TiVo and Netflix today announced the long awaited partnership that will see Netflix content streamed directly to viewers’ TiVo DVR boxes.

Originally announced in 2004, the two companies endeavored to deliver video online, directly. According to the Associated Press, the partnership will mean the latest generation of TiVos will be capable of beaming selections from the 12,000 movies and TV shows offered through Netflix.

The two companies said they are initiating a test of the new capability today in several thousand U.S. households and expect it to be broadly available in early December. No doubt trusting plenty of people will be sitting at home watching telly at Christmas. Those who subscribe to Netflix with a TiVo will be able to instantly watch content from Netflix on the TV via TiVo at no additional charge.

TiVo and Netflix announcement in 2004 disintegrated following Netflix’s copyright issues with TV and film studios and while the announcement is great news, customers with older generation TiVos will likely be annoyed that the service is only available to those with TiVo Series3, TiVo HD, and TiVo HD XL. Although the release in time for the holidays means you’ll probably see plenty of people trying to get their hands on one of the new TiVos for Christmas.