Xbox update page touts official Netflix 'exclusivity'

by Alexander Sliwinski on Aug 11th 2009 10:30AM

Microsoft claims Netflix will be "exclusive" to the Xbox 360 games console at the bottom of its dashboard update page. Pardon our wariness on the use of that term, since we cover the games industry and "exclusivity" lasts about as long as a relationship on Gossip Girl. Despite our reservations, the information seems quite explicit, as the note reads: "Xbox 360 will be the only game console to offer this movie-watching experience."

This would seemingly put the kibosh on the rumors of Netflix on Wii -- but we're guessing iPhone isn't considered a game console. We're currently following up with Netflix and Microsoft to find out what the time table is on this exclusivity. Netflix and Microsoft may have an "exclusive partnership," but every relationship comes stamped with an expiration date.

[Via Engadget]

Source

Tags: business, microsoft, netflix, Xbox-360, xbox-live

Reader Comments (63)

can you actually own any of the movies? if not, i don't see the big deal

Yeah, you pretty much own them in a virtual library. It's pretty sweet.

ummm thats not Owning its RENTING. Unless you get a Lifetime Subscription for Netflix AND they don't lose any of the contracts for the movies AND the server NEVER goes down.

Oh definitely ownership is the way to go. Usually I watch most movies once and then never again. But at least I have the satisfaction of knowing that I own the movie and paid more for right to do so. I get to display them on my shelf like trophies.

10 Bucks a month to watch as many movies as you can, as many times as you want is a good deal regardless wether you own the movie or not. And on top of that you still get your dvd's in the mail as well.
Who cares about "owning" them? If there is a movie you really want to own, just go out and buy it.

I watch a movie a day, atleast. It comes out to be like 30 cents a movie, or less depending how many movies/tv shows I watch.

I don't disagree with you, but for movie lovers, Netflix instant is awesome. I think it's a very big deal and an even bigger deal that MS locked in an exclusive for any amount of time.

For $8.99 a month I have unlimited access to over 13,500 movies with more added everyday.

Yeah, I'm not an Xbox fan at all, but this is a pretty sweet feature. At first, I thought it was goofy, as I'd never use the Netflix streaming option on my laptop, but if I had it on my living room television, I'd probably take full advantage of it.

Then again, if I was giving the choice of streaming movies through Netflix, or being able to watch blu-ray by mail, I think I'd still choose blu-ray.

Still, that Netflix exclusivity is cool.

This is a nice feature, and a good move for MS. Still, playon pretty much negates this but still the integration with the NXE is obviously a bonus.

I do find this funny though...back in 2007 and 2008 most MS fanboys were making fun of all of the "other" things that the PS3 does and that they are happy that MS's 360 is ONLY about the games.

Times have changed eh? Itsa nice to have a system that does many different things yes?

...and it's even nicer to not have to spend $400 on it, isn't it?

@tuna:

2007...2008...2009

3 years of Live sir.

Total cost would now be $450.

Unless you don't know how to comparison shop, 3 years of live is $105 or less.

All the media functionality is on the Arcade. So if this is what you wanted you can still get it, for three years, for $304.

Yeah, well they're also charging $30 for COD 2. I don't know about any of you guys, but I don't believe anything that crazy people say.

Here's the simple fix here, don't buy it.

I have a 360 but since I only play like 3 games on it I have NO Need for Gold....No Biggie to me as I have an HTPC hooked up to one TV. and have Playon to stream to both the PS3 & 360. Cant say that I'm THAT Surprised. But at the same time the people from netflix and their "We are trying to get Netflix streaming on as many platforms as possible" just sounds like bullshit even more. As we have seen with 360 "Exclusives" before tho, they tend to expire unless MS Owned. There are ways around this. I mean Netflix does support Firefox now....maybe they will support the PS3 browser as well

yes there is a way around it.if netflix ever come out on PS3, they can just claim PS3 is a blu-ray player, right?

I have a 360, but the majority of games I play are the J-RPGs that somehow wound up on that system (and the western RPGa) and I don't subscribe to Gold either. It's not worth it for Netflix, when you can do the *real* service and get the physical DVDs or Blu-Rays even.

I've tried a trial with it on a 1-month free Gold account and it just wasn't worth it. Netflix itself I like, which I subscribe to the conventional service, but not this Xbox streaming version.

And no, the streaming "HD" is no where near the crisp 1080p of a Blu-Ray disc. It's hyper-compressed, 720p shit.

Yes, 720 is total shit. It doesn't look good at all. I mean I cant believe they even SELL things or STREAM things that run at 720, forget load times and buffering, if they cant do it at blu-rays level they just shouldn't do it. Right, arrogant chum? "hyper-compressed 720p shit" ... hilarious. Its being streamed DUDE, we know the 'sacrifices' involved with it. I hope YOU didn't think WE thought that its definition would match that of a blu-ray? Its called convenience, some of us don't have a PS3 or a blu-ray player... or want one. But your right, 720 is SO passe, and totally behind when it comes to clarity and resolution with other HD formats(read: only 1). Please, stop acting like you know so much more than everyone else. It hurts our feelings.

