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Roku Set-Top Boxes Line-Up Increase & New Channels Promised As Netflix Comes To PS3

Dave Parrack — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:44:26 +0000

The Roku Box, which started life as the Roku Netflix player before evolving to its current form, is getting some brothers in the shape of two new boxes. Roku is also promising new channels will be coming to the service soon. Which, with Netflix now headed for the PS3, is needed more than ever.

Roku and Netflix

Roku started out relying on Netflix’ ‘Watch Instantly’ streaming service as the be all and end all of its content offering to buyers of the $99 box. But since launching in May 2008, other content channels have been added, including Amazon Video-on-Demand and MLB TV.

Netflix soon moved on to a host of other set-top boxes and devices, including the Xbox 360, Internet-enabled televisions, and hybrid Blu-ray players. And it’s now adding a new one to its line-up in the shape of the Playstation 3.

Netflix On PS3

Netflix announced it would soon be available on the PS3 console the day after I speculated as much. The news comes right on the back of the company’s latest earnings report where more platforms were promised and a move into international territories was also teased for the future.

Netflix has until now had an exclusive deal with Microsoft but the move to the PS3 brings that to an abrupt end. From November, PS3 owners with a Netflix subscription will be able to stream Netflix’ ‘Watch Instantly’ through their Sony console.

Roku Line-Up Increased

Roku, meanwhile, is busy trying to persuade more people to buy a Roku box.

It’s introducing two new boxes in an effort to increase its potential demographic. According to CNET, the current box will be renamed the Roku HD Player, with the Roku HD XR Player priced at $130 boasting a faster Wi-Fi connection and a USB port. For those on a budget, the Roku SD Player, with no HDMI option, will retail for just $80.

Roku is also launching the ‘Roku Channel Store’ next month which will see more of both free and paid-for options available. According to Ars Technica, these will include Revision3, TWiT TV, Mediafly, Motionbox, and blip.tv.

Conclusions

Netflix surely cannot fail with its roll-out to other devices, and the PS3 is a great one with its huge installed user-base. While Roku seems to finally be getting its act together after a slow start, with a wider range of boxes to suit all tastes and budgets, and a new channel line-up.

Watching BBC iPlayer On PS3 | Firmware V3.0 Integration Increases Viewer Share To 10%

Dave Parrack — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:40:44 +0000

The PS3 is a brilliant games console. The BBC iPlayer is a brilliant catch-up television service.

And now that the two have been seamlessly combined, both are reaping the benefits as a result – with increased sales and increased viewing numbers respectively.

Online Video On Consoles

I’ve long argued that games consoles are an important point of contact for the IPTV industry. Here are Internet-enabled set-top boxes hooked up to HDTVs and used by generally technically-minded younger people. What more could you ask for?

And now comes proof that games consoles have the capacity to increase the volume of viewers and scope of options available to purveyors of online video. And it comes courtesy of how the BBC iPlayer is being consumed by PS3 owners in the U.K.

PS3 iPlayer

The PS3 has recently had a redesign, with a new, slimmer, lighter version being released. This coincided with a price cut and a new firmware update, v3.0. This update made a few changes, but one of the biggest for U.K. residents is the integration of BBC iPlayer into the XMB (XrossMediaBar).

While the BBC iPlayer has been available to watch for over a year now, thanks to the BBC releasing a version viewable via the console’s built-in Web browser, this update sees the iPlayer actually show up as part of the system. One click and you find yourself on the site and ready to watch programming.

New Improved PS3 iPlayer

I’ve actually been using my PS3 to watch BBC programming on the iPlayer for months now, so this update hasn’t made a great deal of difference to me. But for those who weren’t sure how to get to the iPlayer through the browser, it has now become an easy option for online television viewing.

Watching the BBC iPlayer on the PS3 is as simple as it is on a computer. The obvious advantage being that it’s delivered in high quality and looks great on a large television. The interface is simpler and navigation is optimized for use with a controller, and these changes make for a pleasurable viewing experience. In the same way that YouTube XL does.

