Facebook appeals to Netflix, Disney to support TV chat device

Facebook Inc has approached Netflix Inc, Walt Disney Co and other media companies about putting their streaming services on a new Facebook device for making video calls from televisions, The Information reported on Wednesday.

The device, which Facebook aims to release this fall, will use the same video-calling technology that is in its video chatting device Portal, the report said, citing two people familiar with the project and documents.

The new device, code-named Catalina, will also come with a physical remote and streaming video services similar to other television boxes like Apple TV.

The companies did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.