Sony Offers Free Movie Bravia HDTVs, Blu-ray Players

Sony announced that owners of Sony networked BRAVI? HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players will be able to enjoy an exclusive in-home opportunity to rent the Sony Pictures animated hit, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," four weeks before it is available at retail.

Starting today, consumers who purchase a networked BRAVIA HDTV or Blu-ray Disc player and register the device between Nov. 9, 2009 and Jan. 4, 2010, will receive a free 24-hour rental of the movie in high definition (a value of $24.95), Sony said.

From Dec. 8, 2009 through Jan. 4, 2010, the movie will be offered for rent at a cost of $24.95 on all current networked BRAVIA HDTVs, including the W5100, Z5100, XBR9 and XBR10 series as well as the company?s new BDP-N460 Network Blu-ray Disc player.

Consumers who already own networked BRAVIA HDTVs or have earlier BRAVIA models equipped with the BRAVIA Internet Video Link can rent the movie during this exclusive time period. Televisions and Blu-ray Disc players must be connected to the internet to receive the movie.

"Given our breadth of content and strength in networked products, Sony is the first company to utilize its internet enabled TVs and other networked devices to stream feature films directly to consumers? televisions prior to availability on DVD or Blu-ray," said Hiro Kawano, senior vice president for Sony Electronics? Home Division business. "We hope that consumers who own networked Sony BRAVIA and Blu-ray Disc players take the opportunity to bring family and friends together during the holiday season to enjoy this warmhearted movie."

Inspired by the beloved children?s book by the same name, Columbia Pictures' and Sony Pictures Animation's "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" is a family film that focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. It has earned more than $170 million in box office receipts to date worldwide and will be available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc at retail beginning Jan. 5, 2010.

Last year, Sony streamed "Hancock" to Bravia TV owners for two weeks before its home video release.

Amazon.com and Blockbuster also offer movies for rental or purchase on certain Internet-connected TVs.