AfterDawn: News

Netflix pairs with LG to make set-top box

DVD renting giant Netflix has paired together with the folks over at LG to bring consumers a new Set-Top Box that will download movies and television programs over the Internet. The device will be built by LG and distributed by Netflix. Current Netflix subscribers will pay nothing extra for this service.

The box is squarely aimed at competitors like AppleTV and Vudu box. Netflix also hopes to take on cable companies with their many DVR type options for more of a dominance in the home theater market.



Netflix currently offers a video Streaming service and its customers have shown they favor the service, having viewed over 10 million movies and television shows since the service began. Netflix does however hope that the ability to stream to your television with one box will boost the appeal of this service entirely. Netflix has currently spent upwards of $40 million to build and maintain their streaming video service.

This market can appear shaky to some as the main competitor, AppleTV hasn't caught on as the Cupertino company would have wanted. Relying on devices like the iPod and iPhone, Apple states that only 1.8 million AppleTV devices have been sold to date.

Source:
BBC

Written by: Dave Horvath @ 3 Jan 2008 11:37

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• 8 comments

• gallagher

  Quote:Netflix currently offers a video Streaming service and its customers have shown they favor the service, having viewed over 10 million movies and television shows since the service began. Netflix does however hope that the ability to stream to your television with one box will boost the appeal of this service entirely. Netflix has currently spent upwards of $40 million to build and maintain their streaming video service. Well, as long as Netflix starts offering newer videos on demand. DVD list is great; their online ones suck.

  3.1.2008 11:49 #1

• Deadrum33

  Quote:Well, as long as Netflix starts offering newer videos on demand. DVD list is great; their online ones suck Amen brother.
  Will they start offering porn too? Giggedy-giggety

  3.1.2008 17:25 #2

• borhan9

  I would love to get my hands on this product however i am not sure about this LG part of the partnership i do not like their products one bit. I just hope they make it worth it for the consumers.

  3.1.2008 18:40 #3

• jshinevar

  I like this idea... They should offer a device that you can purchase that will stream TV shows from the major networks' websites... I understand why this won't work... it's just a good idea

  3.1.2008 18:58 #4

• ripxrush

  Originally posted by borhan9: I would love to get my hands on this product however i am not sure about this LG part of the partnership i do not like their products one bit. I just hope they make it worth it for the consumers.... Well it wont cost anything extra? so how does FREE sound? All though i guess its not free but it may be offset by S&H costs & the possible new Envelope redesign for USPS sake. & i do agree There Mail in selection is GREAT but online isn't so great my wife wants to watch movies NOW & i end up going to the video store to get one, i have debated going to BB but i don't like them & i like a local video store better neways.

  3.1.2008 20:47 #5

• atomicxl

  I'm hoping this box will let you download movies and then watch them rather just be a standalone version of their streaming service. My internet isn't fast enough to stream a move in DVD quality, let alone HD and i'm certainly not interested in watching YouTube quality films on my HDTV. I can download 1 gig in about 3 hours (and i'm on the cheapest DSL plan offered by my phone company). From what i've seen, you can get a high quality 720p 5.1 file to at about 1 gig per movie hour. I wouldn't mind the wait If they could use H.264 and offer 720p. Currently, if I mail in one movie I won't get the next one for about 3 days. With this I could remove a movie from my system before I goto bed and have 1 there when I wake up.
  
  I'll be interested in seeing how this plays out. Here's hoping for the best. HD Netflix w/Download in a set top box would wreck havoc for cable companies.

  3.1.2008 21:31 #6

• gallagher

  Another advantage would be if they allowed you to select say 10 movies to download and store on the harddrive and then watch at your pleasure as you then download replacements. This way speed at downloading would not be as much a necessity after your first 10 downloads.

  3.1.2008 23:34 #7

• ali2007

  netflix so far is the best , then all the other video providers

  6.1.2008 16:54 #8