Lilyhammer, was it a success? We may never know

He said in a statement, “Some members have loved the show so much that they’ve already watched the entire eight-episode first season; we put all the episodes up at once for that reason.”

So unlike traditional TV, there is no way to tell how many people have watched the show due to the non-linear nature of streaming. As viewers can dip in and out of the show, watch anytime they want  or even view the whole season in one sitting, how do you give accurate ratings?

Ted continued, “We have over 23 million streaming members and they’ll have the opportunity to discover Lilyhammer not just yesterday, today or this week, but over the course of several years,” Sarandos said.

The show which has had all eight episodes made available stars Steven Van Zandt as mobster Frank “the fixer”, who as part of the witness protection plan ends up in Lillehammer, Norway.

The show marks the start of a number of original streaming shows that Netflix are set to launch during 2012. Coming soon is a revival of Emmy award winning comedy, “Arrested Development” and also the eagerly awaited David Fincher poliitical drama, “House of Cards” starring Kevin Spacey.

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The licensing arrangement with Viacom now allows Amazon to stream selected content from a number of networks broadcast on Viacom platforms, including MTV, Spike TV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, VH1, TV Land, and CMT, amongst others. The move brings the number of accessible videos to Amazon Prime members up to 15,000, as the Seattle (USA)-based retailer look to compete with online streaming rivals such as Netflix.

The integration of the content will most likely also apply to the company’s own-brand tablet computer Amazon Kindle Fire, for owners of the product with a Prime subscription.

Shows being offered are said to encompass all age groups, with Jersey Shore, The Hills (MTV), SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly, and Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon) amongst the best-known names featured. Not included in the agreement are films from Viacom-owned Paramount Pictures (who are exclusive to Netflix), and select series from Comedy Central.

Amazon ‘director of video content acquisition’ Brad Beale said of the arrangement: “We are constantly working to improve the service by adding the shows that our customers enjoy the most. This deal with Viacom brings Prime customers and Kindle Fire users thousands of comedies, kids’ shows, reality TV and much more from some of the best cable networks available.”

The announcement of the Amazon-Viacom content deal comes just days after Redbox revealed their plans for a new video streaming service with telecommunications company Verizon, a further indication that the pressure from rivals is hotting up towards online streaming’s market force of Netflix. Will Amazon Prime be the one to put a further dent in Netflix’s dominance?

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BBC iPlayer could be improved say BBC

The service could provide a superior streaming service using targeted rolling content said John Tate, BBC director of policy and strategy.

Speaking at a recent Westminster Media Forum,  he said, “The service is not currently taking full advantage of usage data to provide a more tailored experience. Currently, watching to the end of a show on iPlayer simply brings up a prompt to replay the content, as opposed to broadcast TV, where programmes are followed directly by new shows that are appropriate to the audience and timeslot.”

Mr Tate further added “This is one way in which video-on-demand (VoD) is still “playing catch-up” to regular TV, suggesting the introduction of targeted rolling options on iPlayer could offer various benefits. Why should you have to click play when you go to an online or VoD experience? Why shouldn’t there be some continuity or rolling element to that too?”

The BBC iPlayer set a new record of almost two billion requests for programmes during 2011 and enjoyed record viewing figures in December 11.  The iPlayer service is also set to debut on the Sky Anytime+ satellite service.

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Can EyeIO answer Netflix bandwidth problems?

In a bid to resolve this issue, Netflix who are the biggest pay streaming company in the world, have teamed up with video encoding company, EyeIO to try and solve the bandwidth meltdown. The company use their expertise to reduce the bandwidth of streaming.

EyeIO co-founder, Rodolfo Vargas said, ”eyeIO provides a straightforward solution for accommodating the rapidly growing demand for video delivery around the world by alleviating the overwhelming bandwidth currently required to stream video.”

Speaking for Netflix, Greg Peters, Vice President, Product Development said, ”Delivering a high quality video experience is top priority for Netflix. EyeIO technology is an important part of the technology we use to improve video quality and overcome bandwidth challenges presented by Internet infrastructure.”

The eyeIO video encoding details are not fully known, but the method of encoding is said to be fully compliant to stream on all devices without custom players.

The only problem with this story and any kind of compression, is that it will result in a loss of quality. There is no way to transfer all that HD quality imagery without the size. Using lower bandwidth mwill result in lower video quality, unless EyeIO know something we dont?

