| Mail |

You might also like: WoW Insider, Massively, and more

More Sites You Might Like

/ Register

Joystiq

Netflix confirms Xbox 360 surveys

by Richard Mitchell on Mar 25th 2008 3:45PM

Just over a month ago, it came to light that online movie rental behemoth Netflix was surveying its customers about the possibility of streaming movies to their Xbox 360s. Fast forward to March 2008 (i.e. now) and Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey has confirmed the existence of the survey and thrown a little more fuel onto the speculation fire. Specifically, Swasey did not confirm whether or not there is a pending deal between Microsoft and Netflix to provide a movie streaming service, but he did say that the company wants consumers to obtain its movies "in as many ways as possible."

While the Xbox Live Marketplace already offers individual movie rentals, a subscription service -- presumably one in which users could watch as many movies as they could stomach for a flat monthly fee -- would certainly be a welcome addition. Who knows, the Spring Update is right around the corner after all ....

Source

Tags: netflix, video-marketplace, video-on-demand, xblm, xbox-live-marketplace

Reader Comments (22)

I bought my Xbox 360 HD-DVD player and my PS3 (For Blu-Ray) last December, on the 28, with the hope that HD-DVD would win. Sadly, this isn't the case, but I still prefere HD-DVD over Blu-Ray. My PS3 merely sits there and plays streamed video files that the 360 constantly buffers. HD-DVD will live forever for me!

RIP HD-DVD. Believe it or not I cancelled my Netflix subscription the day they announced they weren't buying any new HD-DVDs, thinking I could send a message. Oh silly me. If this deal goes forward (esp. with hi def movies) I'd sign up again, though.

Provided this is added to my current Netflix subscription, and I can stream/download as many movies as I want in a month, then I'm in. My worry is that MS will put some stupid restriction on the number of downloads or make it too expensive.

I sub Netflix, I sub XBL... so... joining 'em up sounds great!

I do occasionally watch those streams on my computer - the "view instantly" Netflix titles? I've often thought it would be nice to just view them on my TV (without finagling some gimmicky magic - just make it easy!). The quality shouldn't be too much different... I have a 20" LCD for comp screen and they look very watchable. They should look almost as good on a 1360x768 32" LCD.

This is what I hope they do... people already subscribed to Netflix can now watch the "View Instantly" titles through the Xbox, and therefore on TV as opposed to comp screen (I know this can be done already, but not this easily!).

The video downloads from netflix.com are terrible quality. Any videos they make available via the Xbox have to be much better quality.

Also, the cost should be no more than $6/month, otherwise DVDs are cheaper.

Somehow bring this to Canada and you've got yourself a deal.

@ Neuromancer

I feel ya on the HD-DVD thing.. What I don't get is why not just keep renting them out anyways until the studios no longer ship HD-DVD and even then, just rent what you have. Doesn't make any sense just to stop it all together.

I would love for this to happen, but considering Microsoft charges $3 to $5 to rent a movie I can't see them allowing this service for free.

Also Netflix streams are actually pretty good. They may not be ideal for watching the latest action blockbuster, but for tv shows and older movies that you don't want to pay to rent, the streaming looks just fine.

Meh. How about Netflix renting out 360 games instead?

Wow, would be cool... I don't have cable or netflicks currently but if the cost was ok and they had decent stuff I would be up for it. This and XNA are going to blow away PS3's service.

I'd be cool with this. I have both right now.

I just hope there will be more to it than getting to stream the mostly horrible stuff Netflix offers. Granted there's some gems and some good TV shows, but eh.

@Timur Tabi,

Terrible quality? Your internet connection must be terrible quality. The movies and shows that ive watching on Netflix "Watch Now" feature are pretty good. Its not HD (yet) but its at least DVD quality.

I just got a phone call from best buy about my gift certificate for my hd-dvd player, GTA 4 here I come...

Netflix currently lets you stream a collection of their movies from the website for free included with your membership. I just hook up my PC to my HDTV, my speakers to my stereo system and I have it on the big screen no problem. I would obviously use the service if it was provided through a convenient method such as XBL but not if they started charging more for that option (which I'm sure they will). EXCEPT if they started letting you stream HD and more movie choices.

I've always felt the Video Marketplace didn't have enough movies to pick from. That's why I've never bought anything from it. But hopefully with Netflix the library of videos will be more complete and I will stream movies from it, as long as they don't pull an iTunes.

As long as the movie lineup was good (IE included every friggin movie on XBLM), I'd pay a monthly fee for AYCE.

This would seriously kick some apple TV @$$

@willxcore
If netflix did like vongo (www.vongo.com) and made a Windows Media Center plugin for their streaming service that'd be T&A. I would still be with vongo except they only have five movies I want to watch and 3 of the five have a ppv charge.

I don't get that one at all...I'm paying you a monthly fee to let me watch your movies on demand...but you want to charge me to watch the ones I want to see.

How about games from Netflix!! When can I get my rentals from you.

This could be absolutely fanstastic!!

As long as there isn't a limit to the amount you can stream every month or if a monthly price isn't something ridiculous. I remember when it was first rumored, it was something like "A small (I think it was around $5-10) one time fee for the disc to stream movies as long as you have your netflix account active". That I would totally go for but if they start putting restrictions on it, it may not be quite as good as we all hope.

Video marketplace is still best

Maybe MS will get the message that people are interested in a pay-per-month (vice pay-per-view) movie system. I for one would gladly subscribe to "XBL Platinum" for double or more what I'm paying now, if I got unlimited (or even limited-but-generous) movies and TV shows while my sub was active.

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

Netflix confirms Xbox 360 surveys

Reader Comments (22)

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 3:49PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 3:52PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 3:58PM Gemini Ace said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 3:59PM lysernix said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:00PM tabicat said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:01PM xtremesniper said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:07PM DeadPlasmaCell said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:11PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:39PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:18PM Usr666 said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:18PM Softserve said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:27PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:41PM Landosystem said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 4:52PM willxcore said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 5:09PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 5:43PM MDizzy said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 6:21PM johnpaul12 said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 5:46PM MDizzy said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 5:58PM Kevlaria said

Posted: Mar 25th 2008 8:19PM Deck said

Posted: Mar 26th 2008 10:20AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 1st 2008 5:10PM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

WRUP: All the Reckoning

Xbox Live Indie Gems: Nyan Cat Adventure

Dark Side 'Cause It Looks Cool: The Failings of Moral Choice in Games

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days