For quite some time, we've been trumpeting the potential of the BD-Live feature of Blu-ray high definition discs. This feature allows your player to connect to the Internet and access additional content provided by the studio, including new videos, polls, events, or other interactive features. To top it off, the studio can update this content at any time after the disc has been purchased, which means that they have the potential to continually reward those who have purchased the movie on Blu-ray.

However, for the most part, studios have not taken advantage of that potential to deliver anything after the release of the disc.

That has changed in Paramount's recent decision to provide new BD-Live content on the Blu-ray disc for Transformers in advance of the theatrical release of its sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which lands in theaters this coming Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

According to Video Business magazine, the new content was made available on the disc's BD-Live menu on June 16th. Since I don't have the disc, I decided to rent it from Netflix and see for myself.

According to High-Def Digest's review of the Transformers Blu-ray disc, the BD-Live extras at the time of release included:

• "Intelligence Center"
• "MyClips"

TheHDRoom.com says that the new content amounts to approximately 25 minutes of new footage.

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Sneak Peek — Footage from the new film
• From the set of Revenge of the Fallen: Day 1 — An exclusive inside look at the first day of shooting
• From the set of Revenge of the Fallen: A Day in the Shade —A comical look at the differences between Megan and Shia's on-set treatment
• Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes from Transformers
• Fly on the Set: Pentagon — On the set filming of the Pentagon Military Command Center
• Music and Mayhem — Renowned special effects house ILM deconstructs the blockbuster action of Transformers
• Metal in Motion — Special effects tests and early robot animation
• Stunts 101 — An in-depth look at the amazing stunts in Transformers
• Choose Your Weapon —A fly on the wall glimpse into the selection of weapons and how they were used by the film's soldiers
• The Man in the Ice — From design to production, watch the Arctic come to life on various sets in Los Angeles, California
• Voices — The voices behind the Autobots and Decepticons
• Audition Tapes: Megan Fox — Megan's original Transformers audition

I viewed some of the sneak peek footage for the new movie and, while it's nice to see footage being added long after the disc's original release, the fact that the video is windowboxed on the screen (not in HD) and that it's only in 2-channel sound diminishes the fun factor. It's the kind of thing you'd expect to see on an official web site, not on your high definition home theater surround system. Since I'm not all that interested in the movie, I didn't watch any of the other new extras. Given the lackluster quality of the sneak peek footage, the expectation was set that the others would be the same, so we'll see if I have the chance and the inclination to look at the rest over the weekend before I pop the disc back in the mail.

We applaud Paramount for taking the opportunity to enhance the ownership experience for those who purchased the first movie on Blu-ray, we like to see videos that bespeak the performance of the disc itself. At least give us the choice between a low resolution and fast download, and waiting a little longer for something that will create a better impression.