LG Launches Netflix Enabled HDTV

Look ma, no boxes! You won’t you need a set-top-box or computer to stream web-enabled movies to your Home Theater system anymore. The shelf-space and connection conscious mages over at LG have seen to it that you don’t need a box to get streaming content like Netflix into your living room. LG has just introduced two Ethernet-HDTVs with more on the way this summer.

The consumer electronics struggle between streaming media set-top-boxes and so-called HTPCs as they battle for attention in your living room, now have an unexpected rival. Some manufacturers see the HDTV as more than just a display device. LG has just released two new displays that want to turn the HDTV into a web-enabled content streamer.

The new web-enabled sets just hit the market last week. The 47LH50 (LCD) and the 50PS80 (Plasma) are 47 and 50-inch HDTVs. They’re the first HDTVs to ship with built-in Netflix support. This’ll give users access to Netflix library of over 12,000 movies and TV episodes, streamed directly to the TV from your household high-speed Internet connection.

LG’s web-movie feature is part of its NetCast suite of features that will be built into many upcoming models of LG HDTV this year. NetCast offers web-enabled, interactive features with Netflix as its content-crow jewel. NetCast also provides access to content from YouTube and CinemaNow – we’ve already seen the feature in other LG devices like its wireless BD390 Blu-ray player. Currently LG’s NetCast HDTVs connect online via Ethernet only but wireless HDTV can’t be far down the line.

The prices for LGs new web-connected HDTVs can be found between 1,599 and 1,999 online. This puts the added features well within range of comparable HD-panels.

Toshiba Streaming Into The Mix

LG isn’t the only TV manufacturer making HDTV connect directly to the web. Toshiba is another major player working on the feature with its Regza line. When Toshiba Web-enabled TVs launch later this year they’ll provide even more web-content features including news, sports scores, stock tickers and your local weather forecasts.

The web-features built directly into HDTVs this year are far cry from a true web experience offered from many popular set-top-boxes - but they’re off to a good start. Parks Associates has determined that 2.5 million North American households are interested in web-enabled HDTV, provided it’s priced nor more than $100 higher than a regular HDTV.

This is probably why the number of web-connected features will evolve into streaming TV at a trickle. Manufacturers are liable to stay cost-conscious as they build new connected-features into HDTV. But LG scoring Netflix is definitely a winner! The marriage of a big-screen HDTV and movies is combination made in couch potato heaven. No need to buy an extra box that’ll occupy more connections not to mention more shelf-space.

Robust set-top-boxes will probably continue to provide a superior web-experience for some time. Home Theater companions like Xbox 360, PS3, Roku and TiVo have become essentials for the wired household - and why not? Household networks are on the rise according to the research of the Yankee Group.

Yankee Group says over 60% of American households will be up and running with high-speed household wi-fi networks. This is going to result in increased demand for all manner of connected devices - including HDTVs.