Add Samsung to the bevy of CE companies looking to bring more video content to PCs and mobile devices, including its upcoming Galaxy Tab tablet. The company said its Galaxy S smartphones will have access to the store later this month.
The company late last week sneak peeked its new service, Media Hub, to media outlets. The Los Angeles Times said the new service will offer movies for rent at between $3 and $5, while buying a movie will cost $10 to $15. TV episodes will be available the day after broadcast and will cost $2 each to purchase, with no rental option.
Samsung has lined up NBC Universal, CBS, Fox, MTV Networks, Paramount and Warner Bros. as partners in Media Hub and is in continuing talks with ABC for access to content.
The Media Hub content won't be viewable on TV screens, said the paper, and copyright protection will limit each file to sharing on five devices.
Apple, Sony and Amazon all have taken steps to compete more aggressively in the video on demand space of late. Apple, in conjunction with its Sept. 1 launch of a revamped Apple TV, announced it had deals in place to make ABC and Fox TV episodes available for rent through iTunes for 99 cents each. Sony, meanwhile, said its Qriocity video and music store would be available sometime next year and positioned it as a rival to iTunes. Online retail giant Amazon, meanwhile, revealed a plan to have more, generally older, content, available to stream online by the holiday season.
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