Netflix, TiVo Team for Streaming Video

Netflix and TiVo have finally announced a deal that will let Netflix subscribers stream video content directly on their TiVo set-top boxes.

Netflix and TiVo have announced a new partnership that will enable Netflix subscribers with TiVo HD, HD SL, and Series3 set-top boxes to stream video content directly from Netflix’s online rental service. The companies say they are already testing the service in several thousand U.S. households, and expect the service to be widely available in December 2008, in time for the end-of-year holidays. Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed, but the move puts TiVo set-top boxes at the same level as Netflix-enabled devices from Roku and LG, along with the Xbox 360.

“Joining forces with Netflix creates the ultimate video on demand service and solidifies TiVo’s leading position as the one-box solution for aggregating, searching, and delivering the best content available anywhere right to the TV,” said TiVo CEO and president Tom Rogers, in a release. “Adding Netflix to our already vast library of content differentiates TiVo even further from any other offering in the market today.”

No mention has been made of streaming high-definition content to TiVo boxes; that capability looks like it will remain exclusive to the Xbox 360 after the November 19 dashboard update.

Streamed content from Netflix is delivered over a subscriber’s broadband Internet connection; Netflix subscribers will be able to manage their queues through the Netflix Web site, as well as create “instant queues” using their TiVo remote. Users will also be able to access ratings and summaries, as well as pausing, fast-forwarding, and rewinding content.

Netflix’s streaming library currently includes more than 12,000 movies and television episodes.