Now Playing on IMDB: Free Movies and TV

The Internet Movie Database is now streaming over 6,000 full-length movies and television shows for free, Amazon.com announced yesterday. 

Amazon acquired IMDB in 1998, and up until now there haven't been many drastic changes to the site, which remains the go-to spot for researching Hollywood's extensive family tree.

The content is being provided by CBS, Hulu, Sony Pictures Television and over 500 independent filmmakers.  And new fall programming will also premiere on the site including "30 Rock," "Lipstick Jungle" and "Knight Rider."  Viewers can see related actors and program info in links below the player.

And this seems to be just the beginning.

"Our goal is to show our users every movie and TV show on the Internet for free on IMDb.com," said Col Needham, founder and managing director of IMDb.com, Inc.

This is a smart move, as more and more people are tuning into IMDB while they watch to identify a familiar face, or check out what other people think of the show.  Now they can do it all in the same place.  Hulu has already proved itself in the online video world, but has been missing a social networking aspect.

Tying the two worlds together even more should be the next logical step, with embedded on-screen video links to the actors' info.