For two reasons, Brian’s recent TV Everywhere post caught my renewed attention.

For one, earlier today, Comcast announced expansion of its online TV video efforts to an impressive 23 networks. From full-length movie channels - think Cinemax, HBO, IFC, an Starz -  to cable TV favorites such as A&E, E!, Food Network, and WE,  Comcast’s 5,000 trial homes are now among the very first to enjoy online video akin to legacy TV.

It now appears simply a matter of time (and added negotiation acumen to further bolster its online TV channel line-up), until Comcast unleashes its TV+online video combo to a larger audience of paying subscribers. So watch out for that “sign up now” marketing flyer entering your mail box in the coming months. 

After all, bundling for-pay TV with free online video seems a strong defensive answer to the competing success of Hulu and TV.com, all while it readies the market place for a not-so-distant time when physical DVDs are pretty much passe and more individuals will flock to “liquid” video rather than renting or buying a movie on CD.

Speaking of DVDs, in other news, rumors abound earlier today that Amazon might be eyeing to acquire DVD online rental star Netflix.com. If so their combined subscriber base, DVD catalogue, and online TV and movie archive would create sizable competition vis-a-vis the respective “TV Everywhere” initiatives by both Comcast and TimeWarner Cable.

Together, Amazon and Netflix would feed more canned TV series and movie titles via their partnered, stream-ready media devices. Roku, Tivo, and xBox 360 come to mind first. Yet, Web-connected TV sets are likely to follow, raising the chance that the new “AmaFlix” offerings create an impressive on-demand alternative to traditional TV - that is, as long as you don’t mind life without live TV.