You may already be watching Netflix on your TV through a set-top box, but soon you will be able to use your television’s remote control to launch Netflix on your Internet-connected television, Blu-ray Disc player, and other devices.
p
That’s because major consumer electronics companies are banding together to put Netflix-branded buttons on the remote controls that operate their Internet-connected products. That means streaming from Netflix to your TV will take just one click.
p
No more turning on the TV, going to a home screen, and searching for the Netflix icon, said Netflix Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt. With the Netflix one-click remote, it’s simply a matter of pushing the Netflix button to instantly watch any of the vast selection of TV shows and movies available to stream from Netflix.
p
subhead
One-Click Netflix
/subhead
p
You can’t blame Hunt for being bubbly about inking a deal like this with some of the top TV and DVD-player manufacturers. There are only so many buttons on the remote control, so Netflix’s ability to snatch a coveted button gives it a clear competitive advantage in an increasingly crowded market.
p
Here’s what you can expect beginning in the spring. Buttons specific to Netflix — including some featuring the iconic red Netflix logo — will have prominent positioning on remote controls that operate some new Blu-ray Disc players from Dynex, Haier, Memorex, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba.
p
Sharp, Sony and Toshiba also will place the Netflix one-click button on remote controls for select new Internet-connected TVs. Remote controls for the Boxee, Iomega and Roku set-top boxes also will feature the Netflix one-click remote. All this is welcome news for Netflix’s more than 16 million customers.
p
subhead
Home-Court Advantage
/subhead
p
As more and more devices come with more and more services on them, the key to success is going to be exposing these services to the consumer,…