Xbox 360 officially the only console to stream Netflix -- sorry, PS3 and Wii
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 11th 2009 7:27AM
posted Aug 11th 2009 7:27AM
[Thanks, David]
Netflix Partnership
This exclusive partnership offers you the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via Xbox 360. Xbox 360 will be the only game console to offer this movie-watching experience, available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix unlimited plan subscribers**, at no additional cost.
From the Netflix Web site, simply add movies and TV episodes to your instant Queue, which will appear automatically on the TV screen via Xbox 360. Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. In addition to instantly streaming Netflix movies to the TV, Xbox LIVE Gold members can browse and rate movies, fast-forward, pause and rewind, all using either their Xbox 360 Controller or Universal remote.
Now if Netflix could just hurry up on coming out with a "streaming-only" plan, that'd make my day.
Making this exclusive does nothing to help Netflix, and I'm not sure it helps Microsoft very much. I own a PS3, and if I want to stream Netflix movies I'm not going to buy an Xbox 360 just to do that. If I were in the market for one it may help though.
I wonder if Netflix will respond to user outcry as they did with the elimination of queues? Perhaps there aren't as many PS3 users interested in this, but then again Netflix "thought" nobody used the queues either.
Gotta agree 100%. I don't currently have a Netflix subscription but have been contemplating one. If they offered streaming for PS3 I would order the subscription today. Sorry, there's no way I'm getting an xbox just for this.
Up until now I think Sony was the one keeping Netflix off the PS3
If MS is paying netflix to stay exclusive it sure as hell is worth it for them.... They have millions signed up on xbox live already and even if its $1 per subscriber thats $1,000,000 every year per subscriber.
If netflix were to go to the ps3 (dont see any chance the wii gets it because it does not support hd). At most a few hundred thousand people would buy it (assuming there is some kind of an initial charge for the player) which would give them about the same amount of cash but its a one time fee and they would not make money annually anywhere else.
Not saying its the best solution but it by far the most profitable and ultimately best for netflix.
As was already stated, I am sure MS is paying Netflix for this exclusivity. As for netflix, they already have their streaming built into TiVo, Roku's $99 box,and LG & Samsung Bluray players. Some new TV's will actually have the Netflix streaming built-in. So they have a pretty large install base already and it will be growing.
You logic is flawed Aaron. Netflix streaming is only available if you are a gold member AND you have a Netflix account. The only time Netflix will ever see more money is if a gold member decides to join Netflix as a new member.
This is only a win for the 360. Because if a consumer who has Netflix is debating about buying either a 360 or PS3, they'll be more likely to choose the 360.
For the rest of us with a PS3, if HD streaming is a must, the Ruku is $100 cheaper then the cheapest 360. And I suspect much quieter, smaller, etc....
This is precisely why Microsoft keep selling the Xbox Arcade model.
For media streaming it is a very capable and cost-effective little unit.
Multi-format-mayhem,
I think the main reason they sell the arcade unit is so they can compete with the Wii - something that the PS3 simply cannot do because of the built-in Blu-ray player. Another reason they sell it is so people like me, who have their first die from the RROD, will bother buying another one (I wouldn't buy the Elite and re-buy all the accessories I already have).
@aaron Technically they (MS) could not spend any of their actual money since it's only open to Gold Members they could use that $1 from the $50 ish dollars they get from their users and if having this Gold only might tempt people that have been Silver and refused to go Gold pay MS even more money
Doesn't bother me at all really. Netflix isn't available in the UK!
If it was, then I'd prefer Netflix and any other movie content to be all based on my PS3 NOT my Xbox. The Xbox is a little too noisy, especially when compared to the PS3 when viewing movies.
I doubt there are less PS3 users interested. PS3 users also recently got the Vidzone app which allows you to create your own playlist of the latest and greatest music videos. Not bad.
