Netflix to stream through Windows Media Center

Microsoft and Netflix have signed a deal to put Netflix's streaming movie offering in Windows Media Center. Netflix's full streaming library will be available through the offering, which will only be accessible on Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate.

The service should launch in the next 48 hours, according to the companies. Microsoft said in a statement that the Netflix deal is a part of its vision to aggregate online video in its Media Center, thereby reducing the need for customers to hunt it down themselves.

Microsoft and Netflix already teamed to provide Netflix's streaming application on Microsoft's XBox 360, which has more than 1 million downloads. The extension to Microsoft's Media Center stands as another distribution point for Netflix in its quest to expand its streaming offering and entice new customers, something it has been doing very successfully lately.

For more:
- see the CNET.com story here 

Related articles
Netflix adds nearly 1M subs in Q1
Netflix-Xbox streaming app reaches 1M downloads
Blockbuster "going concern risk," Netflix waits in wings