Best Buy is reportedly gearing up to deliver CinemaNow, an online video service offering on-demand access to new-release movies and TV shows, to customers via the video hardware it sells.

According to published reports the service, which has been around for more than several years now, will come "bundled" (i.e. pre-integrated) on new, Internet-connected Blu-ray Disc players and home-theater systems from LG Electronics (News - Alert), as well as through high-definition TVs and personal computers.

The service is expected to be available on devices from various other manufacturers, including Insignia, later this year.

The service competes against the likes of Netflix and Apple's (News - Alert)iTunes store, which have in recent years made movies and television shows available for download and rental, as well as a bevy of new on-demand video services.

According to a report on TMCnet, CinemaNow is the result of a previously-announced strategic relationship between Sonic Solutions and Best Buy. It is powered by the RoxioNow technology platform.

"Best Buy owns the legal rights to the CinemaNow trademark, and will use it going forward to market the service to consumers who will have the ability to buy or rent from an extensive library of premium content, including new release movies and TV shows, with no subscription required," the report states.

CinemaNow made news on TMCnet in January when Sonic Solutions, a Novato, Calif.-based computer software company, announced its plan to demonstrate the new Roxio (News - Alert)CinemaNow 2.0 platform at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

Patrick Barnard is a senior Web editor for TMCnet, covering call and contact center technologies. He also compiles and regularly contributes to TMCnet e-Newsletters in the areas of robotics, IT, M2M, OCS and customer interaction solutions. To read more of Patrick's articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Patrick Barnard