This won't make me run out and buy a 360. I haven't really heard much praise for the service. If it can't stream HD consistently, then I'm not interested. All this does is make it that much more likely for me to switch to a service that does support the PS3. Until then, I'll just keep renting BR from netflix.
Back in the HD war days I tried the HD-DVD drive with my Xbox360. It sounded like when my girlfriends vacuum the floor. I will not be using my Xbox for streaming.
Wow, you must have had a really faulty one.
My Xbox is quiet when I stream content to it or play stuff off of its own hard drive or an external drive or use the HD DVD drive.
The HD DVD drive I have is whisper quiet and actually makes for an excellent PC ROM drive (the external power brick is actually a welcome feature for me as it takes load off of the PC and keeps heat well away).
Of course they are not to all intents and purposes silent like a quality stand-alone but no way could you call it a 'vacuum hoover'.
Turns out I was wrong: its not a *timed* exclusive. No big loss to me. I have a PS3 and PlayOn. I'm currently going through Dexter with Netflix Watch Instantly. If they block PlayOn, I'm not gonna get an Xbox 360, I'm gonna cancel my Netflix subscription.
I bet this service would've been so much "better" for the PS3 owners had it come out for that system...funny how substandard it is now that its yet another XBox exclusive. Its getting really precarious for PS3 owners here....i can't think of any real reasons to own one except the Blu-Ray.
file this in the do not care.
1. weak hd quality
2. no surround sound, not even DD
3. subpar selection (i like new releases)
I agree with Mitchell...
1. streaming movies is sub-par quality, not even DVD quality
2. I watch blu rays
3. I want actual media, so I can rip :)
"Exclusive" = It's not on other services right now.
Contracts expire or get cancelled so I doubt the 360 will be the only console Netflix is on in a year. I bet even if it was available for PS3, Sony wouldn't support it. Streaming HD is not what SONY wants to support right now. In a couple of years when the BR market is better established, I could see them jump right in.
For those of you with a 360, the Netflix streaming is MUCH improved since the update. I've been on the preview and I have yet to get any streaming issues or downgrades of the stream. Anyone else experience this?
The improvement comes from the latest version of Silverlight.
Do you think MS will let Silverlight on the PS3? If they would, do you think Sony would want it?
I have Netflix and could stream it anytime on PC. I checked it and there's not that much available on stream that I'm interested in.
It could be a cool feature to have, just not waranting buying a 360.
The only thing it means is that if Blockbuster would ever form a partnership with Sony, I'd jump ship over to BB.
No gain for MS, loss for Netflix.
Until then, I'll keep my Blu Rays rolling in :)
PCs are limited to SD streaming only. HD streaming is reserved for non-PC devices only. I have to agree with you on content availability as well as the lack of surround sound.
Too bad the xbox360 fan noise is too obnoxious to be used to watch videos/movies. I'll stick with my TiVo Netflix streaming.
I have netflix streaming on my xbox 360, my LG blu-ray player, and my Dell tower connected to my TV. The netflix interface ony the xbox 360 is by far the best. It's fast and responsive...and now with these new features, it will be even easier to use.
I think the HD content on netflix looks great and the SD content looks good after my TV upscales it. Definitely as good as DVD quality. If you guys aren't getting at least DVD quality, then you may have a slow connection or your HDTV has a subpar upscaler.
Sony probably isn't as upset about this announcement since it means PS3 users will more likely buy blu-rays to get their movie fix since they don't have access to the netflix streaming library.
I agree with you 100% on the visual quality, and with the new layout and upgrades to netflix through the 360 I'm pretty happy. Just bring me more "new" content!
The content certainly isn't the greatest that's for sure. New releases are what I really want, but I'm not sure I get the video quality issue some other are speaking of. I love blu-ray and I'm a self admitted HD junky, but the video quality is pretty nice IMO. Sure it isn't blu-ray, but it's a start. I guess video quality might have something to do with you internet speed..since I've never even had 1 hiccup while watching even "HD" video.
personally i think this isn't something good. being exclusive to xbox 360 is a step in the wrong direction. i'd love to have it on my ps3. up until now, i had thought it was Sony's fault no netflix client on the PS3. but i guess i was wrong.
