Sony puts network at center of mid-term strategy

"Sony now has the capability to deliver feature films and television shows of ours or our peers directly to consumer televisions across the open IP network outside the conventional satellite, cable or terrestrial distribution systems ... This initiative is a clear but important glimpse into the future of home entertainment," said Stringer.

For Sony the network strategy has been a long time coming.

Despite enjoying a position as one of the biggest creators of movie and television content in the world and one of its top consumer electronics companies, previous attempts to directly link with consumers, through services like Mora or Connect, have failed in part because Sony chose its own systems over those with wider support in the industry.

But the company's reliance -- or insistence -- on its own technology has changed in the years since Stringer took over.

The new PlayStation Network service, for example, will use Marlin, an open digital rights management system that was developed by Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Philips and Intertrust.

"We will embrace open standards to improve interoperability among all of our customers' devices," Stringer said.

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