Best Buy Co. and Netflix Inc. have taken a step to bridge the gap between Internet and television. Best Buy is now selling online and in stores exclusive, Insignia-branded Blu-ray disc players that enable Netflix members to stream movie and program picks over the web to their televisions.
Netflix members who are on an unlimited plan can watch movies and other programming on the Insignia disc players as well as manage their programming queues and browse other titles. Netflix is No. 18 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide.
There are two types of disc players available. The Insignia Advanced Series Blu-ray Player sells for $249.99 and uses built-in Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet wirelessly, while the Insignia Connected Blu-ray Player costs $179.99 and uses a wired Ethernet connection for Internet access. Both Blu-ray players can play standard DVDs in addition to streaming content.
“The ability to instantly watch movies streaming from Netflix via the Insignia line of Blu-ray disc players will appeal to Best Buy shoppers,” says Nigel Waites, chief technology officer of Best Buy’s exclusive brands. Best Buy is No. 10 in the Top 500 Guide.
The relationship with Best Buy is the latest move from Netflix to build up its emerging digital entertainment delivery business and keep pace with Blockbuster Inc. In August, The Disney-ABC Television Group and Netflix signed an agreement for Disney-ABC to make several of the ABC television network’s most popular series available to be streamed instantly from Netflix.
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