Audio Video News

Netflix will bring its streaming movie service to owners of TiVo Series3, HD, and HD XL DVRs. Testing began last week, with the rollout to all TiVo subscribers following in December.

This is just the latest in a series of deals Netflix has struck with the likes of LG, Roku, Xbox, and most recently Samsung.

As with these other arrangements, the streaming comes at no extra charge to those with an unlimited Netflix subscription plan, starting at $8.99/month. However, it will work only with TiVo-branded devices, as opposed to those offered through cable or satellite operators. The Netflix library includes 12,000 movies and TV shows. Viewers will go to the Netflix site, add programming to their Instant Queues, then view them through the TiVo device, with full TiVo functionality (pause, ff/rew, restart, etc.).

TiVo and Netflix made a previous attempt to offer online movie delivery in 2004. Licensing and technology hassles scuttled that effort.

CE history buffs may also note that the partnership turns TiVo into a full-fledged successor to the now more or less deceased VCR, which started as a time-shifting medium and became a movie-rental medium when then-nascent video retailers started renting tapes. One might argue that TiVo is now the true heir of the VCR and DVD legacy, as opposed to Blu-ray, which does not sell recording devices in the U.S. Sony's streaming strategy is the Bravia Internet Video Link.

See press release.