Netflix, Samsung Deal Means Never Having To Leave Your Den

Is the trip to your mailbox to retrieve your movie rentals getting to be too long a haul? For all the couch potatoes out there, Netflix's new service is about to help you sit there just a little bit longer. The online movie rental service, in partnership with Samsung Electronics America, Thursday announced a service that will let customers stream movies and TV episodes from the Netflix Web site directly to their living rooms via select Samsung Blu-ray disc players.

The two compatible players are Samsung's BD-P2550 and BD-P2500, currently available at $399.99. Those who already own one of those players can download an upgrade to their devices at no charge at http://www.samsung.com/bluraysupport.

The streaming from Netflix is done through a wired broadband connection and a Netflix queue-based user interface. Viewers will still need the $8.95 per month Netflix subscription to use the service; the provider also offers Blu-ray rental service for $1 extra monthly. Netflix members visit the Netflix Web site to add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant queues. Those choices will automatically be displayed on members' TVs and available to watch instantly through the Samsung players.

Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. Viewers can make on-screen selections, read synopses and rate movies. In addition, they will have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream.

The companies also said they are collaborating to enable Samsung to integrate instant streaming from Netflix into a range of home entertainment products.

In a statement, Reid Sullivan, vice president of marketing, audio/video and imaging at Samsung Electronics America, said: "Samsung presents a new value proposition for Blu-ray players by positioning it as a portal to a world of engaging digital content, be it Blu-ray discs, movies from Netflix or other online content."

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