DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) said customers can rent high-definition
movies and buy HD TV shows to watch on television sets through
devices from TiVo Inc. (TIVO), Sony Corp. (SNE), Panasonic Corp.
(PC) and Roku, starting Tuesday.
As high-speed Internet connections grow more widespread,
consumers increasingly are watching video material on their
computers. Sites such as YouTube, owned by Google Inc. (GOOG), and
Hulu offer free content, including movies and TV shows.
Episodes of current TV shows will be sold for $2.99 and
new-release movies can be rented for $3.99 to $4.99 from Amazon
Video On Demand.
More than 500 HD TV shows and movies from major studios and
networks are available.
"Our customers have been asking us for two things: HD and the
ability to watch movies and TV shows instantly on their
television," said Bill Carr, Amazon vice president of music and
video.
Compatible devices include the Roku digital video player; TiVo
Series3, HD and HD XL digital video recorders; Sony Bravia Internet
Video Link; and Panasonic VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVs.
The movies and shows also can be watched on personal computers
online or downloaded to computers for viewing later.
Hulu is jointly owned by General Electric Co.'s (GE) NBC
Universal and News Corp. (NWS, NWSA), which owns Dow Jones &
Co., publisher of this newswire.
Amazon.com's shares were at $78.90, up 0.2%, in after-hours
trading.
-By Kathy Shwiff, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5975;
Kathy.Shwiff@dowjones.com