Video on Demand

Amazon.com announced on Tuesday that Amazon Prime members will now get unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of more than 5,000 movies and TV shows. This new benefit is being added at no additional cost -- Prime membership will continue to be $79 per year.

Movies and TV shows included with an Amazon Prime membership can be watched instantly on Macs, PCs and nearly 200 models of Internet-connected TVs, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes that are compatible with Amazon Instant Video. The selection of videos available for instant streaming currently includes movies, such as "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" trilogy, "Amadeus," "Syriana," and "Chariots of Fire," noted documentaries such as "Food Inc.," "March of the Penguins" and "Ken Burns' National Parks," plus TV shows, such as "Doctor Who," "Farscape," "Fawlty Towers" and children's shows, such as "Arthur," "Caillou," "Super Why!" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." Read more

Roku announced three new streaming media players, all with better performance and lower prices than the previous models. The new players feature up to 1080p HD streaming support, Instant Replay, and start at just $59.99. The new Roku models are the entry-level Roku HD at $59.99; the Roku XD with Wireless-N and 1080p, and the Roku XDS, which adds dual-band wireless and more connectivity options.

All Roku players deliver over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand; live and on-demand sports from MLB.TV; music from Pandora, MP3tunes, MOG, and RadioTime; photo and video sharing from Flickr and Facebook; plus news and entertainment.

The new $59.99 Roku HD streams video in high-definition at up to 720p, and features built-in wireless and Ethernet. The Roku HD is measures in at only 1 inch tall and less than 5 inches wide. Composite A/V cables are included, and it has an HDMI port for playback on HDTVs. Read more

According to a post on Best Buy's Reward Zone Twitter account, the company will be launching a new video-on-demand service called Blue Sky Video.

"Blue Sky Video is actually something that will be coming out soon and there will be more information to follow shortly", a Best Buy employee named Sarah posted to the Reward Zone Twitter account earlier this week.

All of the specifics as far as availability etc. wasn't mentioned but Dow Jones Newswires said that the service will allow Reward Zone Premier Silver members "one free movie rental download each month."

We'll keep you posted.

Roku has added the Roku SD and Roku HD-XR to their instant streaming player lineup, the company announced this week. They now have three models available, the SD, HD, and HD-XR. All players deliver instant entertainment from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand and MLB.TV.

The new Roku SD player connects to the TV using the included Yellow-Red-White video/audio cable. In addition, the Roku SD player incorporates Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and an Ethernet port for broadband connectivity. The new Roku SD is priced at only $79.99 and can be purchased at www.roku.com or www.amazon.com.Read more

Samsung just announced that Amazon Video On Demand is available on select Samsung HDTVs via a downloadable widget. Also, Blockbuster's Video On Demand service is now on select 2009 Samsung HDTVs, Blu-ray Players and Blu-ray integrated Home Theater Systems.

Owners of Samsung LCD and Plasma HDTVs Series 650 and above and Samsung LED HDTVs Series 7000 and above can download the Amazon Video On Demand widget for free using the Internet@TV – Content Service feature on their HDTVs.

Specific models featuring the BLOCKBUSTER On Demand service include Samsung Series 650 and above LCD and Plasma HDTVs and Series 7000 and above LED HDTVs. The service is also on Samsung BD -P1600, BD-P3600 and BD-P4600 Blu-ray players, as well as select Samsung Blu-ray integrated Home Theater Systems (HT-BD1250, HT-BD3252, HT-BD7200 and HT-BD8200) via firmware upgrade.

For more information visit www.samsung.com.

Panasonic announced today that Amazon Video On Demand is now available on its entire line of 2009 VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray Disc players. If you are a current owner of a Panasonic 2009 Blu-ray Disc player, you will automatically receive a free software update today and can use service as soon as you register your VIERA CAST Blu-ray Disc Player with Amazon Video On Demand.

With Amazon Video On Demand on VIERA CAST, you can:

• Browse and shop for movies and TV shows from Amazon Video On Demand's selection of more than 45,000 commercial-free titles, including the latest new releases and over 1000 titles in HD.
• Enjoy instant playback streamed to your player, no downloading, no waiting and no subscription fees.
• Access and add to your virtual library of purchases, via Amazon Video On Demand's Your Video Library, and re-watch them on any of Panasonic's VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray Disc players or online with a PC, MAC or other compatible device.

VIERA CAST also gives you access to YouTube, Picasa Web Albums, Bloomberg News and weather information.

For more information on Panasonic's VIERA CAST Blu-ray players visit www.panasonic.com.

Sling.com is a new video on demand IPTV website. Users can subscribe to channels and shows to customize the programming presented to them. They are still filling out their lineup but have announced over 90 providers and 150 brands, including Discovery Communications, Hulu (CBS), Lifetime Television, PBS, Starz, National Geographic, and many more.

If you own a Slingbox you can now access your home television and DVR via the Sling.com website. This means no additional software needed to download. The company's Slingcatcher box can utilize Sling.com now too.

As well as being a competitor, Hulu is providing content on Sling too. Joost and Miro also have many fans in sending television over the internet.

If you're new to internet television, this market it quickly gaining quality content from traditional networks as well as new guys like Revision3 and the hilarious Onion News Network.

Check Sling.com out. Your favorite shows may already be there, many of mine are. Surf around the list of networks and shows. I'm sure you'll find something new and interesting that broadcast tv and cable don't provide.