Sezmi has made it official. The personalized TV service provider is distributing its service through Best Buy in Los Angeles, as a prelude to national service distribution through the retailer.

Today's announcement follows a trial of the retail distribution announced in November. (See Sezmi Launches Video Services Pilot in LA.) Best Buy will sell the Sezmi System for $299, including an HD Media Recorder that can receive and record programming from an Internet broadband connection and from digital TV spectrum. Best Buy will also sell the two flavors of Sezmi’s service.

Sezmi initially intended to sell its service through broadband service providers that wanted to get into the video service business without building out an IPTV infrastructure. It's still pursuing that option but has yet to announce broadband ISP partners, despite promises to do so.

Sezmi's proprietary technology enables consumers to use the remote control, which comes with the Sezmi System and the HD Media Recorder, to personalize service for each member of the household, recording specific and recommended content based on viewing patterns.

For $4.99 a month, Sezmi Select offers the major broadcast networks, plus local sports, weather, and news content and access to on-demand programming that includes free and pay-per-view movies, TV programs, and films released on the same day as they go to video.

The Sezmi Select service will be available nationally at retail beginning this spring.

For $19.99 a month, Sezmi Select Plus adds major cable networks and other programming. This service will also be rolled out to other major markets but will not be offered nationally or in competition with potential telco partners.

— Carol Wilson, Chief Editor, Events, Light Reading