In a recent investor statement, Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings revealed that the company intends launching a disc-free Netflix content streaming service for the subscribers of Sony’s popular PlayStation 3 gaming console. Though the Netflix streaming experience became available for the PS3 users late last year, the service can currently be accessed only by inserting a Blu-ray disc.

Noting that Netflix is planning to launch “a new version of our Sony PS3 user interface which doesn't require a disc, and is dynamically updated continuously with the latest Netflix UI improvements,” Reed added that disc-free Netflix streaming will be made available by October.

While the Microsoft Xbox 360 subscribers already have the advantage of availing Netflix streaming without having to insert a disc, Hastings has not disclosed whether Netflix has any plans to bring on disc-free streaming for Nintendo Wii’s console too.

In a candid acknowledgement, Hastings admitted that the video rental bigwig’s plans towards bringing disc-free streaming – of an assortment of content, including television shows and feature films - chiefly resulted from rival Hulu’s ‘Hulu Plus’ subscription streaming service, which has recently entered public beta and aims at the exclusive placement on the PS3 by the end of 2010.

Hastings also noted that by the time disc-free streaming hits PS3, Hulu Plus will have a few thousand subscribers; thereby giving Netflix the benefit of finding out what consumers like about the service, and making the necessary incorporations into Netflix.