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 Microsoft signs a deal valued around $500 million with Viacom to initially bring tons of TV and Movie content to Xbox Live, and Zune's top competitor is getting movie rentals? Hey Microsoft, what about Zune?? More after the break...
 Recently, Microsoft signed a deal with Viacom that is geared to bring both companies revenue. Microsoft agreed to buy more ad space on Viacom's TV networks including MTV and Comedy Central, as well as internet ad space where both companies will share in the rewards. (Hint: anyone wondering where to see Zune ads? Watch MTV or Comedy Central) In return, Microsoft will gain access to tons of Viacom video content from its cable TV vetures like the ones mentioned above, as well as its movie studios including Paramount. Xbox Live was named as the platform to benefit from this content and users of this service will soon start seeing more TV and movies available online. The question is: when will Zune get to see some of this content?
Interesting to note: Viacom's TV brands include BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike TV, and VH1. Its movie brands include Paramount Pictures, Dreamworks Studios, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies, and Home Entertainment.
Already, Viacom may not welcome the content on Zune as it may feel burned when Microsoft decided to introduce the Zune with its own software and online music store. This move effectively derailed Viacom's plans to further its own online music store with Microsoft: MTV's URGE.com. The deal, some have speculated, is somewhat of a consolation to repair burned bridges. Let's hope Viacom isn't too burned and will, in the near future, allow for Zune to take advantage of its content.
 And what about movie rentals? Apple recently signed a deal with Fox Studios to bring online movie rentals to iTunes. Again, I ask: hey Microsoft, what about Zune?
This is something that would benefit Zune owners as well. What if a 'Zune Movie Pass' (similar to the Zune Pass) gave Zune owners the ability to rent movies that would be able to be sync'd to and viewed on the Zune device for a regular monthly fee? Owners could rent up to 3 movies at one time and could trade in content for more as many times as they want as long as they continue renewing the monthly service.
 If Microsoft is not thinking in this direction, it should. Online movies rentals have already shown their promise in the forms of Netflix and Blockbuster Online, and this would be something neither of those services offer. With current online movie rentals, you cannont take the movies with you. But having an ultra-portable device like the Zune to hold the movie content and take with you would add to the appeal of a serivce like this. Not to mention having movie rentals would take advantage of the large screens of the Zune devices.
Bar none, both ideas would greatly enhance Zune's image as an alternative to the iPod. So Microsoft: WHAT ABOUT ZUNE??
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