Sony has revealed that they have the long term intention to develop a service to download digital content to their PlayStation 3 (PS3): games, music, movies, SDTV and HDTV. The 1UP game site published the story on Tuesday.

In a broad ranging interview, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe chief Phil Harrison revealed plans for the PS3. "The decision we made to put a hard drive in every PlayStation 3 was because we saw the long term benefit. The ten year plan of allowing people to download all kinds of digital content to their PlayStation 3 -- not just games but movies, music, HD, standard definition TV, you name it. And that was a significant investment, but it was absolutely the right thing to do."

No specific timing or further details were provided.

In a broader context, ITwire explained that the key to winning the Internet TV and movie war lies in establisheding a physical presence in the living room as the recent Amazon/TiVo deal does. ITWire concluded: "If you've already spent good money on one (or more) of these devices and use their video download service you're far less likely to shell out more money on an Apple TV player. Movie download services not affiliated with existing hardware will be swept aside unless they offer playback via a games console, as several do with the Xbox 360."

iPO notes that the winners in this race for living room hardware will probably be those with the best user experience, and content selection and prices. The Apple TV like the TiVo, PS3 and Xbox, establishes that beachhead in valuable living room space where, historically, customers have preferred small, platform neutral DVRs and players, not complex media center PCs.