Netflix Extends Unlimited Online Streaming to Nearly All Customers
Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:53PM EST
See Comments (15)
Some say it's because of a potential threat from Apple. I say it's just a smart business decision: Netflix is making its impressive "Watch Instantly" service available to almost all of its customers, while removing the hourly limits it places on how much consumers can watch. (Three-discs-at-once viewers, for example, were previously limited to 17 hours of viewing a month.)
The only customers who won't get the option are those at the very lowest level of Netflix's service option: Those paying $4.99 for two rentals a month. For everyone else, it's all you can eat.
Things will get even more interesting when LG's Netflix-ready set-top box arrives later this year, giving viewers the option to watch streaming movies on a TV instead of their PC.
How does Apple figure into it? Many expect the company to launch a service to revive its nearly useless Apple TV business, selling movie rentals for $3.99 while requiring they be viewed within 24 hours. If true, that would make Apple's service the most expensive and the most restrictive online rental service on the market. (Even Amazon's failed Unbox rental service offers 30-day rentals, many at 99 cents or $1.99.) We'll hear the truth on Tuesday when Steve Jobs makes his annual January announcements.
Kudos to Netflix for such an impressive and game-changing move! Stay tuned for additional details as they're available (including coverage of Jobs' MacWorld keynote.)
Comments on Netflix Extends Unlimited Online Streaming to Nearly All Customers
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2 Posted by muscogeekid on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm also a Netflix member, and I love it. But hold on. The download service has only 6,000 shows available. That may sound like a lot, but, as cassie accurately points out, the vast majority of them are old B-movies and TV shows. The list isn't stellar. I also give kudos to Netflix, but I'd like to see them beef up their selection of downloads.
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3 Posted by hedo4three2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:18PM EDT Report Abuse
To the previous posts, its an add on service with no additinal costs (for us already at the 3 out at a time rate) so they kind of a get a free ride at the selection they offer us. I assume there are probably some issues with the studios of streaming everything or increased costs on their side. But at least they are setting the basis for a media free world which we are eventually going to have. Hint: Wifi HDTVs'
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4 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse
Awesome! Now if they can only get the library of titles up to about 250,000 or so we could have some choices...
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5 Posted by jon655 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse
Tried it today and it works fine. Will stick to disc rentals for high quality viewing but this is ok for old tv shows etc. and a great alternative to network TV. Ultimate "background" TV if you like?"
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6 Posted by stephenjkyle on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:41PM EDT Report Abuse
It's ironic - and dumb - that this is heralded as a competitive response to Apple. Netflix's new offering is not available to customers using Mac computers. Hey Netflix, how about lowering my price since I'm getting less than everyone else!?
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7 Posted by ellentk on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse
"The only customers who won't get the option are those at the very lowest level of Netflix's service option: " And those of us on Macs. You did not mention that Netflix has failed to offer its service to the growing number of Mac users out there! It's only available to "Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista." And we all know how successful in sales the latter has been! Call it "OS Discrimination."
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8 Posted by barrykward on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm a netflix member but the streaming service doesn't support the mac so I have no use for it. Not getting the apple service either. DVD's on the big screen are just fine.
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9 Posted by angusthegrim on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse
Movie Studio's have been very sheepish in permitting newer content that could cut into DVD sales. I almost think they see it as something similar to the streaming piracy boogey man that they see as robbing them of so much income. There is a huge diference between the pirated dvds being sold like china's version of blockbuster, and the streaming dvd rips that crop up on website all over the net. I think the studios are behind the times, and are missing the boat on the single best way to help recover those lost to piracy dollars. "Be kind rewind", should be changed to "be kind and stream". I think there is a model that will allow current content, without robbing dvd sales.
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10 Posted by juancarlosrosa50 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse
i'm a netflix customer, i see the service excellent with lots of movies to choose from, they are not that new but for a free add on is the best movie rental company compare to blockbuster or others come on people lets be thankful is free, so probably with time they will add new releases so lets not be desperates, and for mac people i will suggest changing operating systems since xp and vista are the best...
1 Posted by cassie_g2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:19PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm a member of Netflix, and I downloaded the player twice, but have been unable to watch any movies. I don't know if Vista compatibility is to blame, or they have a corrupt file or what. Most of the movies I saw listed where older movies as well, not many new releases. Maybe I'll try downloading it, yet again...