Netflix video streaming on Best Buy's BD players

DIGITAL: Insignia Blu-ray players offer online movie service

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 10/20/2009

OCT. 20 | DIGITAL: Best Buy is expanding its digital footprint, partnering with Netflix to bring the rental retailer’s streaming movie service to Best Buy’s Insignia brand Blu-ray Disc players.

Netflix's streaming movie service is available through the Insignia Advanced Series Blu-ray Player and the Insignia Connected Blu-ray Player, priced at $249.99 and $179.99, respectively. The players are already on Best Buy store shelves and for sale on BestBuy.com, and Netflix's service is available now through its Web site.

The Advanced Series model has built-in Wi-Fi, and the connected model has an Ethernet connection.

In May, Video Business reported that Best Buy was in talks with various digital companies to offer digital movies. A month later, the company announced its first digital partnership, with Sonic Solutions, to offer BestBuy.com customers movie downloads from Sonic’s Roxio CinemaNow service.

At the time, a company spokesman called it a “first step” into the digital movie space.

In a Tuesday statement announcing the partnership with Netflix, Best Buy exclusive brands chief technology officer Nigel Waites said the addition of Netflix “will appeal to Best Buy shoppers who seek unsurpassed convenience, selection and value in a Blu-ray disc player.”

Netflix’s streaming movie service is already available on Blu-ray players and HDTVs from LG Electronics, Samsung, Vizio and others.