Microsoft announced last week that it would offer movies and episodes of television shows for downloading through its Xbox Live online service in the United States, beginning Nov. 22.
The company has negotiated the rights to rent or sell more than 1000 hours of material from CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount, Warner Brothers and Turner Broadcasting.
Microsoft will rent video material for a limited viewing window. Some content will be in high-definition, a move to position Microsoft first in offering HD content.
Prices have not been finalized, but Microsoft said it would be competitive with other offerings.
Microsoft has an installed base of at least 7 million Xbox 360s and is expected to have as many as 17 million by the end of next year.