Movie rental giant Netflix will partner with LG Electronics to offer set-top boxes that will enable consumers to stream movies from the Internet to their network-enabled TV sets.

The service will eliminate the need to use a personal computer to download films -- a service Netflix currently offers on a limited basis -- and enable high-definition versions of full-length movies and other programming to be sent directly to TVs.

The service will likely be available by the second half of this year, the companies said in a joint announcement just a few days ahead of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.