Netflix hire reveals "Internet TV" division: downloads coming to ...

PC TV: We're still not so sure how this newfangled "internets" thing is going to work out, but Netflix seems enamored with the technology, and has set up a whole Internet TV division to push movies and TV shows over that series of tubes. Today Netflix appointed ReplayTV founder Anthony Wood to the VP position of the group, whose "invented the DVR, founded Roku" and "good written and verbal communication" resume items make him a natural choice for freeing those media downloads from PC shackles to make the trek into the living room and onto your television.

"The company has taken the first step - and an innovative one - in offering online video to its members," said Mr. Wood, "and I'm here to work with a range of partners to get that video to the television, where consumers watch most of their movies." We knew Netflix had a good bit of this stuff in the works, but it's nice to see 'em come clean and take a proactive stance on this, especially since this war for PC-to-living room supremacy is sure to be a bloody one.

BBC and C4 lock Mac users out of web TV

PC TV: Channel 4 and the BBC will not allow Mac owners to use their video-on-demand services until Apple resolves digital rights management issues, vnunet.com has learned.

While Windows PC owners can use Channel 4's 4OD and the BBC's iPlayer services to watch TV programmes shown by the broadcasters, Mac users are prevented from using either.

This is because TV bosses fear that they could fall foul of copyright issues, as Apple refuses to license its FairPlay DRM copy protection to third parties.

If the broadcasters allowed Mac users to access programmes they would be open to potential copyright abuse as they would have no DRM protection.

Apple has resolved some DRM issues with EMI in recent weeks, allowing Apple to start offering the record label's stable to its iTunes customers without FairPlay so that songs can be played on a range of devices.

VUDU Aims to Cut out the Video Store

PC TV: Today a company called VUDU is announcing that they have closed deals with seven major movie studios including Walt Disney Studios, Lionsgate, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros. Entertainment.

These agreements are to allow instant access to over 5000 movie titles directly onto users TVs without needing a PC, or a cable or satellite TV subscription. "We've created the product everyone wants, the product many have tried to build, and, until now, the product no one has succeeded in delivering," said Tony Miranz, founder of VUDU. "We've brought together the best team in Silicon Valley to give movie lovers the ability to watch thousands of movies instantly, without leaving their homes."

These licensing agreements will allow access to new releases and select titles from existing libraries of movies.

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