LG Blu-ray box to offer CinemaNow, YouTube videos

LG Electronics will add video streaming features from CinemaNow and YouTube to its 2009 lineup of networked Blu-ray players, the company said Tuesday.

The company will be showing off the new functionality at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next week in Las Vegas. (Click here for CNET's complete coverage of CES 2009.)

LG launched its first network-connected Blu-ray player in July with partner Netflix. As part of the deal, viewers get access to more than 12,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix.

With Tuesday's announcement, LG Blu-ray customers will also get access to 14,000 movies and TV shows from CinemaNow. And they will be able to stream millions of Web videos directly from the Internet to an LG Network Blu-ray Player so they can watch it on their TVs.

The current economic slump is driving some consumers to cancel expensive cable or satellite TV packages and look for video content online. LG believes it can capitalize on this trend by making it easier for consumers to find entertainment online that can be viewed on their TVs.

"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," Tim Alessi, director of product development for LG Electronics USA, said in a statement. "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."

[Seanathome]

Now THAT is pretty cool. I've always been a fan of CinemaNow (in fact, I've purchased 10-15 movies already...). I just hope this Blu-ray player is relatively cheap, even though it will be able to connect with a lot of services.

[geolemon]

Amazing - just DAYS after that article proclaiming the death of Blu Ray, ultimately "Why would anyone buy Blu Ray now for a premium when DVD is still king, and tomorrow streaming HD will be available?"

This product is the PERFECT answer. It does both. Brilliant.
And in fact it trumps that concept by also accessing web-based lo-fi video content (which, admit it, is just as fun, if not more so than HD from Hollywood and TV professionals).

I want one. That simple.

[tiffanyacz]

Great.
Can it go Netflix directly? I've got xbox and get the free gold membership of half year on netfilx to rent movie freely.

A question, can I rip my home dvd with the Daniusoft DVD ripper I got for holiday DVD?
It said it can rip dvd to standard videos for xbox, but how about the Lg box here?
Need your help.
http://www.convert-video-dvd.com/dvd-ripper.html#115

[Monkeydung]

This doesn't compare to a modded X-Box which already has youtube plus free movie downloads through torrent or other sources but without the evil DRM. A modded X-box will set you back $150 dollars including a 500 Gig drive. What will this set a person back?