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Google TV has confirmed that this update is in the pipeline through their Google TV Twitter account.

They are promising to have the new firmware ready “this week.” this update will only apply to Sony Internet TV’s from about a year ago, and that 3D part only applies to a small amount of Sony Blu-ray players that has Google TV as well.

It will not include Logitech Revue which was abandoned due to poor sales. Google TV are hoping that a major comeback in 2012 will happen, as support has finally been confirmed from some of the other highend TV manufacturers.

But the question stays as whether consumers will see any value in having a computer built into their TV sets, that still is a largely passive consumer electronic device. The main thing it lacks is a collection of apps and content that can add to the TV experience.

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Crackle comes to Xbox360

The kinect voice and motion activated controls allows Crackle viewers a vocal way to find the content they want. The Crackle cwebsite content is all available which includes over 200 movies from studios including Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Classics and more, is now available to watch.

Movies include, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The International, Donnie Brasco, European Gigolo,Jackie Chan Adventures,Groundhog Day, Year One, Defendor, The Messengers, The Mothman Prophecies, Bewitched, Samurai X, Blood +, Blue Exorcist, Why It Crackles, Urban Wolf, The Bannen Way

For TV show fans, the app also offers over 1,500 TV show episodes Download the Crackle app from the Xbox Live marketplace for free now in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

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Sky IPTV service due before July

The new streaming station will contain a collection of Sky’s existing popular channels that can be streamed to a selection of devices.

Chennels that will make the move should include popular movies and sports channels. Sky’s move will have been motivated by the arrival of US movie streamer Netflix to the UK and the price and content fight with local rival the Amazon-owned Lovefilm.

Both those streaming services are limited in the range of material they offer to viewers. Sky is fortunate that it has plenty of content and since it already has the rights to stream much of that material to its customers, it’s in a good position to extend those rights deals to pay-as-you-view customers that are not subscribers.

Costs and other financial drtails are still unclear. Sky already streams much of its content available to satellite subscribers using the Sky Go service.

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Sky Internet TV service coming

The service will be an enhanced version of the Sky Go online service and is for customers who do not want to subscribe to to satellite and who do not want a Sky dish plonked on the side of their house. The streaming content can be viewed on laptop, PC, Mac, tablet, console, connected TV and smartphone.

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Later this year BBC’s iPlayer will become accessible to Sky customers on their home TV sets. Using BBC’s iPlayer, viewers can catch-up on BBC programmes in the familiar iPlayer experience that they may have missed.

To access the BBC catch-up TV service, users will need a broadband connection and access to the AnyTime Plus internet TV service. Viewers will also be able to use the ITV vod service, ITV Player from today.

The BBC’s goal is to reach all viewers it can, so with Sky’s plan to bring its Anytime+ to customers regardless of who their internet provider is, is a major development in helping to bring BBC iPlayer to around 5 million new homes in 2012 and at no extra charge.

This deal builds on seeing the BBC’s iPlayer on platforms like Virgin Media, BT Vision, FreeSat, Freeview, PlayStation, Wii, along with mobile phones, tablets, and Internet connected TV’s. Launching on Sky Anytime+ rounds off the picture in which BBC’s iPlayer is available on pretty much all major UK TV platforms.

The BBC Director General Mark Thompson said “Having the BBC and Sky work together to further build on the BBC iPlayer success story can only be fantastic news for audiences. Making BBC iPlayer available on all platforms is key to our commitment to universal access and this agreement takes us one step further towards that goal. I’m delighted to take this first step on a story of innovation for both organisations.”

Sky’s Chief Executive Jeremy Darroch, added “Sky Anytime+ will go from strength to strength in 2012 and we are delighted that the addition of BBC iPlayer will allow Sky customers to enjoy the best of the BBC whenever they want.”

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The Fashion Fund original content on Hulu

It follows 10 designers, which were wittled down from 200 by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. They then compete design challenges and fashion tasks in a bid to win the top $300,000 prize.

The streaming series was shown exclusively on the Hulu and Hulu Plus online website yesterday, and the show continues with a new episodes every Thursday until Feb 29.

The news comes soon after Hulu announced the political show Battleground, was coming to the streaming screen. The show from director & writer, Richard Linklater following a political campaign in Wisconsin.

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Unveiled in November, the memory stick-shaped device (which connects to the Boxee Box) is priced at $49 each (currently available from the company’s website), and offers users a chance to stream live from major networks such as Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS, amongst others.

