Similar to their Xbox 360 counterparts, the owners of Sony PlayStation 3 video game console in the US will also, next month onwards, be able to access movies and TV shows streamed from the DVD rental company Netflix.

With the proposed Monday announcement by Sony and Netflix, about the new movie and TV shows streaming service for PS3 users, Sony would come at par with its rival Microsoft in terms of providing content other than games alone. In fact, both the competitors are looking to convert their respective gaming consoles into potential "digital hubs" of the living rooms.

The November launch of the Netflix streaming service to PS3 users in the US will make the service immediately accessible, sans any extra cost, by those Netflix subscribers who already have the company's subscription starting at $9.

In the beginning, PS3 users' access to Netflix will need the utilization of a Blu-ray disc, but later the service will be made available via a software update on the Sony console.

Noting that the PS3 is already witnessing momentous sales after a recent price reduction, Sony Computer Entertainment America's chief executive, Jack Tretton, said: "While gaming is clearly our core DNA I think we felt very confident three years ago when we debuted PlayStation 3 that this was going to be a device that was going to mean much more than gaming."