Well it's my experience, from the PS3s I've seen, that when you're just watching video the Xbox is no louder than a PS3.
The PS3 fans are hardly silent when they're operating and when the disc drive is not running the Xbox is pretty quiet; this is why the last dashboard update allowing games to be run from the hard drive was such a step forward for Xbox.
Really? Are you right on top of the PS3/360? There must be a lot of faulty units out there, because I can honestly say I can't hear my PS3 until I'm about a foot away. I've seen a lot of complaints about this "problem" with the PS3 from 360 owners, though...weird. I've also watched a few movies on my friend's 360 and rarely noticed it being noisy...definitely not during a movie.
I have used both 300Mbps n class wireless streaming and 100Mbps (G+?) class wireless streaming and I can stream HD perfectly easily between my main PC & mt HTPC.
Netflix loses, as RODbox.
PS doesn't need Netflix for VOD. Sony Pictures bigger than this. M$ will understand soon ;)
I
I'm in Canada. Doesn't change a thing for me.
I already have PlayOn, so this news isnt that upsetting. Minus the lack of HD streaming.
..and the increased electricity requirements.
..and the fact that PlayOn costs more than a 13 months of live gold.
PlayOn costs only $40 and that is a one time fee. Plus, they ran a deal a month or so ago at 50% off. That is quite a bit less than the cost of a $360 and an annual subscription to Xbox Live Gold.
glenn:
So you have a PS3 at $399 and PlayOn at $40. You also need a PC that is capable of transcoding. $439 + the cost of the PC upgrade if you don't already have one.
You get: No HD and lowest quality SD streams off of the Netflix PC Flash application.
On the other end, you have a 360 Arcade at $199 or the Pro at $299 - both can stream netflix.
Live! gold is $35 for 13 months most places, no PC needed. You spend $234 - $334 for 13 months of streaming, you get:
HD streams, highest quality SD streams (even over low bandwidth) and no need to also power a PC while streaming.
If you did have a PC capable of running PlayOn, you could also run Media Center and extend the 360 functionality much more with that connection than you ever could with the PS3.
so.. using a 360 as a netflix box:
1 year: $234 - $334
2 years: $268 - $368
3 years: $303 - $403
4 years: $338 - $438
Wow.. it would take 4 years of Live gold with a 360 Pro to equal the cost of the PS3 + PlayOn.
And people wonder why the PS3 doesn't sell.
Noise? What noise does an XBOX make when you are stremaning movies? None or at least my doesnt.
Now if they would only add Blockbuster....
While it's awesome that the Xbox 360 has this capability, I only wish they'd have an option for outputting the streams at their native 24 hz (for those of us with 120 Hz+ displays). It shouldn't be a problem for the Xbox to output 1080p/24 like the PS3 does, since it already does 1080p/60.(thanks to the "Hana" chip). The Samsung Blu-ray players do this and it looks amazing (which is probably true for LG models as well)..Even Vudu's SD content, fullscreen and widescreen, is output at 24 Hz and upscaled.to 1080p before it reaches your TV. I'm thinking they could have a setup like Western Digital's awesome WDTV box, which accommodates all displays with a wide range of settings.
I know they can't please everyone with the system updates, but they only occur twice a year. Quarterly would be nice...
I enjoy watching HD movies with HD audio. I will not pay for compressed media. Why I should? I spend like 3k on a Klipsch audio speakers and like 4k on my samsung HD. It will be crazy use it to watch low quality medias.
This really pisses me off. I own both a 360 and a PS3 and like the PS3 far, FAR better. I hate the 360's design (hardware and software) and the only reason I own it is because of the exclusive games --- I just have to tolerate that idiotic, ugly, counterintuitive controller and software in order to play them.
