The competition between HBO and Netflix seems to be heating up. As of January 1, the cableentertainment channel will no longer provide DVD or Blu-ray discs of its shows to the on-demand Internet content provider. The news was confirmed by both parties on Thursday.

A CNET report revealed that, although Netflix won’t receive DVDs from HBO directly, the Los Gatos-based company can still acquire the discs from alternate sources. Netflix has long considered HBO its biggest rival in the streaming market. This is most certainly a tactic by HBO to further ignite the ongoing war and separate the two companies.

“They aren’t competing directly with us now,” Hastings said in 2011, “but they can. HBO is becoming much more Netflix-like, and we’re becoming much more HBO-like…We’ll push each other like two runners.”

Netflix currently doesn’t offer HBO shows for online streaming, which is unfortunate for consumers who prefer it as their main means of consumption. Netflix announced recently it will premier its upcoming original series, Lilyhammer, to audiences on February 6. HBO’s decision is likely in response to Netflix’s upcoming show, too.

2012 has only just begun, and already we’re seeing competition in the content market heating up. Here’s hoping it’ll encourage better, more intelligent programming from both companies.

[via TechnoBuffalo]