Best Buy and Netflix Announce Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies Over the Internet Via Latest Models of Insignia Blu-ray Dis
October 20 2009 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
MINNEAPOLIS and LOS GATOS, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ --
Insignia, a Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) exclusive brand, and
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), the world's largest online movie
rental service, today announced the availability of two new
Insignia Blu-ray Disc Players that enable Netflix members to
instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix over
the Internet to their televisions. The new Insignia Advanced Series
Blu-ray Player (NS-WBRDVD) and the Insignia Connected Blu-ray
Player (NS-BRDVD3) are now on sale for $249.99 and $179.99,
respectively, at all Best Buy retail stores and bestbuy.com. Both
models are Internet ready, giving Netflix members on an unlimited
plan access to a growing library to watch instantly on their TV.
The Insignia Advanced Series model uses built-in Wi-Fi to connect
to the Internet while the Insignia Connected player uses an
Ethernet connection. The ENERGY STAR-certified players feature
Dolby TrueHD to deliver exquisite high-quality sound and use up
conversion to display standard DVDs with crisp clarity and
precision. Netflix members on an unlimited plan can use the
Insignia Blu-ray Disc Players to instantly watch thousands of
titles streamed from Netflix, including popular current season and
older television shows, classic movies, documentaries, foreign
films, independent movies, some new releases and more. They can
watch as much as they want, any time they want. Members can manage
their Netflix instant Queue on the Insignia Blu-ray Disc Player,
including browsing titles by genre from personalized lists, adding
movies to their instant Queue or pushing "Play" to start instantly
watching a movie or TV episode. As with all other Netflix ready
devices that instantly stream from Netflix, the Insignia Blu-ray
Disc Players allow Netflix members to start and stop movies, go
back or fast forward as much as they like at different times. "Best
Buy customers appreciate dependable performance at reasonable
prices," said Nigel Waites, CTO of Best Buy's Exclusive Brands.
"The ability to instantly watch movies streaming from Netflix via
the Insignia line of Blu-ray Disc Players will appeal to Best Buy
shoppers who seek unsurpassed convenience, selection and value in a
Blu-ray disc player." "Best Buy is a terrific place to shop for
TVs, Blu-ray disc players, computers and other technology products
that entertain and suit the lifestyle needs of millions of
consumers," said Netflix Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings.
"We're proud to see Insignia models that instantly stream movies
from Netflix on Best Buy shelves. Or, better yet, seeing customers
buy them off the shelves." About Best Buy Co., Inc. With operations
in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, Best Buy is
a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products
and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best
Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more
than $45 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best
Buy; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad,
Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales;
The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 155,000 employees
apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to
life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers
and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities
in its communities. Community partnership is central to the way
business is done at Best Buy. In fiscal 2009, Best Buy donated a
combined $33.4 million to improve the vitality of the communities
where its employees and customers live and work. For more
information about Best Buy, visit http://www.bestbuy.com/. About
Insignia Insignia is a Best Buy Exclusive Brand designed to provide
our customers with affordable, well-designed technology. Best Buy
listens to its employees' and customers' feedback then leverages
these insights to develop a broad range of quality solutions in
Insignia products, all at a great value. The Insignia line features
a wide selection of consumer electronics including HDTVs, Blu-ray
players, home theater solutions, GPS, audio products and more. The
Insignia Advanced Series Televisions feature clear picture quality,
richer sound and are backed by an industry leading two-year
warranty. Insignia products are available exclusively at all Best
Buy retail locations and online at http://www.bestbuy.com/ and
http://www.insigniaproducts.com/. About Netflix, Inc. Netflix, Inc.
(NASDAQ:NFLX) is the world's largest online movie rental service,
with more than 10 million subscribers. For only $8.99 a month,
Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV
episodes streamed to their TVs and computers and can receive
unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. There are never
any due dates or late fees. Netflix members can exchange DVDs as
often as they want using a postage-paid return envelope. Members
can choose from a vast selection of DVD titles and a growing
library of movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly.
Netflix is partnering with leaders in consumer electronics to bring
to market a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and
TV episodes from Netflix directly to members' TVs. These devices
currently include Blu-ray Disc Players and new Internet TVs from LG
Electronics; Blu-ray Disc Players from Samsung; the Roku digital
video player; Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console; TiVo digital video
recorders; and, soon, Internet TVs from Sony and VIZIO. For more
information, visit http://www.netflix.com/ DATASOURCE: Netflix,
Inc. CONTACT: Steve Swasey, Netflix, +1-408-540-3947, ; Carolyn
Aberman, Best Buy Public Relations, +1-612-292-NEWS, Web Site:
http://www.netflix.com/
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