Panasonic Blu-ray players to get Amazon VOD

Move over, AppleTV.

Panasonic has just announced that as of today, Amazon Video On Demand is now available on its entire line of Blu-ray players. So in addition to playing those incredible high-def movie discs, your Blu-ray player will also now instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Amazon’s catalog of 45,000+ titles, including more than 1,000 in HD.

Panasonic has already been offering Amazon Video On Demand on its line of VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVs as of April ‘09. Today Panasonic is extending the reach of its VIERA CAST software to include its line-up of Blu-ray players as well. Existing Panasonic Blu-ray owners need only download a freely offered update from Panasonic when their Blu-ray player is connected to the Internet.

Panasonic’s VIERA CAST network also brings viewers access to YouTube, Picasa, Bloomberg News, and weather. Panasonic intends to add more directed websites to the service over time.