You have to sign up with Netflix and pay a monthly fee of $7.99. Then in order to watch the shows on your TV, you need a device to stream through. If you already have a Blu-Ray player, that will do it. Also some game consoles like Play Station work (I think). Otherwise, you can buy a Roku box--small and relatively cheap at $59.99 or so--and use that.

I don't know the technical details because my son-in-law gave me Roku as a gift and installed it.

As for "what is it," Netflix offers a wide selection of movies and TV shows that can be watched (streamed) on your TV or computer. You'll choose what you want and add the shows to your Instant Queue. Then when you turn on Roku (or whatever), you'll see the Instant Queue on the screen. You can click on what you want to watch. More movies and shows can be added all the time, and you can also delete ones you don't want anymore.

It probably sounds complicated if you've never done it, but it's easy. It's just about the only TV I watch, and I really enjoy it.

If you have to buy the streaming device...make sure it says "Netflix" on the outside of the box. If you want to use it with wi-fi, make sure it says that, too. I had to buy 3 blue-ray players before I got it right. Thank goodness WalMart has a 15-day return policy, so I could test them out.

We can use our Wii to do streaming, too. Sometimes, I watch an episode of Gunsmoke on YouTube through the blue-ray player or the Wii.

first of all you will have to have a wifi network set up in your home so that you have the ability to stream anything. IF you are not on high speed internet you won't be able to do it.
So if you have high speed internet such as cable, fios, some dsl etc, and you also already have a wireless router set up for your home network and it is in range of the device you will use to do the streaming, and you have one of the various devices that will do the streaming such as a Roku box, certain blu ray players, certain xboxes, other specific streaming devices (there are many out there including Sony, western digital,RCA), and if you have a tv compatible with such devices, then you can also do netflix streaming if you have a netflix account.

There are many other websites that do streaming media that do not require a subscription you can get stuff free from them.

Now if you do not have a wireless router set up and you can string an etherenet cord from the computer area to the tv area you can use the streaming devices hard wired too but in most cases that is not very practical .
Also some of the very new tv's now come capable of this too.

Here is a little video comparison of some streaming devices for you
What is the best streaming media player?

you can google how to use streaming media player for lots more info and options.

When we first got Netflix I used a computer with an S-video out port and the speaker port connected to an RF modulator. Then from the RF Modulator to the TV using co-ax cable.
I have since upgraded to a Roku box and like it much better.
I also got a new TV that has a VGA In port so I can hook a computer directly to the TV and use the TV as a big screen monitor. But I prefer the Roku box with the remote control.

Pooh Bear

I was just at Frys for the big sales today and picked up a Sony blu ray player that has wifi built in and is netflix ready plus all the other stuff like pandora radio and it does apps too it was $69 pretty decent price so I can easily use it for home or RV.

Thank you all for the info, it does sound a bit complicated to me. We do have wireless high speed internet and a Blue Ray player, I'd have to check & see if it's compatable. Time Warner Cable is getting so ridiculously high that I need to do something! And for someone like myself that doesn't watch a lot of tv, $7.99 a month sounds very reasonable!

I think you'll like it, Juellie. I don't watch a lot of TV either, and I love that I can watch what I want when I want it--no waiting for a program to come on the air. And no sitting through commercials.

So are the shows available current shows, or reruns? And no commericals?? :) I detest change! But like I said, I am paying a small fortune for cable and I'm tired of it!

Hulu Plus is another subscription service that streams current episodes of TV shows. Plus it has lots of older programs. It's also about $8 per month. Not all current shows are available for the TV. Some are watch on a computer only. But if you hook your computer to the TV like I did then you can still watch them on a TV.

Pooh Bear

Forgot to say, Hulu Plus does have a few commercials for most of their shows,
but it's a lot less commercials than regular TV.
If it weren't for local news, we would probably drop cable.

Pooh Bear

Thank you Pooh Bear - now I'm really perplexed! lol
Guess I'll hand this information over to the dh and let him decide; he's the technology savvy one in our house!