It is thought of by its creators as a product which could help steer users away from traditional TV viewing platforms, with the official announcement blog post from Boxee reading: “Let the cord cutting begin!”

Boxee CEO Avner Ronen had in December given his intial hopes for the Boxee Live TV platform, stating: “Rather than pay $80 per month for cable TV, and pay a lot of money for stuff they don’t watch, Boxee TV is a different setup, where they have much more control over what they pay for. We think it’s very similar to the transition that happened in the music business. Historically, you had a couple of songs that you really like, but you still buy the whole album. As music became digital, users revolted against that type of bundling, and I think the same is happening with video. We don’t think Boxee TV is necessarily for 100 percent of households, but I think for a good numbers of Americans, it could be a real alternative.”

The company who have stopped development of the Boxee software on PC, claim that their target market is users who generally view one-off or specialised TV broadcasts (such as a sports game or an annual awards ceremony), who would often be unable to watch online without paying a subscription to the channel as a whole. Ronen said of this feature, and its aims: “If you’re watching more and more on your laptop or your iPad, then I think you’d like what Boxee is doing. If you’re coming home and you’re watching TV for six hours and you watch a lot of ESPN, we’re probably not the right solution for you.”

Set to be sold only in the USA and Canada, Boxee Live TV will be compatiable only with other Boxee products, and though the device is set up mainly for live streaming broadcasts, Ronen claims that the Boxee Box is capable of performing DVR functions for a user who sets it up in that way. A ‘selective’ online TV platform sounds like a good progressive product, but will the initial promise be reflected in the sales figures?

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Lovefilm are currently looking towards ways to continue their regional market dominance amidst the recent expansion of similar American service Netflix, and will hope to better reach customers on LG TV sets by hosting selections of their TV series and movies, with current big names confirmed for the launch including The Dark Knight, The Hangover, and Source Code, amongst others.

Special features of the made-for-TV app include an ability for users to share reviews and ratings of individual streams, as well as full compatibility with LG’s motion-sensor ‘Magic Motion Remote’.

Stacey Seltzer, head of Smart TV at LG, said of the plans: “We are very excited to add Amazon’s LoveFilm to the already extensive range of content on LG’s Smart TV platform. LG’s Smart TV provides a powerful new offering in home entertainment and we have invested significantly in this technology. Working with Amazon’s LoveFilm is further proof of LG’s commitment to providing customers with the best possible service.”

LoveFilm chief executive Simon Calver added his opinion: “With this latest platform launch we are strengthening our penetration into the living rooms of UK consumers, bringing instant entertainment to more homes than ever before. With every new platform launch we take another step towards our goal of being available to as many people, in as many ways as possible.”

LoveFilm Instant first launched last month with a streaming-only subscription (across a number of devices), comparable to the one that Netflix offers in the various markets that it operates in. The service is currently available for £4.99 a month, a rate £1 lower than newest rival Netflix. Will the latest platform for their streaming service boost LoveFilm’s popularity even further?

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Cable TV provider Comcast have revealed that they have increased their cable TV bills in the city of Boston (USA) for a second time in the space of 12 months (with the changes (an average hike of 2.9%) set to be put into action in February), in a move that they are trying to assure customers will not have an impact on many of them.

Some users in the regions that the hike is set to hit have already expressed their outrage over the rising prices, and claim that Internet TV is now looking like a much more cost-effective and viable alternative to cable’s increasing rates.

Comcast spokesperson Doreen Vigue said of the changes, and explained why they are being made: “The vast majority of our customers won’t [be affected], because they currently receive services as part of a promotional offer. We continue making investments in next-generation technology to add value to our products and improve service, and in just the last year alone we’ve added several channels, and launched new interactive applications and multi-platform content that customers want and value.”

Vigue summarised with how the update will affect customers in the Boston area, stating: “While we’ve worked hard to hold down price adjustments, the average customer bill will increase by 2.9 percent in the Greater Boston Region beginning with the February 2012 billing cycle because of the impact of higher programming costs and increased operating expenses.”

While Boston residents using Comcast might begin to get disillusioned despite what the provider is saying, will there be any large-scale defection to online services in the near future?

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LoveFilm get ABC show streaming rights

The streaming del will allow LoveFilm to show full seasons on-demand after they have aired on TV, and back seasons of some shows will be made available on LoveFilm Instant as well.

