Englewood Cliffs, N.J. – LG Electronics said Tuesday it has expanded the network of entertainment options for its Network Blu-ray Disc players through new alliances with CinemaNow and YouTube.
LG said it will add the streaming video services to new LG Network Blu-ray Disc players beginning in the first half of 2009. The additional services will be added to the instant streaming movie service currently offered by Netflix.
Compatible players will be demonstrated by LG at International CES, the company said.
“As millions of U.S. consumers view and download movies or TV shows through the Internet, they are demanding easier ways to access content and more home entertainment options,” stated Tim Alessi, product development director, LG Electronics USA. “From Blu-ray to instant streaming from Netflix to CinemaNow and YouTube, LG is bridging the gap between packaged media and video-on-demand services to provide entertainment solutions for consumers’ demand for content.”
The CinemaNow alliance will bring Pay-Per-View movies from major studios in both standard and high definition. Through the arrangement, owners of LG network Blu-ray players will be able to access more than 14,000 titles, including movies and television programs, more than 250 independent film titles and music videos. Key benefits include the capability to: browse the entire CinemaNow content catalog, including latest Hollywood hits, instantly stream content, and access and watch movies purchased from other CinemaNow-powered stores.
“We are extremely pleased to be providing CinemaNow premium content services to these innovative new products from LG Electronics that are helping to drive convenient consumer access to digital entertainment at home,” said Mark Ely, executive VP of strategy, Sonic Solutions, parent company of CinemaNow.
Through the addition of YouTube, owners of the network-enabled LG Blu-ray players will be able to stream original content from YouTube’s extensive online video community to TV screens.
LG BD300 network Blu-ray player owners with Netflix accounts already have the ability to access more than 12,000 Netflix streaming movie titles including some high-definition titles, after making a free on-line upgrade.
LG’s full line of Network Blu-ray Disc Players, additional new content alliances and other new products will be presented at the LG Electronics CES press conference on Jan. 7, 2009, at the Venetian/Sands and will be on display at the CES booth 8214, Central Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center.