Increased Viewing Figures

The BBC is already seeing results of iPlayer integration from firmware v3.0, claiming that the PS3 now accounts for a massive 10 percent of all iPlayer viewing. Which makes it the second most popular platform for the service after the PC, with it leapfrogging the Mac (8.5 percent) in the last 10 days.

Now all that needs to happen is for the BBC to open up the iPlayer to those outside the U.K. and it’ll see an even bigger increase in viewing figures. We’ll take Hulu as a straight swap.

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Netflix Adds Starz, Opens API, Targets Macs

Dave Parrack — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:11:45 +0000

Netflix has already revolutionised the DVD rental market, and its now attempting to do the same in the online streaming sector.

You hear nothing from a company for ages and then three stories come along at once. Today has seen Netflix add Starz Play movies to its Watch Now service, open up its API, and make a promise to Mac users.

Starz Play

Netflix today announced an agreement with Starz Play that will see 2,500 movies added to its Watch Now streaming service. 1,000 choice are available from today, with 1,500 more due by the end of the year.

The Starz Play content is available to all subscribers paying $8.99 or more per month, and adds films such as Spider-Man 3, Ratatouille, and No Country For Old Men to the 15,000 titles already available.

The new content gives consumers another reason to invest in either a Roku set-top box, an LG BD300 Blu-ray/streaming hybrid, or an Xbox 360, soon to receive Netflix content through its Xbox Live service.

This new deal compliments a recent agreement which saw several new CBS, Disney and NBC TV programmes added to Netflix, including episodes of CSI, NCIS, Numbers, Jericho, Hannah Montana, and Heroes.

Netflix Developer API

Today has also seen Netflix open its developer API, a fully featured program that will enable developers to create applications and tools for Netflix subscribers.

Netflix already has a thriving community built on the ability to follow friends and recommend movies to others. The API (Application Programming Interface) will increase opportunities for users to interact.

Developers will have access to information on everything Netflix provides and be able to build apps around that. These could include expanding the social aspects of the service or improving other aspects of Netflix’ streaming business.

Netflix For Macs?

Last but not least comes news that Netflix hopes to make its ‘Watch Now’ service available on Apple Macs by the end of the year. This is something that has been a long time coming.

Netflix’ streaming service may be miles behind iTunes but the range of content and ways of accessing it is growing all the time. Netflix could soon be very competitive in the field of Web video.

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Roku Becomes All Encompassing Video Player | $99 Set-Top Box Moves Beyond Netflix

Dave Parrack — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:46:52 +0000

How would you fancy a sub-$100 set-top box that plays all manner of Web video on your home television? That is exactly what Roku is aiming to do with its (former) Netflix player.

Roku Netflix Player

The Roku Netflix player, a cheap set-top box that enables owners to stream movies and TV content from Netflix to their home TV, was launched in May 2008 to a mixed response.

Some loved the affordability and ease of the box, while others insisted on comparing it (unfavourably) with more established set-top boxes such as Apple TV and VUDU.

The First Of Many Netflix Partners

While the Roku box has some problems, particularly its lack of HD options, it’s still a good addition to the set-top box line-up that, through its cheap price point, brings the technology to the masses.

Roku was the first Netflix-partnered box to come to market, but since then, the video download company has added many new partners. These include the Xbox 360 and a new LG Blu-ray/streaming hybrid player we looked at in July.

Expanding The Content

Clearly, Roku cannot limit itself to being purely a box for Netflix to hawk its wares, and so there have been rumblings of an increase in the amount of content soon to be available through the Roku set-top box.

In July, Roku’s vice president of consumer products, Tim Twerdahl, hinted that new partners were on the way, but didn’t drop any names. Rumours suggested Amazon, YouTube, and Hulu were amongst the partners being sought. Then the lead went cold.

Roku Founder Lays Out Plans

Until this week when Roku founder and CEO, Anthony Wood, told a packed audience at the Streaming Media West conference all about his companies plans to expand onwards and upwards.

