Digital Trends

Folks who subscribe to both Netflix and Xbox Live Gold will soon be able to stream Netflix movies and TV shows to their televisions at no additional cost.

Microsoft and Netflix has announced a new partnership that will enable Xbox Live Gold subscribers who are also Netflix subscribers to stream movie and television content from Netflix to their televisions. Users will be able to pause, fast-forward, and rewind through streamed content—and, even better, there will be no additional charge for the server over and above what users are already paying to subscribe to box Xbox Live and Netflix.

"Netflix and Xbox 360 are a perfect combination, the leading online movie rental service and the leading games and entertainment system joining forces to create an all-in-one entertainment experience with content for everyone," said Netflix chair and CEO Reed Hastings, in a statement. "For Netflix, it represents an important step forward in making instantly streaming movies on the TV more broadly available to our members."

The Netflix streaming service on Xbox Live is due to launch "this fall" with a library of more than 10,000 movies and television shows. With the addition of Netflix streamed content, Microsoft is boasting that the Xbox 360 will be able to offer more on-demand movies and video content than any other device connected to a television.

To use the service, subscriber just need to add movies and television episodes to their Instant Queues on the Netflix Web site; these choices will be immediately accessible via the Xbox 360, and movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds once selected.