So basically, the 360 is successful ONLY because MS has made exclusive deals for it. This is so typical of them; do a piss-poor job and then make up for it with dubious strategy.
I have netflix, and sometimes watch on the PC. I'd prefer to watch on the PS3. But after their BD price increase, and now this, I'm seriously thinking of dumping them. I do NOT want to support companies that operate this way. As screwed up as sony is themselves, they did a beautiful job on the PS3 in every regard.
No, the 360 is successful because most people don't agree with you.
And thank God for that, your tastes are terrible.
Some people seem to missing some important points.
1. Netflix wins because Microsoft, like last you, will be spending money to advertise Netflix streaming on its console which promotes Netflix's services to a wide audience. Microsoft probably spent more advertising Netflix streaming over the last two or three months of last year then Netflix did all year. The increased subscriber rates for both Netflix and Microsoft seem to bear out the success of the strategy.
2. Surround over streaming is coming later this fall when Microsoft revamps their marketplace.
hey ordeith don't generalize world. Only UK and US buy RODbox. Despite price PS3 is a better success in Europe and Japan.
PS3 is just better, kids from US hadn't open eyes yet.
Really?
Because all the data shows that the Wii is killing the HD consoles in all regions, completely relegating the PS3 to near irrellevance in Japan, and forcing the 360 in that region to 1/3 of even the PS3's poor sales.
In the americas the 360 is a solid second. In Europe the 360 is also out selling the PS3 and has sold more total concoles in that region.
The 360 continues to outsell the PS3 in europe week after week, and in similar numbers to the sales difference in the US as the 360 picks up momentum in Europe.
So the only region where the PS3 is ahead of the 360 is Japan. And the PS3 does so poorly there due to the Wii that it really doesn't matter.
So it's not "free" streaming... it costs a gold membership.
Pass....
I'll stream over my HTPC computer to my big screen. It'd be nice to stream over my PS3, to avoid having to change input channels... but I will never give M$ one penny. I'll buy the games, but that's where the money pit ends...
"This really pisses me off. I own both a 360 and a PS3 and like the PS3 far, FAR better. I hate the 360's design (hardware and software) and the only reason I own it is because of the exclusive games --- I just have to tolerate that idiotic, ugly, counterintuitive controller and software in order to play them.
So basically, the 360 is successful ONLY because MS has made exclusive deals for it. This is so typical of them; do a piss-poor job and then make up for it with dubious strategy."
Seriously? The 360 controller is the best controller ever to come out for a console and it pisses all over the DS3 in every area. I think the general concensus is that the 360 controller is the best traditional controller. The XMB is a piece of trash and how people can say it's easier to use than the 360 interface is beyond me.
The 360 is a success because it saw a market (i.e. the "core" market) and went after it, and now it's building on a solid base with Natal. The 360 is successful because it's actually good. The thing that makes me laugh is this: Can you imagine what the market would look like right now if the 360 had been made by Sony and the PS3 by Microsoft? The PS3 would be long dead and the 360 would have sold 50 million+ units. Sad how much a brand name affects people (particularely this BS negativity towards MS) People who own Playstations should take a moment to realise that Sony were the Microsoft of the console market, until another big corp with clout finally helped to take them down a peg or two.
Bravo MS, bravo.
Oh and just to add, Seb, Ordeith is right.
I don't know where Sony fans are getting this fantasy from, but the only place the PS3 is "winning" is Japan, and by only around 5k units a week. It's getting screwed royally in the US and it's neck and neck (last time i checked the 360 was selling better) in Europe.
Sony ought to go with Blockbuster Online. Combined with its own PlayStation Network rentals and purchases, that should cover their bases.
My nephew recently moved in with me. Between us we have a xbox360, a wii and and a ps3, desktop computer and 2 laptops. I download movies via torrent and stream them to my ps3 and to his xbox 360. I have netflix and used the playon 14 day trial to stream as well. The netflix works great on both. My question is why can't someone make a program like playon did that can be free. I stream everything else for free. why pay for streaming.