Wired reports that Wood announced:

“We’re opening up the platform to anyone who wants to put their video service on this box,”

“We’re going to release the software developer kit, so anyone can publish any channel, and users can access web content on their TVs.”

Conclusions

Wood, speaking during his keynote to the conference, refused to give a time line for this new strategy, but he did state that the company wouldn’t be changing its business model (making money from the hardware), or altering its relationship with Netflix.

This is brilliant news for existing Roku owners as well as mainstream consumers who are looking in to buying an Internet streaming set-top box.

It will be interesting to see which content providers Roku can now sign up, with the three companies already mentioned surely the natural primary targets.

Also See:
- Roku Netflix Player Review

LG BD300 Blu-ray Player – With Netflix Streaming Included | Digital Download Future

Dave Parrack — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:24:42 +0000

The set-top-box market is slowly but surely building. Every company seems keen on getting a device out there and in to our living rooms capable of streaming video from the Internet. And there’s now a new contender on the scene.

We already have market leader Apple TV, as well as other alternative such as VUDU. But there are many more devices entering the fray.

New Competition

May saw the release of the sub-$100 Roku box complete with Netflix streaming capabilities built in. Since then, Roku has stated its intention to increase its content partners, with YouTube and Hulu the front runners to be added in the future.

Then there is the emergence of games consoles as a viable device for video distribution. The Wii has the BBC iPlayer, the Xbox 360 is due to get Netflix, and the PS3 is getting its own video download service.

LG BD300

At the end of July, we saw the first sighting of a forthcoming Blu-ray and streaming video hybrid from LG called the LG BD300. Now the company has filled in the details.

The LG BD300 is set to be released and available in the US from October. It will retail for $399.99 but for that you’ll get full Blu-ray capabilities coupled with the ability to stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix (assuming you choose to subscribe).

HD… Sort Of

But while the machine will enable users to watch Blu-ray films in full 1080p glory, the content streamed from Netflix will only be close to DVD quality.

Netflix is looking at offering HD quality downloads in the future but for now, you’ll have to purchase Blu-ray discs to experience a true high definition future.

A Tough Time Competing

Luckily, due to the Internet connection, the new player will be equipped with BD Live, meaning its guaranteed future-proof due to constant firmware upgrades. But seeing as that is something the Playstation 3 already does, it’s not that big a deal.

It’s satisfying to have the first Blu-ray player also able to stream content on the market, but with the Roku box being available for $300 less, and the PS3 and Xbox 360 also offering real (and cheaper) alternatives, the LG BD300 will have a tough time competing.

[PR News Wire]

VUDU ‘99 For 99′ Movies On Demand | First Porn Films, Now Bargain Bucket Offerings

Dave Parrack — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:00:01 +0000

Can you tell the difference between what all of the different makes of set-top-box are offering? Me neither, which makes any initiative an important one for anyone interested in purchasing one the many on offer.

VUDU is a set-top-box that rivals, and does pretty much the same thing, as Apple TV, Roku, and a host of other similar products.

Adult & Family-Friendly Content

Last week saw the company announce on-demand porn films via an Adult Video Network (AVN) channel. Adult movies can be bought or rented for between $6.99 and $29.99. But this week’s offering is a bit more family friendly, and judging by the premium prices charged for adult material, more friendly to your wallet as well.

Blockbuster Offers

VUDU has launched a 99 for 99 movie channel which quite obviously offers 99 movies for 99 cents apiece. The movies are described as blockbusters, and are going to be rotated throughout the summer and possible beyond. There is also an extended rental offer which enable VUDU users who have already rented a film to renew the rental for just $0.99, or $1.99 for HD. The set-top-box market is an increasingly cluttered one, and it’s offers such as these that will eventually enable consumers to differentiate all of the options on offer. Hardly ground breaking but nice enough.