Speaking for LoveFilm, CEO Simon Calver said, “Today’s deal with Disney brings (LoveFilm subscribers) access to some of the best American TV content ever produced.”

For the Walt Disney Company, Catherine Powell, senior vice president said, “ABC TV On Demand is home to high quality, compelling US drama, produced by ABC Studios, and launching this service with LOVEFiLM means we are able to offer viewers more choice and flexibility in how and when they can view full seasons of these gripping shows, through one easy-to-use service.”

LoveFilm boasts 2 million subscribers across Europe and offers a streaming-only subscription service for £4.99 monthly (approx $7.50) for web-enabled devices such as PC, PS3, Xbox 360, iPad, Blu-ray players and connected TV sets.

They are currently locked in a content battle with Netflix, who this month launched a streaming service in the UK and Ireland for £5.99 (approx $9.17) monthly. Netflix have struck deals with the BBC, Miramax, ITV, Channel 4, Disney, Lionsgate and Momentum Pictures whilst Lovefilm has deals with Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., BBC Worldwide and ITV, eOne and Studiocanal.

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The BBC’s iPlayer catch-up TV service has enjoyed it’s biggest ever audience figures in December (up 29% from 2010), with the huge jump in requests from not from computers, but connected devices such as connected TV sets, tablets and smartphones.

Top Gear and connected devices helped iplayer have a record year

The BBC have revealed that for the month of December, they received 187 million views from all platforms. But the big change was from which devices. 7 million requests from connected TV sets. An astonishing 1000% increse from December 2010. Tablets, including iPad had a 596% increase with 10 million requests and smartphones got an increase of 163% with 13 million programmes requested.

In total the iPlayer had 1.94 billion requests during the year 2011, showing that both online TV and internet-connected devices are making a real dent in the market. BBC general manager for programmes and on-demand, Daniel Danker said, “While 2011 was a remarkable year for BBC iPlayer across the board, the real story was growth of iPlayer on TVs, mobile phones, and tablets, outpacing PC growth many times over.”

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Internet TV is not smart enough

Lets be clear, i love streaming TV, it just doesnt seem to quite work on my TV set, somethings not right. When i finish work for the day, and when im ready to relax. I do not sit in front of my laptop and i do not sit on a chair with my iPad in front of me. Instead, i sit where most people do, in my lounge in front of my 55 inch 3DLG TV and watch cable and DVR recordings.

Strangely, my streaming consumtion tends to happen when i am not in my lounge, and therefore not in the place i do my serious TV watching.

When i watch online content i may be sitting in bed while my partner is watching something else, or catching up on a show while im between chores around the house.

It’s almost like my watching of internet TV happens when i dont have time to truly relax, and be in my most comfortable place.

Of course my LG TV is a so called ‘Smart TV’. It has streaming capabilities, i can access a number of channels and options, but it just feels so wrong. I tried to watch a simple Youtube video, but i have to navigate using a weird remote controlled online keyboard that takes at least ten times as long to use as on my PC. Then when i finally press play video, that little round thing that tells me it’s buffering starts, and carries on, and on…Until i just give up and go back to ‘normal TV’.

Also, to get to streaming TV, i have to select an option on the TV remote then navigate a strange page full of icons and apps. I can see how a regular TV watcher would be freaked out by this.

There is supposed to be a convergance, internet and TV are supposed to become a seamless ‘one’. But they arent. I still know where my normal TV ends and the internet starts, and it’s not right, it doesnt fit..yet.

For a TV set that incorporates the internet to truly work, i think that 2 things need to happen.

1. The streaming has to be instant, or nearly instant. People (me included) just dont have the patience to wait.

2. The available channels need to be incorporated better into the set navigation. I almost want to choose channel 1, channel, 2, netflix, channel 3, youtube. So streaming TV becomes an integral part of the TV set, rather than feeling like an add-on.

So my ideal set would have a chaanel menu and then an on-demand menu where i can choose TV shows and movies by name or genre. Currently internet TV feels right on a laptop or iPad, but feels wrong on a TV set.

Get the balance right, and the streaming speeds right and i think that it will really take off. Looks like this year may be when it finally happens, but for now and for me. Internet TV still doesnt quite work.

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Youtube's Robert Kyncl sees TV moving online

Kyncl, who was previously employed by Netflix and saw the company evolve from DVD rentals to streaming, predicted that by 2020, 75% of all TV programming will be transmitted or streamed via the web. He also said that in a few years, watching streaming video will account for 90% of all online traffic.

