After teasing the new Bravia Internet Video Link device at CES way back in early January, Sony Electronics said this week that the module will start shipping in July for around $300.
The Bravia Internet Video Link is a little gizmo that, when attached to a compatible Sony Bravia TV set, will enable the television to access Internet video content from Sony partner companies without the need for a PC.
Initial video, including high-definition content, will be accessible from the likes of AOL and Yahoo as well as Sony properties Grouper, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony BMG Music.
“Internet video popularity has reached an all-time high, but until now there was no easy way to bring it into the living room,” said Randy Waynick, senior VP of the Home Products Division at Sony Electronics. “The Bravia Internet Video Link seamlessly streams Internet video content to your TV the way it’s intended – free of any additional charge.”
Although there won’t be any add-on fees for watching the Internet video on a Bravia TV, Sony stopped a full step short of making the Internet Video Link a truly useful product. Instead of providing access to any Internet video, the module only delivers content from the few companies that have signed a deal with Sony. This means that users will be able to watch streaming videos from AOL and Yahoo, but not from YouTube or any of the TV networks.
Guess we’ll have to wait and see if Sony picks up any more video partners before the device hits the market.
In the meantime, the company said that majority of its new TVs coming out this year will be Bravia Internet Video Link-ready.
Initial Bravia HDTVs with support for the module include the S-series flat-panel LCD line and the new KDF-37E3000 micro-display, which are scheduled to ship this spring.
Other new Bravia models supporting the module include the new V-series and XBR flat-panel LCD line (KDL-46V3000, KDL-40V3000 and KDL-32XBR4) and the E-series micro-display line (KDF-50E3000 and KDF-46E3000), shipping this summer. Pricing for the new models will be announced at a later date.
The module links the television set directly to existing broadband Internet service provider via an Ethernet connection. Sony claims the Internet Video Link attaches easily and is concealed behind the TV – even one that’s hung on the wall.
Bravia Internet Video Link uses Sony’s Xross Media Bar (XMB) user interface that helps users navigate through program selections regardless of the content source. The icon-based XMB menu system was first featured on the PlayStation Portable and PS3 videogame consoles.