Captain Obvious: 80GB PS3 is staging ground for Sony VOD service

We all knew it was a matter of time before Sony began talk of rolling out its own video on demand service worldwide much like Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace. All the pieces are there for the PlayStation 3: large hard drive, built in wireless and ethernet connection, and an online store that can easily be updated. And of course, Sony just so happens to be one of the largest movie and music studios, so a well-rounded relationship between that division and the PS3's digitial distribution capabilities seems like a match made in capitalism heaven.

With the 80GB PS3 announced for Korea, Sony now says they are in talks to bring a VOD service to that country. From Next-Gen:

According to today’s Korea Times, Sony has announced its intentions to offer VOD services via PlayStation 3 consoles if negotiations with a number of Korean telecoms companies proceed as expected.

“Should we strike a deal with Sony, PlayStation 3 users can watch all the HanaTV programs after downloading software, without having to buy a dedicated set-top box,'' he added.

But it doesn't stop there:

The Korean move represents the first step in Sony’s plans to roll out the VOD initiative on a larger scale in the near future. SCEE president David Reeves recently confirmed that VOD services would be available for PS3 and PSP users via the PlayStation Network by the end of the year. He said that consumers would be able to access full-length movies, music and TV programmes, although he gave no indication of launch details or pricing structure.

So when do Americans get this stuff? I'd love to replace my TiVo or cable set box with just a PS3. The less cords and electronic devices cluttering my life, the better.