[Engadget]

Blu-ray & Streaming Video Hybrid Player | Neflix Adds LG To Xbox, Roku Partnerships

Dave Parrack — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:21:37 +0000

Netflix has added another content partner to its increasing roster, and this one combines digital downloads with Blu-ray movies. Good news for the companies involved, the consumers, and digital distribution?

Movie and television content streaming company Netflix seems intent on making its service as accessible to as many people as possible, setting multiple partnerships in an effort to enable its content to be delivered to the maximum number of homes.

Sub-$100 Roku Box

This strategy started back in May when Roku released its new set-top box, which came with the ability to stream Netflix movies. The box may have been derided in some quarters, but at just $100, it opened up digital content to a whole new level of consumers on a budget.

Since then, Roku has announced that the box will expand to include other content partners in time. YouTube, Hulu, and Amazon Unbox were cited as the most obvious candidates, but no names have yet been revealed.

Netflix On Xbox 360

Earlier this month at the E3 Expo, Microsoft announced details of the deal it had done with Netflix which sees the company’s content available on the Xbox 360 console – Xbox Live Gold get the service for free.

Blu-ray/Streaming Hybrid

Now the third partnership in a run of four has been announced, with LG introducing a new Blu-ray and streaming video hybrid player. Netflix is a definite partner, but like Roku, LG is keen to add further digital content partners in the future.

The LG BD300 will come in at under $500, and play Blu-ray movies as well as Netflix content. This is a device that gives the best of all worlds: high definition content, streaming video content and tradition standard DVDs.

Netflix Content

The big problem is still the amount and range of content available on the Netflix ‘Watch Now’ service. The inventory of movies and television shows currently sits at around 12,000 items, but according to Mashable, that includes such gems as Otis, Zero Woman: Dangerous Game, Room 314, Blushing Bloopers, and The Madness of King George.

Compare that to Amazon’s 40,000 title strong streaming on demand service, and the shortfall is plain to see. If Netflix can up the quantity and quality of the content on offer then these partnerships could actually prove successful.

The Real Winners

The real winners are the companies such as Microsoft, Roku and LG, who end up with content already available on their products straight from launch, and the option to add more content partners in the future.

And of course the consumers, who now have a range of options to fit most budgets and needs. This is also good for the growth of digital downloads, as the more devices there are on the market, the more likely mainstream acceptance is going to follow.

[NewTeeVee]

YouTube On TiVo | Service Rolled Out On TiVo Series 3 and HD Boxes – In Line With Apple TV

Dave Parrack — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:55:26 +0000

It’s been expected for some time, but yesterday finally saw the new YouTube service come alive on TiVo. The service will roll out on all TiVo Series 3 and HD boxes over the next few weeks.

The service comes as part of the 9.4 software update, and means that all YouTube videos will now be viewable on TiVo in H.264. This is the first time TiVo has rendered content in anything other than MPEG-2.

Streaming YouTube On TiVo

TiVo owners can now stream all YouTube videos, watch them in full-screen, and fast forward, pause and rewind them in the same way as any other video on your TiVo.

Here is a video demonstration of the service in full, working order, courtesy of Dave Zatz. It shows a very successful marriage of the TiVo interface with all YouTube content.

Video Demonstration

At the moment, account information isn’t part of the deal, so you still need a PC to rate and save favourites. Interestingly, there are no display ads visible on TiVo YouTube, but if the rumoured pre-roll adverts make an appearance, they would show up.

YouTube Does Deals

This is a clever move, both on the part of YouTube and TiVo. YouTube benefits from having its content accessible by more than just computer, while TiVo continues to build more content partnerships.

TiVo isn’t the first DVR to partner with YouTube though, and in that respect, it is playing catch-up. According to NewTeeVee, has already done deals with Apple TV, HP MediaSmart Connect, Sony Bravia and Panasonic TV sets, and Verismo.

DVR’s are becoming increasingly important in the US, and usually sit side by side with a cable or satellite television subscription. Deals such as these are likely to make them even more appealing to mainstream consumers.

