• by Fern Siegel , August 3, 2009

Netflix, the online movie rental service, will now stream some of ABC's hit series, including "Lost," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives."

The deal lets Netflix members watch the first five seasons of "Lost," seasons four and five of "Desperate Housewives," season five of "Grey's Anatomy," and seasons one and two of action-adventure fantasy series "Legend of the Seeker." Many of the episodes, including the first four seasons of "Lost," will be available beginning August 1. The remainder will come in subsequent months, beginning in September.

Netflix already has a digital licensing agreement with Disney-ABC, cemented in fall 2008, which includes streaming "Hannah Montana" and "Wizards of Waverly Place," among other shows. That deal, which continues, makes episodes available the day-after-broadcast.

Robert Kyncl, vice president of content acquisition for Netflix, says this latest ABC alliance is good for patrons, while assisting "an important business partner to help grow several of its key franchises."

Netflix has also partnered with electronics companies whose market devices can stream movies and TV, including Blu-ray disc players, new Internet TVs from LG and TiVo.