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Netflix Captures 68.8% of LCD TV Market with Sony Bravia

by Clint DeBoer — July 10, 2009

Netflix joins Sony

Netflix, which is currently the largest online movie rental service, announced a partnership with Sony Electronics that will enable Netflix subscribers to instantly watch movies streamed from Netflix on Sony's BRAVIA Internet Video-capable HDTVs. Netflix streaming will also work on previous BRAVIA models if they are compatible with Sony's BRAVIA Internet video link module.

Sony is the latest consumer electronics (CE) company to partner with Netflix. Other CE companies partnering with Netflix are Microsoft (with the Xbox360), LG Electronics, Roku, Samsung, TiVo and VIZIO. With the "capture" of the Sony market, Netflix now has its streaming technology on the top four television manufacturers in North America. Per the latest Q1 2009 results from iSuppli, this gives them 68.8% of the market. Add in the Xbox 360 and you've got some serious market penetration. This of course begs the question: Will Sony's PS3 be next on the list?

The arrangement is due to begin in the Fall when Netflix members on any of the company's unlimited plans can use the Sony BRAVIA Internet Video-capable HDTVs to instantly watch more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix. Plans start at just $8.99/month, giving consumers access to more than 12,000 streaming movies and televisions shows (I happen to be working my way through Season 3 of Dr. Who). The unlimited plans also give endless DVD rentals by mail from a library of more than 100,000 titles. The unlimited plans differ only in how many DVDs can be "checked out" at one time.

While Blockbuster released a DVD by mail system several years ago, Netflix was first to market and is now advancing itself into the digital domain by partnering with some of the largest television manufacturers to bring streaming content into the home. At this point it seems as if the industry has spoken and Netflix is the clear winner for digital content streaming. It will be interesting to see how long it takes the networks to pick up on this and whether or not they will allow additional licensing into the Netflix network or continue to forget their own relationships.

For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com.

Discuss This Article

bluebirdy posts on August 01, 2009 02:21

redass, post: 603835
I have netflix. I have the 4 blurays and the unlimited internet viewing package. All in all, they don't make enough content that I want to watch for me to justify keeping the service for more than 6 months at a time, so I go on and off the netflix wagon every year or so. The turn around time is excellent, they have a shipping center close by (not sure how many they have, or where they are located), so it takes one full day for the disc to get there, and they ship out that day, so I can send in a movie on monday, and get the replacement thursday or friday. I've even had a mailman or one of the neighborhood kids steal them and netflix just sent replacements. I can't imagine how they'd do any better outside of more streaming movies and adding game rentals, to be honest.

Thanks for your views. Hmmm it seems like hectic to me you have to wait for 2 days to get the movie. If you forgot to order them on time, then no movie on weekend. How is blockbuster have you also used it?

redass posts on July 31, 2009 03:17

bluebirdy, post: 603776
I have heard very good reviews about netflix. Have anyone tried their services? Waiting for comments

I have netflix. I have the 4 blurays and the unlimited internet viewing package. All in all, they don't make enough content that I want to watch for me to justify keeping the service for more than 6 months at a time, so I go on and off the netflix wagon every year or so. The turn around time is excellent, they have a shipping center close by (not sure how many they have, or where they are located), so it takes one full day for the disc to get there, and they ship out that day, so I can send in a movie on monday, and get the replacement thursday or friday. I've even had a mailman or one of the neighborhood kids steal them and netflix just sent replacements. I can't imagine how they'd do any better outside of more streaming movies and adding game rentals, to be honest.

bluebirdy posts on July 30, 2009 22:26

I have heard very good reviews about netflix. Have anyone tried their services? Waiting for comments

DaleAV posts on July 10, 2009 14:13

Follows on the heels of Blockbuster's continuing problems….I think Netflix is smart maintaining only mail order and streaming business. “close to home” seems to work for most people.
True, they have to keep a heavy staff working in distribution centers, but against some 6000 video rental stores in this economic climate, they still have an edge IMO.

sandtrap posts on July 10, 2009 09:59

Please fix the typos

Add in the Vbox 360 and you've got some serious market penetration

should be

Add in the Xbox 360 and you've got some serious market penetration

and

It will be interesting to see how long it takes the networks to pick up on this and whether or not they will allow additional licensing into the Netflix network or continue to forget their own relationships.

should be

It will be interesting to see how long it takes the networks to pick up on this and whether or not they will allow additional licensing into the Netflix network or continue to forge their own relationships.

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