By Frank MacekHere's something that we've been expecting for quite some time - tv manufacturers are starting to see the huge potential of offering video from the web that you can watch on your new HDTV.
We've been pretty confident in our feelings that this was just a matter of time before the content you watch on your big screen comes from the internet, instead of your local broadcaster.
However, the challenge for local broadcasters will be to get their local content to the web for you to watch in the same fashion. It's a challenge we are already thinking about and making plans for.
According to reports, YouTube videos will be the test bed for Sony LCD flat panels to be one of the first to stream.
Sony Corporation last week said YouTube and Wired.com have been added to the video providers for a $300 module it sells for its LCD flat panel TVs.
The Internet Video Link module is a small box that fits into the back of some 2007 and 2008 LCD TVs. It connects to the home broadband router and is controlled by the TV remote. Video service comes free with the module.
Yahoo, AOL, Sports Illustrated and Style.com are among existing video providers for the device.
Similarly, Apple Inc.'s Apple TV set-top box streams YouTube videos to a TV set, but it works with any high-definition set.
Also Thursday, Sony introduced two high-end LCD TV models with backlighting produced by light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. The models are 46 inches and 55 inches diagonally. Prices were not announced, but will be lower than the cost of the only previously available Sony model with LED backlighting, a 70-inch model for $33,000.
Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report
