Written by Chris Albrecht
Posted Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 7:41 AM PT

 

LG Introduces Streaming/Blu-Ray Box

We have one more piece of Netflix’s set-top box strategy today. LG announced its Blu-Ray and streaming hybrid player. The LG BD300 will play high definition discs as well as stream content (not in HD) from Netflix and other sources directly to your television set.

The new Netflix/LG device is basically like training pants for the consumer. It keeps the familiarity of physical DVDs (a business Netflix predicts it will max out on in five years), transitions people to the high-def Blu-Ray format, and eases them into the streaming on-demand world.

This is Netflix’s third set-top box relationship (it sill has one more TBA). Here are the current options for Netflix subscribers to stream content to their TV:

DEVICE PRICE CAPABILITY
Roku $99 Small set-top box that streams Netflix content.
Xbox $279 – $299 + $49.99 Xbox Gold Membership Game console streams movies through its Xbox Live service.
LG BD300 sub-$500 Plays Blu-Ray and streams Netflix content.

One can’t accuse Netflix of resting on its laurels when it comes to preparing for an all-digital future. But the company’s Achilles heel remains the amount of content it offers for streaming. Though its initial offering has bumped from 10,000 to 12,000 titles in recent weeks, a perusal through the library shows that figure includes such gripping titles as Garmin GPS Map 376C.

And while Netflix is forging all these relationships, its partners have the option to stream content from other sources. Roku has said its box will offer other content, movies are already available to download through Xbox and even LG notes that it will get content from other sources. This opens up a big opportunity for a company like Amazon, which is rolling out its own streaming on-demand service and currently offers 40,000 titles.

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Comments & Trackbacks

  1. [...] Another NetFlix Box LG is getting ready to ship the LG BD300, a $500 Blu-Ray player that also includes the ability to stream movies and TV shows from NetFlix’s library of 12,000 items. It will compete, sort of, with the $100 NetFlix box that Roku introduced a couple of months back–as well, of course, with Apple’s Apple TV. It sounds kind of interesting, and it seems inevitable that most movies will eventually be consumed via on-demand streaming or digital downloads. But it also feels like that’s not going to happen until a truly killer movie streaming box comes along, and a lot more movies are available. Read more at: Crave, PC World, NewTeeVee [...]

    Introducing Technologizer’s T-List | Technologizer on July 31st, 2008 at 10:47 am - Permalink

  2. So, if metered broadband becomes a reality I can just by Blu-ray DVDs and watch those instead with the same box – nice.

    David Mullings on July 31st, 2008 at 11:51 am - Permalink

  3. [...] [NewTeeVee] [...]

    Blu-ray & Streaming Video Hybrid Player | Neflix Adds LG To Xbox, Roku Partnerships » Web TV Wire on July 31st, 2008 at 1:21 pm - Permalink

  4. Even so, Netflix has the upper hand since they’re the initial service offering this. Unless they mistep, they’ll likely be able to secure many a customer before any other services have the chance to show what they can do.

    Devon on September 3rd, 2008 at 3:58 am - Permalink

  5. [...] to Know about the LG-Netflix Box LG and Netflix have been doling out more details on their joint hardware project day by day. Here’s what we know about the BD300, with thanks to Wired Gadget Lab, The New [...]

    What You Need to Know about the LG-Netflix Box « NewTeeVee on September 4th, 2008 at 10:47 am - Permalink

  6. [...] and Netflix have been doling out more details on their joint hardware project day by day. Here’s what we know about the BD300, with thanks to Wired Gadget Lab, The New [...]

    What You Need to Know about the LG-Netflix Box | Business on September 5th, 2008 at 11:25 am - Permalink

  7. [...] move for move. Netflix has the Roku set-top box; Blockbuster has the MediaPoint. Netflix is on LG and Samsung Blu-ray players; Blockbuster will deliver to Blu-ray devices. And will Xbox and TiVo, [...]

    Blockbuster VOD Going to Blu-ray Players « NewTeeVee on December 1st, 2008 at 7:33 am - Permalink

  8. Netflix is doing well, especially with the chose of Blu-ray technology. Great little gadget for Blu-ray by LG

    wiis4less on February 9th, 2009 at 7:20 am - Permalink

  9. [...] the set-top world is rapidly evolving around them. Netflix is on a tear embedding itself on many devices, and TVs from the likes of LG, Sony and Vizio are plugging directly into the Internet to access VOD [...]

    Apple TV Stays on its “Hobby” Horse | Viral Video Maker on February 15th, 2009 at 4:12 pm - Permalink

  10. [...] LG Introduces Streaming Blu Ray Box Posted by root 8 minutes ago (http://newteevee.com) And netflix have been doling out more details on their joint hardware project day if your comment doesn 39 t show up immediately it may have gotten caught in our marketing consulting by acs idg technetwork middot powered by wordpress com Discuss  |  Bury |  News | LG Introduces Streaming Blu Ray Box [...]

    LG Introduces Streaming Blu Ray Box | Joint Pain Relief on June 8th, 2009 at 11:19 am - Permalink

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