In 2008, a TV tuner and DVR functions will be coming to Sony’s PlayStation 3 next-gen gaming platform.

Warwick Light, sales and marketing manager at Sony said to the New Zealand Press: “We’re also hoping next year — about the same time that Freeview launches its terrestrial broadcasting service — to release a digital tuner for the PS3, turning it into a programmable TV recorder.”

Officially, however, Sony isn’t commenting on that slip although an official announcement may be coming shortly.

But it’s been generally accepted that DVR and TV functions would be happening. Since game consoles already have an established presence in many living rooms around the world, it only makes sense that they get transformed into a media hub. It’s not enough to be a game machine—today they can be used to watch DVDs, photos, listen to music, use voice calling, and other Internet functionality.

Microsoft’s rival gaming platform, the Xbox 360, will include IPTV functionality in late 2007, according to the company. Although it hasn’t been confirmed yet, it’s likely that the Xbox 360 will also have some DVR functionality as well.

Frankly, if Sony and Microsoft didn’t have plans to add DVR functionality to their consoles, I’d be pretty concerned. It’s a no-brainer. DVR functions are getting commoditized. It’s just a matter of how to get the TV into the boxes. Microsoft is using IPTV.  Perhaps Sony will just include a TV tuner upgrade and a larger hard drive.

It’s still questionable whether there will be enough consumers interested in using their gaming machines as TV receivers. In my opinion, the consoles should also include video-on-demand, so consumers can download movies and TV from legitimate outlets, like the Apple TV and iTunes.

Rather than trying to play catch-up to set-top box makers (like Tivo and Motorola), and devices (like Apple TV), Sony and Microsoft should stay ahead of the game and add VOD and other services.

[Via PC World]