Running alongside the announcement of the Xbox 360 Elite, Microsoft also revealed the addition of multiple new agreements with A&E Network, ADV Films, National Geographic and TotalVid.com to bring TV series and movies to the U.S. Xbox Live Video Marketplace.

Microsoft is also partnering with Paramount Pictures to offer high definition feature films for download. Available titles will include “Braveheart,” “Team America: World Police,” “World Trade Center” and “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.” Also, for the first time, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will be releasing its direct-to-video movies exclusively in high definition on Xbox Live simultaneous with their availability on DVD, starting with “Sublime” and later “Babylon 5: The Lost Tales.”

“With more than 300 games expected by year’s end, an Xbox LIVE community of more than 6 million people and a growing catalogue of premium content from some of the biggest names in entertainment today, Xbox 360 is an incredible value,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “Adding partners and content like this helps reinforce the console’s position as the center of connected entertainment in the living room.”

Downloads on Xbox LIVE have grown in double-digits, month-over-month, with a 400 percent increase since the service began offering TV shows and movies late last year.

Microsoft and Comedy Central offered earlier this month the first-ever high definition episode of “South Park.” The episode titled “Good Times With Weapons,” available for a limited time on Xbox LIVE, has been downloaded more than 380,000 times to date.