Netflix Offers Downloading Movies Directly To Your TV
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Netflix is now offering a small device [about the size of a paperback book] that connects from your broadband connection to your TV. The box retails for $99.99 and is from Roku.com and compliments your current Netflix subscription. There is of course one major improvement in the system. No need to wait for the mail to arrive with your latest movie.
On the Roku,com website they list the following details:
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An active Netflix membership with unlimited rentals
If you’re already a Netflix member getting unlimited DVDs, you’re all set. If not, sign up now for an unlimited plan (starting as low as $8.99 a month).
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A high-speed Internet connection – DSL or Cable
Typical high-speed connections easily meet the player’s 1.5 Mbps minimum recommended speed. (If you’re unsure of your connection speed, you should ask your Internet service provider.)
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Wireless or wired Internet access at your TV
Your Internet connection needs to reach your TV for the player to work. If you’ve ever surfed the Web or retrieved e-mail from the room where your TV is, you should be fine.
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A television – young or old
Obviously you need a TV. The standard cables included with the player will connect it to virtually any television.
I can see that this is going to change the way we view subsciption movies and should improve the services that Netflix offers.
What do you think? Will you buy a Netflix box? I wonder what Comcast will think about this? 
Comments welcome.
[tags]netflix, movies, tv, broadband, download, mail, service, television, comcast, roku [/tags]
12 Comments
teddgcm
May 20th, 2008
at 3:21pm
Sweet! Thanks for the heads up! I’m going to log into my Netflix account now and check this out. Seems like they are attempting to compete with Blockbuster, who allows movies to be returned to a local store. Allot of people use Blockbuster because of that “immediate gratification” option.
Ron Schenone
May 20th, 2008
at 3:49pm
Hi teddgem,
I think the idea is a winner.
Denny
May 20th, 2008
at 5:46pm
But How Can You Copy It ! >>>
Ron Schenone
May 20th, 2008
at 6:37pm
Hi Den,
Good question.
teddgcm
May 20th, 2008
at 7:51pm
I would think you could record it the same as you can a normal broadcast, since it does have to convert to something your TV can decypher. Use a VCR/DVD Recorder
Doug aka nullvariable
May 20th, 2008
at 8:02pm
its the future of television, first we will all have DVRs, then ondemand, and then social recommendations will push television viewing, prime time will be anytime. I would invest in any company that is savvy enough to be heading in this direction…
Frederick Brown
May 20th, 2008
at 9:25pm
I say no to another $100 black box. I pay $16.99 a month for my Netflix subscription. If I download my movies no one has to warehouse dvds, enclose my dvd in an envelope, mail it, pay postage or restock it when I mail it back. Either provide the box with my subscription or utilize my xbox 360. At any rate I’m nickled and dimed and c noted to death. No More!
Ron Schenone
May 21st, 2008
at 5:10am
Thanks for all of the comments.
teddgem - I think you may be correct. My thought would be would there be some type of encoding used by Netflix to prevent recording built into the black box or via software.
Hi Doug aka nullvariable - this does seem like the future.
Frederick Brown - I hear you loud and clear. That was my first thoguhts as well. If Netflix is saving postage and handling, why should we pay for a box? They should provide it for our use.
teddgcm
May 21st, 2008
at 5:39am
I think the point here from Netflix is the fact they continue to mail the DVDs in your queue. You can only instant stream the movies/television shows that are available to stream on your computer via your account. The only things that can be streamed are older movies and tv shows. The new releases are only available through the DVDs they ship. Although I do see this going to all streaming in the future, and at that time I would agree they should supply the box. Right now the box is provided by a third party company, hince the charge. I think the $100 is appropriate at this time. It simply allows you to stream directly to your TV instead of just on your computer. Though I suppose you could connect your computer to a modern TV and watch them that way, but this eliminates the need for a computer.
Ron Schenone
May 21st, 2008
at 5:46am
Hi teddgem,
Thanks for the info. Good points.
teddgcm
May 21st, 2008
at 6:38am
I am so getting one of these, so I will let you know how it goes in a future post on my blog.
Ron Schenone
May 21st, 2008
at 7:50am
Hi teddgcm,
I can’t wait to read your report.
Thanks once again, Ron