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I’m not quite certain exactly why this surprises me, but Xbox Live’s Video Marketplace is apparently the second most popular online distributor of movie and television content.

The claim was made by Microsoft’s director of global platform marketing for Xbox, Albert Penello, who noted that iTunes is still experiences the most downloads.

Companies that provide movie and TV episode downloads for Video marketplace include:

• New Line Cinema
• ADV Films
• Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
• Paramount Pictures
• A&E
• CBS Broadcasting
• Lionsgate Entertainment
• MTV Networks
• Turner Broadcasting System Inc.
• Ultimate Fighting Championship

May of videos through the service are also offered in high definition, which iTunes does not offer (yet).

The top ten downloads lists on the Xbox Live Market place site (as of today) are:

1. The Departed (HD)
2. Employee of the Month (HD)
3. Beerfest (HD)
4. Crank (HD)
5. Saw III
6. Snakes on a Plane
7. Jackass Number Two
8. Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing
9. Sublime
10. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning

Something tells me the typical person downloading video on Xbox Live is not a 13-year-old girl. Maybe it is the ease and immediacy of playing the HD content that makes Xbox Live such a popular way to get video content. No word on the exact traffic/download numbers, though it would be interesting to see exactly how far ahead iTunes is. Now if Sony can get their act in order and beef up their downloadable content, we might have a real race to watch.

Read [Home Media] Site [Xbox Live Marketplace]