Paramount Pictures confirming today that it is extending its partnership with Microsoft to bring its catalogue of current and library films to the UK. This means that all Xbox 360 owners connected to Xbox Live can now download-to-rent both high definition and standard definition Paramount Pictures movies direct to their console via Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store. With this latest partnership, Xbox 360 aims to place itself at the centre of digital entertainment in the living room, giving consumers the best in high definition games, movies and music videos along with access to friends, digital music and pictures.

From Tuesday 19th February, ‘Transformers’, those robots in disguise, will get a Live action outing as the war between the evil Decepticons and the heroic Autobots erupts on Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store along with other Paramount blockbusters. Available in SD and/or HD formats, download-to-rent films will cost from as little as 250 Microsoft Points (ERP £2) for standard definition movies and from 380 Microsoft Points (ERP £3.20) for high definition movies.

Robin Burrowes, Xbox Live Marketing Manager UK, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division commented: “We are really happy to be able to welcome Paramount to Xbox Live Marketplace in UK. This announcement gives our Video Store customers in the UK an even greater choice of entertainment with a great level of HD movie quality, as always.”

Alex Carloss, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Worldwide Digital Distribution, Paramount Digital Entertainment - one of the key studio partners when Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store launched in the US - commented on the expansion into Europe : “We’re excited to be involved in the acceleration phase of the European launch of Xbox Live’s Video Store and look forward to watching this service grow. To deliver Paramount’s top films to people in their living room via a games console fits perfectly with our global digital distribution strategy.”

Paramount Pictures / DreamWorks movies coming to Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store this Spring include:

· Transformers (available in SD and HD)
· Goodbye Bafana (available in SD and HD)
· Intersection (available in SD)
· Primal Fear (available in SD)
· Clear and Present Danger (available in SD)
· Naked Gun 2 & 1/2: The Smell of Fear (available in SD)
· Naked Gun 33 & 1/3 (available in SD)
· Top Secret! (available in SD)
· Bug (available in SD)
· Hardball (available in SD)
· The Phantom (available in SD)
· Orange County (available in SD)
· 1408 (available in SD and HD)
· Disturbia (available in SD and HD)
· Hot Rod (available in SD and HD)
· A Mighty Heart (available in SD and HD)
· Heartbreak Kid (available in SD and HD)
· Stardust (available in SD and HD)
· In to the Wild (available in SD and HD)

Additional movies from Warner Bros will also be added to the service this Spring. Many films will be available in high definition. They include:

· The Assassination of Jesse James (Warner Bros, available in SD and HD)
· Beowulf (Warner Bros, available in SD and HD)
· License to Wed (Warner Bros, available in SD and HD)
· No Reservations (Warner Bros, available in SD and HD)
· The December Boys (Warner Bros, available in SD and HD)
· Nancy Drew (Warner Bros, available in SD and HD)