“With the new TVNZ Ondemand service we now offer Kiwis even more choice, which really underpins the PS3 as the best value home entertainment solution. Featuring games, Blu-ray movies, surfing the net, music, photos the PlayStation Network and now TV, there is something for the whole family. The game is just the start!”

With over 105,000 PS3 consoles in homes across the country, PlayStation offers TVNZ greater exposure to viewers for its Ondemand TV services that hitherto have been viewed via a PC. “This is a huge leap forward for us in our ambition to see TVNZ content ‘Inspiring New Zealanders on every screen’, which has been our vision for the company for the last four years,” TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis said.