Netflix to Stream Movies to LG HDTVs, HD Players

Forget the idea of Netflix building its own TV set-top box. Instead, the discs-by-mail giant says it will team up with home video manufacturers to stream movies directly to your TV. First up: LG HDTVs and combo Blu-ray/HD DVD players.

Details on the announcement are still sketchy: for instance, no word on pricing, how many movies will be available, or exactly which LG products would come with the ability to play streaming Netflix movies. That said, the New York Times reports that the first Netflix-enabled LG products should be hitting stores by the second half of the year—and that LG won't be the only manufacturer working with Netflix.

The news is a bit of a curve ball; for months, Netflix execs had said they were working on their own set-top box that would deliver movies to TVs over a broadband Net connection. As it stands, Netflix has a "watch now" service that lets you stream about 6,000 movies on your PC, but you can't watch the videos on your TV or a Mac.

Personally, I'm not too thrilled with the idea of having to buy a new HDTV to watch Netflix movies, or an $800 combo HD deck, for that matter. But a key factor in the announcement is Netflix's apparent willingness to work with a wide range of manufacturers, which means we could soon see a stand-alone (and hopefully, reasonably priced) set-top box that connects to your TV and broadband connection. And what about portable devices, like phones and Wi-Fi personal media players? Hmm...

Cool stuff, but movie selection could well be a problem. Netflix execs didn't spell out exactly how many movies might be available over this new streaming service, but it's a safe guess that it'll be the same 6,000 "watch now" movies available on the Netflix Web site—and while that may sound like a lot of movies, do a little browsing and you'll find a high proportion of grade-Z flicks in there. Pricing will also be a critical issue: Will we have to pay extra on top of our current by-mail rates? Will there be a limit to the number of streaming movies we can watch? Hopefully, we'll get more info during LG's press conference at CES.

So, what do you think: Would you be willing to buy a new HDTV or disc player with streaming Netflix movies, or would you rather get a stand-alone set-top box?

Related:
Netflix Partners With LG to Bring Movies Straight to TV [The New York Times]