Of course, Kyncl has an agenda, and that is to push Youtube as the future of TV, and he did a pretty good job. Youtube received around a trillion hits during 2011 and expect additional growth in 2012. They are investing $100 million in original content designed to change peoples perception of the video website.

Kyncl who said the web was the biggest development in TV since the introduction of cable, said that internet video consumption has the potential to draw an audience that standard TV can only dream of. And of course Google plan to be a major part of this new era.

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TiVo users prefer on-demand TV

The research shows that of the 2 million TiVo’s, only 38% are used to watch live TV, and of the internet connected units that figure is just 27%. The research also revealed that approx two thirds of TV viewing on the TiVo connected DVR’s is time placed or on-demand.

So viewers want to watch content when it’s convenient for them rather than rushing to the TV set at a set time for a show or movie. The modern TV consumers want on-demand, and are not fussed if it comes from a recording, web streaming or cable/satellite on-demand.

With the latest TiVo Premiere, users get access to online content such as Youtube, Netflix and Hulu amongst other services. The TiVo gives viewers several ways to watch programming. The standard live TV, recorded content and video-on-demand.

The study only looked at viewers who used a TiVo, but then everyone has a DVR of some kind and every TV being sold will soon be internet connected. The figures therefore show that TV viewing is experiencing a major shift.

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Roku 2 XS comes to UK

The best selling Roku LT and Roku 2 XS set-top boxes will be launched with a number of streaming services, including the newly launched Netflix UK.

The entry level Roku LT comes in 720p HD whilst the Roku 2 XS gives full 1080p HD video. Both connect via Wi-Fi and the XS comes with an Ethernet port, USB. The XS comes with a motion-controlled bluetooth game remote and support for games such as Angry Birds as well.

Once connected the players give viewers access to a number of free and paid channels that include on-demand films. Roku say they have around 40 channels on launch that include live sports, games, news and entertainment.

Content will come from MLB.TV, Ultimate Fighting organisation, Classical TV, Tuneln, WSJ Live, FoxNews,  Facebook and Flickr. UK viewers will also get the Crackle streaming service and Sony movies.

Roku have also promised buyers that they will be announcing “major content” partners for the UK and Ireland in time for the launch day of January 27.

The Roku players have been a big success in the US and they recently announced the launch of an internet TV stick that transforms standard TV sets into smart TVs.

Clive Hudson, Roku’s European VP and general manager said, “Roku launched the first ever streaming player to deliver Netflix to consumers in the US and now we are among the first to bring Netflix to residents of the UK and Ireland,”

“In addition to Netflix, we are launching with a variety of entertainment channels and look forward to expanding our content selection in the same way that we have in the US where we have more than 400 channels today.”

Visit Roku UK for more information.

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Vizio Google TV Stream Player

Although the jury is out on the new Google TV2.0 platform, the new streaming box runs on the software and promises streaming TV along with online content and apps. The Stream Player runs on the Google Chrome browser and can connect to any TV via HDMI.

Speaking in a press release, Vizio said that the,

New stream player turns any HDTV into an enhanced smart TV with access to countless entertainment content and online services as well as powerful search and web browsing capabilities – Part of the VIZIO Internet Apps Plus ecosystem, the new VIZIO Stream Player incorporates the power of the latest Google TV in combination with premium setup experience and included Bluetooth universal remote with touchpad control – Integrated app and TV watching experience let users multitask seamlessly and access photos, audio and video stored on networked computers, hard drives and smart phones.

Vizio also revealed their Google TV televisions for release in 2012. The range consists of the 42 inch R3D420VS, the 47 inch R3D470VS, the 55 inch R3D550VS and the 65 inch R3D650VS.

The connected TV’s and smart box come with a cool double-sided Bluetooth remote that has a touchpad on one side and a QWERTY keyboard on the other.

The companies said they will begin taking preorders for the product sometime this spring. Pricing was not announced.

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Netflix UK. So many shows..I've never heard of

A quick look showed a lot of old movies and TV shows but very little premium content. That did not stop Netflix having a pop at Amazon owned rival, Lovefilm.

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Set to be released in March, the ‘Samsung inTouch’ is a ‘TV accessory’ that will attach to any HDTV set and enable integrated video, audio, and text chatting to any of the user’s ’Skype’ friends.