PS - the streaming service is FREE when you are on any Netflix plan other than their sub-standard 4.99 plan.

"Some mother fuckers always be tryin to ice skate uphill"

D...dude SOME people say that is IS. and even MORE people have been jumping on that "1080p Streaming" bandwagon thats coming with the Zune update to the Marketplace this fall. some even go as far as to say that You dont even NEED Blu-ray movies with 1080p streaming readily avaible....fact is...not ALL 1080p is made equal, just like not all 720p is made equal. Hell the 720p movies and shoes on Netflix dont look NEARLY as good as DTV 720 Signals coming over the air....it all a matter of compression and 1080p movies on Zune Marketplace are going to be tightly compressed

Who cares, where is my free lightsaber for beating TFU on Sith Master? Starkiller didn't have to pay for his REAL virtual lightsaber, why should I pay for mine?

what??

For real...it wasnt easy..

IS YOUR AVATAR TOKI?!?!

WIN. WIN. WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN.

You have to build your own lightsaber.

...everyone knows that.

Are you talking about props for avatars? I'm pretty sure the awards aren't for any games released previous to this update. I'm almost positive it's a future title deal. Otherwise it wouldn't cost $3 for a dumb RC Warthog. I deserve it for beating legendary! Dammit.

oh and U guys left off something

"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."

That "at no additional cost" part is sort of a big thing to be leaving off. ESPECIALLY when the surveys spoke of charging a 'One-Time" fee to have access to Netflix on the other 2 consoles....

Not sure why you're getting voted down, you made a very valid point.

no one wants to admit that....lol...AND its ME....lol

its getting down voted because you ARE paying for netflix with your gold membership.

Really?? so All Gold Members can watch Netflix movies for free?? Regardless if you are a paying Netflix Customer or not??

Not getting what you are saying Roger.

I simply Copied and pasted whats on the page....

@roger

What? I think you're missing the entire point here. Chris is pointing out that last bit because that leaves the door open for Netflix to be on other consoles, but with an extra fee.

Vidi, I think the comma breaks that idea.

If they meant to say it wouldn't be free on any other consoles they would have had to leave out the comma. That comma separates the subjects. "The only console to offer it" and "at no additional cost".

To mean what you're implying they would have had to say "the only console to offer it at no additional cost", which keeps it all part of the same subject.

"No Additional Fee"... except you gotta pay for both Live Gold and Netflix. So basically, they're saying they're not charging you to use your Xbox as a set-top device.

Big deal. I can get Blu-Ray discs from Netflix and the XBox 360 can't play them. The PS3, however, can.

I thought you were supposed to be able to remove phrases in commas and the sentence should still make sense. In this case, the sentence would read, "Xbox 360 will be the only game console to offer this movie-watching experience at no additional cost."

To me it reads as if the phrase in the commas is just defining who on the 360 will be able to use this feature, but the core statement is as above.

I will add though that I can see where they intended it to read as you're saying, Vcize. But grammatically it does leaves the door open. Whether that was intentional or not is the question. If it truly is exclusive maybe that they should have said something like, "The XBox will be the only console to offer Netflix streaming and the service will be available at no extra cost for LIVE Gold members who also have a Netflix unlimited plan."

exactly....if thats how they meant it they REALLY could have picked their wording better

i've heard of Gossip Girl

does that come on in the UK?? lol

i don't know, but i've seen promos on the philly station cw

oh damn...dunno why I thought U were in the UK...lol

hey, someone thought i was female

Okay, not to sound racist or anything, but I can't stop looking at your guys' avatars back to back like that. Chris D. looks strikingly like Sam Jackson in the Long Kiss picture there. Same facial hair, angle of the face and eyes. Just sayin'!

I look like Sam Jackson?? thats a first...

Well, now that you changed your avatar you don't. But you did in the old one.

Well too bad. I guess I will just continue to download movies torrents and stream them from to my PS3 instead.

that's exactly what I do too my friend.or sometimes, rent from Netflix then rip into MPEG4 format for PS3.wait...is that Netflix on PS3?

Personally I'm a fan of retail and material library collection and I love my Blu-Ray films. I am a special feature junkie. Although I have bought some items off the PSN Store. The signs from reading the comments on the PlayStation Blog and replies from Grace Chen indicate that they are aware people want unlimited downloads and are willing to pay a subscription fee. I hope that's something Sony announces at Cologne.

I'm with you man...100+ blu-ray movies, 1,200+ DVDs. I think Netflix Streaming comes in REAL handy when you want to watch TV shows. Thats a BIG Selling point there, especially if they start to get shows the DAY after they air on TV.

and what PS.Blog post are you talking about?

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/06/26/playstation-network-video-content-update-35/

Thanks....The PSN Vid Store would have to offer a LOT more content if they want to get a subscription fee from me. As is I'd rather just keep using netflix via the mail. Slow sure, but as cheap as it is it cant really be beat right now

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Reader Comments (63)

Posted: Aug 11th 2009 10:37AM cinnister said

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