Netflix On Xbox 360 | Microsoft Announces Free Online Movie Service At E3 In Los Angeles

Dave Parrack — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:41:50 +0000

There’s a small event going on right now in Los Angeles called the E3 Media and Business Summit, which is the place where Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, as well as a host of games developers unveil plans for the next year.

Today was the first day, and Microsoft was the first of the big three to show its hand. And one of the announcements means that Xbox 360 owners will soon be getting more access to online movie downloads.

This will be coming from Netflix, the online movie rental company, which is teaming up with Microsoft to allow Netflix subscribers, who also own an Xbox 360, to have access to its extensive catalogue through their consoles.

Free To Existing Subscribers

According to Reuters, the service will be launching in the Autumn, and is likely to come as part of a software upgrade. The brilliant news is that the service will be free to Netflix subscribers who also hold Xbox 360 Live Gold memberships. Which is likely to be a fair portion of the 10 million Xbox 360 owners out there.

Xbox 360 owners will be able to access the 10,000 titles, made up of both episodes of popular television series, and movies currently available as part of the 2007 launched Netflix ‘Watch Instantly’ feature.

Rumours surrounding some kind of partnership between the two companies have been rife over recent months, but until today, nothing official had been announced.

In Addition To Roku and LG Partnerships

This latest move by Netflix follows on from earlier partnerships with Roku and LG, both of whom are creating cheap set-top-boxes with the express intent of providing a living room alternative for people to download or watch Netflix content.

We’ve spoken about the Roku box, which retails for just $100, twice in the past. First when it was launched, and then when it was announced that the makers had plans way beyond simply Netflix.

Xbox On Top, Sony To Follow?

This latest deal means Xbox 360 owners get even more online video offerings than before, with original programming already rumoured to be on the way, and a video service available through Xbox Live.

Sony has its E3 press conference on Wednesday, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Playstation 3 owners get any similar announcements. There have already been rumours of a video download service coming, so now we just need the details filling in.

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Roku Netflix Box Set To Expand To Other Content Providers | Hulu, YouTube, Unbox

Dave Parrack — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:30:35 +0000

The Roku Netflix box was released back in May to a mixture of complete and utter enthusiasm, to a feeling that it won’t ever be able to compete with Apple TV, so why bother.

The player launched at the incredibly low price of just $99, and allowed users to stream movies and television from Netflix to their TV using the Instant Viewing feature. It’s been a sales success, with the device already hard to come by.

However, demand for the boxes is likely to increase even more with the news that the box is going to soon be compatible with more content providers than just Netflix, and these are going to be high-profile names.

New Content Partners

According to CNET, Roku’s vice president of consumer products, Tim Twerdahl, has stated that more content partners are coming, but refused to name names, which has obviously lead to huge amounts of speculation.

YouTube would seem to be the first, and most obvious target. The Google-owned company has been looking at new ways of making some revenue of late, and this would provide such an opportunity. Plus, it has already partnered with other hardware-makers of late.

Then there is Hulu, which is a possibility, but would be a strange choice for a box which is trying to make you buy content, seeing as the service offering premium content completely free.

Another possibility is Amazon Unbox, though some think the chances are not good seeing as it is a direct competitor to Netflix, but if it were to happen, it would be a massive coup

Digital Trojan Horse

As Venture Beat argues, the adding of new content partners could turn the purchase of the Roku box from a cheap treat in to a kind-of trojan horse designed to persuade consumers about the ease and possibility of digital content.

This is what has happened with the Playstation 3, which was used by Sony as a trojan horse to get Blu-ray accepted as the high-definition format of choice in the DVD war.

PS3 & Xbox 360 Netflix Support?

Speaking of the PS3, there is speculation that the console will start to support Netflix’s ‘Watch it Now’ feature soon, with an announcement possible at this month’s E3 conference. Microsoft could also follow suit with the Xbox 360.

Whoever it is, the fact that a set-top box available for under $100 could soon be carrying multiple streams of online video content has got to be good for the uptake of digital content amongst more than just technology geeks and early-adopters.

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