Ever
since Netflix video streaming came to the Xbox 360, Microsoft has been
touting it as a major advantage over its competing consoles. However,
recent months have seen rumors of the DVD mail-rental company's online
arm coming to both the Wii and PlayStation 3.

Today,
Sony announced that it has struck a deal with Netflix to enable
streaming its some of its high-end electronic devices. Unfortunately
for many gamers, the contraptions in question do not include the PS3,
but rather a range of the company's high-end Bravia HDTVs. According to
a report on GameSpot sister site CNET,
the XBR9 series, Z5100 series, and W5100 series of Bravias will all be
updated with Netflix streaming software this fall. Other Sony HDTVs can
access the service by buying the Sony Bravia Internet Video Link for
about $200--or just pay $99.99 for a Roku set-top video player.
Speaking
with GameSpot, Sony declined to directly comment on the prospect of
Netflix streaming on the PS3. Instead, a rep offered the following
blanket statement on the console's non-gaming entertainment
capabilities:
We are always looking for ways to enhance our
video entertainment offerings through PlayStation 3. Currently, our
video download service, available through the PlayStation store, boasts
over 1,900 movies and 9,000 TV episodes, making it a leader in the
field. We have established content partnerships with industry leaders
such as MTV, Comedy Central, Spike TV, Starz, Showtime, NBC, Universal
Pictures, Nickelodeon and VH1. All of this is in addition to PS3's
Blu-ray movie playback capabilities, streaming video capabilities
through PS3's built in Internet browser, and its full suite of game
offerings makes PS3 the ultimate entertainment machine for the home.