The Internet-based video-content provider announced a partnership with South Korea's LG Electronics (other-otc: LGERF - news - people ) to Monday to offer high-definition TV sets that stream Netflix (nasdaq: NFLX - news - people ) videos directly from the Internet without an additional device.

That additional device would be something like a TiVo (nasdaq: TIVO - news - people ) set. Monday's announcement comes a few months after Netflix announced in October that TiVo subscribers will be able to instantly download Netflix videos free of charge. (See "Full-Stream Ahead For Netflix, TiVo.")

Prior to that, Netflix announced a deal with Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) to stream video through the firm's Xbox 360 gaming console. (See "Xbox + Netflix: Who's Next?")

Netflix has come along way from renting out DVDs through the mail. Though offering less content than its DVD service, the company has also developed a popular online streaming service.

The Internet streaming service will become increasingly prevalent as the distinction between a computer monitor and television set blurs. It should also save the company money, as it could lead to a drop in requests for DVDs, and with it postage costs. (See: "Netflix's New Tricks.")

Netflix isn't alone. On Monday Amazon.com (nasdaq: AMZN - news - people ) said it is making its video streaming service available on the Roku Digital Video Player, which also streams Netflix's content from the Internet to television sets.

In any case, shares of Netflix rose 4.4%, or $1.32, to $31.19, in afternoon trading. Investors are confident in the firm. Though the last 12 months have been rocky, the stock has seen a gain of 27.0%, while the S&P 500 index has lost 33.9% over the same period.

Tim Alessi, director of product development for LG Electronics USA, said the broadband TVs will sell for roughly $200 to $300 more than a regular high-definition television set.

The U.S. International Trade Commission is investigating whether Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are violating tariff rules by importing mobile phones and other handheld wireless devices containing digital cameras and related components that infringe on patents held by Eastman Kodak Co.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Eastman Kodak (nyse: EK - news - people ) in November and names six companies as respondents: Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. of South Korea; Samsung Electronics America Inc. of Ridgefield Park, N.J.; Samsung Telecommunications America LLC of Richardson, Texas; LG Electronics, Inc. of South Korea; LG Electronics USA Inc. of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.; and LG Electronics MobileComm USA Inc. of San Diego.

Separately, the U.S. International Trade Commission said it is investigating whether more than a dozen companies are violating tariff rules by importing flash memory chips and products containing flash memory chips that allegedly infringe on patents held by Spansion Inc. (nasdaq: SPSN - news - people ) of Sunnyvale, Calif.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed in November by Spansion about the importation of flash memory chips used in USB drives, digital cameras, phones, music players and computers. Among the respondents named in the investigation are Samsung, Apple Inc. (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ), Research In Motion Ltd. (nasdaq: RIMM - news - people ) and Sony Corp. (nyse: SNE - news - people )

None of these companies immediately responded to requests for comment.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Sony is preparing for a bleak future for its electronics business. The Japanese manufacturer said Tuesday that it will slash 8,000 jobs in its electronics division and cut capital investment by 30.0% in the next fiscal year.

Analysts expect the electronics and entertainment giant's earnings to collapse in 2009 on a surging yen, investment losses, a supply glut of liquid crystal displays and digital cameras, and a slowdown in consumer spending in the economically depressed West.

Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) said in a statement that it is aiming to reap cost savings of over 100 billion yen ($1.1 billion) a year by March 2010 through layoffs, scaling back investment plans, closing factories and outsourcing production. The company will shutter two overseas factories by the end of the current fiscal year in March, including a plant in Dax, France, that produces recording media. By the end of the following fiscal year in 2010, it indicated it aims to close another three or four plants. It will also cut its temporary work force.

With Americans and Europeans now more interested in saving like the Japanese than buying their gadgets, CLSA analyst Atul Goyal forecast last week that Sony's operating profit for fiscal 2009 will plunge from 90.0 billion yen ($972.3 million) to zero, and the company will net a loss of 50 billion yen ($540.2 million). The yen's surge this year has eroded Sony's overseas earnings, and the company has suffered steep portfolio losses due to the country's slumping stock market.

A price collapse in LCDs and digital cameras has similarly pummeled earnings at South Korean archrival Samsung Electronics (other-otc: SSNLF - news - people ) (See "No Christmas Presents For Samsung"). A Samsung executive told investors on Monday that it will reduce capital spending to a range of 7 trillion won ($4.84 billion) to 8 trillion won ($5.53 billion) next year, down from 10 trillion won ($6.9 billion).

However, cash-rich Samsung has fared better of late than heavily-indebted Sony, boosted by the won's slide, which has made South Korean exports cheaper.

Aside from the dismal economic environment, Goyal said Sony has made strategic blunders--it didn't discount enough to clear its inventories over the crucial U.S. Black Friday shopping weekend, whereas competitor Sharp (other-otc: SHCAY - news - people ) slashed prices more aggressively, he said. Sony also ceded TV sales to Samsung and digital camera sales to Canon (nyse: CAJ - news - people ) during the post-Thanksgiving shopping period. If the company decides to clear out its bloated inventories in the first half of 2009, then prices will further collapse, he added.