Sold with a TV webcam and product-specific keyboard, the inTouch is said to also be able to feature a general Internet browser and YouTube functionality. Other pre-packaged services on the inTouch include a selection of apps, built-in Wi-Fi, and 720p high-definition video output for the services, meaning that any HDTV set could now be transformed into a ‘smart TV’.

Samsung Techwin America’s sales and marketing vice-president Mike Palazzolo said of the device: “While internet connected HDTVs are now common, not every household gets to experience this fun and interactive feature, especially if they have an HDTV purchased just a few years ago. With the inTouch camera system, Samsung is now bridging the gap between this experience and those consumers who own HDTVs without networking capability.”

Listed as a 3-megapixel camera with a 30-degree ’tilt range’, the set, which has an RRP of $199.99 (£130), also allows picture-taking and sharing via both the camera and a USB slot. In running terms, the official user interface of the Samsung inTouch is a modified edition of the Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform.While it is not the first time that Skype have attempted a connected TV experience, will this new product bring video chat to new frontiers?

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Netflix UK Imminent?

Netflix announced the Britain and Ireland launch last October and have been negotiating content deals ever since. The company dominate streaming in the US, Canada and Latin America already and have over 20 million subscribers around the world. Last week Netflix reportedvealed that viewers had watched over 2 billion hours of content in the last 3 months of 2011.

PS3 owners have noticed the familiar Netflix logo appearing amongst the other apps although the online service is not yet live. The app currently lets users register for updates. The Netflix service will cost £5.99 monthly for unlimited streaming of TV shows and movies, which is a similar price point to Lovefilm who will be their biggest rival.

So if you have a connected TV set, Blu-Ray player or other connected device, keep checking for the imminent Netflix app.

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Lovefilm get to stream BBC and ITV content

LoveFilm owned by Amazon are the leading UK streaming company, who will shortly face some stiff competition from rival Netflix who plan to launch in the UK. The two companies have been busy securing content deals as the market becomes more competative. Netflix have already secured a deal with the BBC back in December.

Speaking about the deal, Simon Calver, CEO of LoveFilm said, “We are thrilled to be bringing together great British TV content with Europe’s leading film subscription service. This gives LOVEFiLM an even more powerful, unique offering of instant programming for our members to view across a growing number of platforms, for one low monthly price.”

For BBC Worldwide, Lisa Rousseau, Head of UK and Irelan said, “We’ve had a content partnership with LOVEFiLM for several years now and it’s great to see this evolve digitally. We’re delighted to give LOVEFiLM’s subscribers the opportunity to instantly watch their favourite British shows, wherever and whenever they wish, alongside a diverse range of great programmes and films.”

LoveFilm were acquired by Amazon back in February 2011 and boast around 1.9m members in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The Lovefilm Instant service allows subscribers to watch streaming on a number of devices such their computer, PS3, Xbox 360, Apple iPad and connected TV sets. They also offer members the option of a DVD by mail service, which Netflix UK, has abandoned.

The deal from the two TV networks is both non-exclusive and only applies to older content as both the BBC and ITV keep the premium and current content for their own catch-up players, the iPlayer and ITV Player.

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Roku streaming just got smaller

The streaming stick is designed to give users the benefits of a Smart connected TV without the worry of the hardware becoming outdated. But users will need a TV that has MHL-enabled HDMI ports. The MHL (Mobile High-definition Link) port is being built into sets from most big manufacturers such as Nokia, Samsung and Sony. The streaming stick will be controllable by the standard TV remote.

The press release from Roku states, “The Roku Streaming Stick is a wireless device about the size of a standard USB flash drive that will plug into a TV to instantly transform it into a Smart TV. The Roku Streaming Stick will feature built-in WiFi, processor, memory and software to deliver Roku’s growing collection of streaming entertainment. With these new Smart TVs, consumers will enjoy a fully integrated high-definition streaming experience. any boxes or cables. It can be controlled by a TV remote and offer most (but not all) of the features that a Roku player can offer.”

The current Roku box gives users around 400 streaming channels and was the first service to offer Netflix. The service also offers other streaming services from Hulu, and Amazon instant video amongst others delivered in HD. The Roku streaming set-top box is set to launch in the UK and Canada this year.

The Streaming Stick is expected to become available later this year and will be sold at Best Buy for between $50-$100 and may also come bundled with the Insgnia Smart TV.

So a good idea as noboby wants more boxes and wires around the TV set. But as the only compatible TV’s need to be MHL equipped, those same TV sets will probably have internet TV options built in anyway.

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