Quickflix to stream movies to Sony Internet enabled TVs

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 13 July 2011 10:21

Your IT - Entertainment

Online DVD rental company Quickflix (ASX: QFX) has announced its entry into the IPTV market, signing an agreement with Sony Australia to provide a subscription movies streaming service through Sony's Internet connected TVs and other devices.

The move follows last week's announcement that Quickflix would, effectively take over Telstra BigPond's online DVD rental business. It has also appointed the former head of BigPond, Justin Milne as deputy chairman and hired a former director of Telstra Media, Chris Taylor as its CEO. h

Quickflix said: "The agreement with Sony means that Quickflix will stream movies to all Sony Bravia Internet Video (SBIV)-connected televisions, any television connected to SVIB-capable Blu-ray players and home theatres, as well as VAIO computers in Australia'¦Sony has launched 22 IPTV Bravia models into the Australian market."

Taylor added: "The next step in our mission to reach a million customers in five years is the introduction of our streaming service. This will give customers the ultimate choice of the largest range of movies in Australia and an amazing selection of instant viewing through streaming combined with DVD and Blu-ray."

This is Quickflix's second foray into IPTV. In 2009 it announced the launch of a digital movie download service in partnership with Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The company said at the time that it that would have new releases available for hire or rent simultaneous with their release to stores.

Nothing came of that, and when queried last week about it, Quickflix founder said the service had been a one-off trial in conjunction with Warner, offering the movie 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'.

Telstra meanwhile has agreements in place with LG and Samsung to stream BigPond TV, movies  and other content to their IPTV enabled televisions in Australia.