E3 '08: Microsoft & Netflix Partner Up...
Wootini To Never Leave House Again
Well, the long-rumored partnership is now official. Microsoft and Netflix have announced that they are teaming up to make sure that we will never again see the light of day. The Xbox 360 will now be able to stream movies from the Netflix service. And get this — with no PC required! Awesome! Why are you making me wait until "late fall" though? Huh? Why?
I was a little nervous, because as a Mac user, I am unable to take advantage of Netflix's streaming movies. But knowing that I'll be able to use my 360 (it should be out of the shop by then) to stream movies from Netflix at no additional charge, I'm totally psyched! All you have to do is add movies to your queue, and then the titles that are available for instant viewing will be displayed on your TV via your Xbox 360. Select a film, and it should begin playing in "as little as 30 seconds." Yeah, we'll see about that. Maybe after the initial glut passes and the kinks are worked out.
Oh, right, there's just one little catch. You have to be an Xbox LIVE Gold member. But if you are, and you're already a Netflix subscriber, it's a great deal! Although I do wonder how Microsoft will feel if this starts to eat into their marketplace movie sales. Because I can't imagine anyone spending Microsoft Points to download movies — even in high-def — if they can stream 'em for free. Well, maybe not as many people subscribe to Netflix as I think... We'll see. There's a whole press release with all the usual hyperbole after the break!
Microsoft and Netflix Unveil Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies and TV Episodes to the TV via Xbox LIVE
For Release Noon PDT
July 14, 2008
Microsoft and Netflix Unveil Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies and TV Episodes to the TV via Xbox LIVE Exclusive agreement creates game-changing home entertainment experience; more than 10,000 movies and TV episodes will be available to watch instantly at no additional cost to paying subscribers.
LOS ANGELES -- July 14, 2008 -- An exciting new home theater experience is coming to living rooms this holiday season. At the E3 Media and Business Summit, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") and Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the world's largest online movie rental service, today unveiled an exclusive partnership to offer consumers the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. Xbox 360 will be the only game system that lets users instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix. This movie watching innovation will be available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers and will let those users enjoy streaming movies from Netflix on Xbox LIVE at no additional cost.
A growing library of more than 10,000 movies and TV episodes will be available from Netflix when it launches on Xbox LIVE in late fall, with more choices added over time. Through this agreement, along with the existing Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store, Xbox 360 will be home to more movies and TV shows on demand than any other device connected to the TV. Xbox LIVE quickly and easily connects consumers and their friends to the entertainment they want -- with no PC required for viewing.
Netflix on Xbox 360 is an important component of the new Xbox experience, a new generation of games and entertainment experiences that will be available on Xbox 360 consoles this fall. The new Xbox experience, also announced today at the E3 Media and Business Summit, represents the first time in history that a mass-market consumer electronics device has been re-invented through free software, giving people more fun and intuitive ways to interact, play and enjoy entertainment content.
"Watching movies at home will never be the same. Netflix on Xbox 360 is an entertainment first, and we are bringing friends together with the best in entertainment content like no other device in the living room," said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Services Business at Microsoft. "We are creating a completely new social entertainment experience, and Xbox 360 will be the only video game system where you can access your library of instantly streamable movies from Netflix and turn any room into a virtual movie theater."
From the Netflix Web site, members simply add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant Queues. Those choices will be automatically displayed on the TV screen via Xbox 360 and available to watch instantly. Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. In addition to instantly streaming movies to the TV, Xbox LIVE Gold members can fast-forward, pause and rewind, all using either their Xbox 360 Controller or Media Remote. In all, the user interface creates a highly personalized experience that puts viewers in control.
"Netflix and Xbox 360 are a perfect combination, the leading online movie rental service and the leading games and entertainment system joining forces to create an all-in-one entertainment experience with content for everyone," said Reed Hastings, chairman and CEO of Netflix. "For Netflix, it represents an important step forward in making instantly streaming movies on the TV more broadly available to our members."
The library of movies and TV episodes that will be available for instant streaming from Netflix via Xbox 360 includes scores of Academy Award winners and nominees, episodes from a number of popular, currently running and classic TV shows, and 24 of the movies rated by the American Film Institute as the greatest ever.
Today, Xbox LIVE members can also download movies and purchase TV shows from the industry-leading Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store, currently packed with content from more than 45 networks and studios. The Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store offers more than twice the high-definition content than the nearest cable provider and more than 6,000 hours of TV shows and movies.
"as little as 30 seconds" means that 30 seconds is the shortest wait possible. All others are longer. :'P
So does this mention when it is going to start? Or is this something that's available right now?
Why do I get the feeling the same movies that will be available on the Xbox are going to be the exact same ones available on the PC? Which of course means a very tiny fraction of what they really offer, and never any new releases.
That sucks that you have to be a gold live member. I refuse to give microsoft any more money
Hank, "late fall" is all we've got to go on right now. I would think later in the summer, they'll have a more specific date.
Looking forward to this feature, but I doubt Netflix's entire collection will be available through Live. Still, it should be enough so I can cancel my current Netflix account and just stream movies on the console.
Oh, no, Intrepid, you have to be a Netflix member to take advantage of this. So don't quit!
Yeah the selection available on Netflix for streaming is so limited, I fail to see how this is a benefit.
"Oh, no, Intrepid, you have to be a Netflix member to take advantage of this. So don't quit!"
Gotcha. So basically it looks like the usual rental process but I get to choose whether to have the DVD mailed to me or just stream the movie off Live. It's convenient either way, though with Live we can be more spontaneous and watch what's available right away.