Gearing up for the living room assault against Sony, Microsoft today finally got around to enlisting heavyweight support to bring HD Movies and TV Shows to the Xbox 360.

Announcing agreements with CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System, Ultimate Fighting Championship and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Xbox 360 owners will be able to enjoy over 1000 hours of footage in both standard and high-definition (in the US at least) before the end of the year.

Beginning on November 22nd, the first anniversary of the Xbox 360, Microsoft's next-generation console will become the first to offer high-definition TV shows and movies direct to the living room. Xbox 360 gamers will have access to full-length TV shows to download and own, whilst movies are rented via download from Xbox Live.

Early content will include shows such as 'CSI', 'Jericho', 'Numb3rs' and re-mastered Star Trek episodes; download-to-own condensed versions of select NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races from NASCAR; whilst, for the first time, Ultimate Fighting Championship will make 50 of its most intense fights available to download.

Further content during the initial period includes:

• "Robot Chicken" and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" from Adult Swim "CSI," "Survivor" and "Star Trek" from CBS
• Emmy and Peabody award-winning "South Park" and "Chappelle's Show" from COMEDY CENTRAL "The Real World" and "Pimp My Ride" from MTV
• "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" from Nickelodeon
• "Skyland" and "The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival" from Nicktoons Network
• "M:i:III," "Nacho Libre" and "Jackass: The Movie" from Paramount Pictures
• "Carpocalypse" and "Raising the Roofs" from Spike TV
• "Race Rewind" provided by NASCAR.COM
• Select episodes of the original season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and the "UFC: All Access" shows from the UFC
• "Breaking Bonaduce" and "Hogan Knows Best" from VH1
• "The Matrix," "Superman Returns" and "Batman Forever" from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

"This groundbreaking announcement is a win for everyone," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "It connects our partners with one of the most coveted audiences in entertainment today, and provides even greater value to our Xbox Live community, allowing them to enjoy the games and entertainment they want, when they want it."

Now all we need is that 100GB hard-drive!

Exactly how the announcement relates to Europe is currently unknown, though we expect further details on how this will shape up soon...