Netflix promotes Wii streaming with 'underwhelming' HD argument

by Richard Mitchell on Feb 9th 2010 4:30PM

If you've been following the Wii Netflix saga, you're probably familiar with Nintendo's stance on HD movie streaming. The company's Reggie Fils-Aimé recently went on record saying that the average Wii user won't care about the Wii's inability to push HD Netflix. That's expected though, right? He works for Nintendo, after all. But get this, now Netflix itself is deemphasizing its own HD streaming service.

Speaking to TheWiire.com, Netflix VP of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey recognized that the Wii can't handle HD streaming, but stated that Netflix doesn't believe that to be a problem for Wii households. Swasey noted that only 1 in 17 titles are available in HD, adding that HD content is only 720p -- not 1080p -- and that it's not available with 5.1 surround sound. "The HD experience at Netflix Instant Watching isn't that overwhelming," said Swasey, adding, "It's a little bit underwhelming."

So there you have it. There's absolutely no reason for anyone to even want HD streaming. Ever. Now go order your Wii Netflix disc.

Source

Tags: hd, netflix, nintendo, streaming-video, Wii

Reader Comments (74)

Let's promote our product by saying it kinda sucks ass

Well, I will give him huge props for its honesty. With 720p on Netflix, the p stands for "pixellated."

They should definitely be focusing on 480p, which is better suited to the service's bandwidth.

I don't know what Netflix streams you have been watching, but the ones in HD I have watched have looked almost as good as broadcast television.

@copa eh I don't know, I was just watching 30 Rock in 720p and it looked pretty good to me. At the same time I've watched SD movies streaming that looked like trash and approach the unwatchable level

Clearly streaming HD content is the future *cue sparkly unicorn*

I haven't watched too many HD streams but I can say that Lost looked amazing in HD as long as my internet connection was good while I was watching.

His point is that Wii owners will not be missing out that much on what the PS3 and 360 owners have access to.

Only 8% even subscribe to the Netflix blu-ray service, so the question is are people really demanding HD? The answer seems to be no, not really . . . more like yeah, if you have it, but it's okay if you don't.

Netflix isn't stupid: for now, instant access is more important to people than HD. More importantly, getting more people using Netflix to access movies online is the goal. And Netflix has done that with the 360 and PS3 rollouts with little HD content.

The HD upgrades are coming, though. But get people hooked on your service first. And getting the Wii owners, including the women and grandparents so often mocked here, is key because they watch movies, too.

I have watched some awefully bootleg video on the interwebs and still enjoyed it, so guttertalk is probably right. Instant access is more important than quality.

HD is important if you have a MacMansion and a projector, but in my apartment a 32" TV looks huge, so HD makes little difference.

Also bizarre considering this:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/1080p-5-1-surround-sound-coming-to-netflix-watch-instantly-in-2/

either he's telling the truth, or he secretly loves the Wii userbase.

HAHA!

This is just dumb..

I have to agree. Since when is it a story that the Wii isn't in HD? Who, for even a second, believed that there would be any visual benefit to streaming 720p content to a console that displays in 480p? Do they just really love wasting bandwidth? Or is down-scaling video the newest fad?

If you really are using Netflix on your Wii.....

wow

Well at least they tried expanding it across all systems :P

I keep the 360 in PS3 in my own room, my Wii is in the living room. It'll be nice to be able to browse the instant catalog in the living room.

wow

my Kids dont care about HD....even if the Wii is on a 32" LCD TV in there room...

Would you kindly adopt me, Chris?

The pic attached to this article should just be the President of Netflix with $ signs for eyes. Because it's obvious that's all they care about at this point.

Forget providing an optimal service to EVERYONE. Million of households have Wii's and if we can get even a small percentage of that market to sign up for our service, our revenue is going to sky-rocket!

Obviously, it's a no-brainer for the Netflix as a company. But it still makes me sick.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk19/Threddd/failed.jpg

eh, then again, nothing is wrong with being a little dissapointed with your own service.

just tells me they are working to make it better.

it doesn't piss me off, but hearing jackas#ses like steve jobs talk about his new revolutionary iTouchx4 duct tape edition does piss me off.

None of their movies are 1080p?

I thought Microsoft said that Netflix streaming on XBL would be 1080p

its their download service. You know, the one where you have to pay 10 dollars for a movie you can only play on your xbox.

I think the downloads from the Zune marketplace are supposed to be 1080p, not that I ever use it.

Yea it's the Zune service that's 1080p, and it's great for casual use. When the prices come down and they expand the terms of use it'll be a great service.

FYI: You can watch your content on either an xbox, pc or zune. Not so bad, but that's my main concern with digitally distributed content: the confined nature of what I can/can't do with my content.

Alright now who's lying? Or am i just confused?

http://kotaku.com/5467384/netflix-streaming-goes-1080p-51

Yeah I saw both stories yesterday.

Clearly HD streaming is the future of Netflix. At the same time I'd expect Wii Netflix to be a big success, since so many households have one.

Kotaku is incorrect: "1080p was mistakenly included on a roadmap of 2010 features"

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/1080p-5-1-surround-sound-coming-to-netflix-watch-instantly-in-2/

Right on Andrew! Thanks for the clarification...

Now I know better and to only trust the Stiq!

Andrew plays Truth!

It's SUPER EFFECTIVE!

Kotaku surrenders!

As someone that went from an SD TV to HDTV a couple years ago, I have to give it an enormous "Meh"

It's overhyped in every way.

That means either A: You haven't seen enough content to show you the difference, B: You're not configured properly, or C: You're odd.

If you're watching SD programming, of course you'd go 'meh'.

I've been thrilled with the same transition. I never watch any of the SD stations if it's avoidable.

I've been watching HDTV for years, and I love it. The difference between SD and HD for TV feeds is night and day. For Netflix streaming, I'm much more concerned with the extent of the catalog, than whether it's in HD. If I really need HD, I can get the Blu-Ray.

some people are just more aware and sensitive to color.

I think my calibrated HDcrt TV is heaps better than my old SDtv, but, my friend's 50" inch 1080p LCD isn't that much better than that old SDtv because he has the brightness, and sharpness turned up all the way.

I can easily notice the difference between my few HD channels, and my regular ones. I just don't seem to care that much. I really only watch Spike and USA, and I can't bring myself to buy a full HD cable package for one channel (I don't think Spike has an HD...I could be wrong)

Spike is in HD on Dish Network, at least.

...says the guy hooking up his HDTV with the yellow, red, and white cables.

I don't see the big issue. I don't exactly get that great quality out of Netflix Instant anyways, as the fastest home internet connection I can get is just under 2 MPS. So I can't get it in HD on any service anyways.

All I really use Netflix Instant for anyways is watching TV shows that I didn't see the first time, like Friday Night Lights for example. If I want to see a movie in HD, I put the BluRay on my queue and wait a bit longer. Not that big of a deal.

Oh Sna...wait! what?

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to lay our dear friend, punctuation, to rest.

RIP Punctuation: 8000 BC - 2010

See what you do? That was meant to be 800 BC, not 8000!!

is that picture supposed to be low-rez as a part of the joke?

YES

/captain obvious, AWAY! (whoosh!)

I guess I feel better as a PC owner now since for some inexcplicable reason they don't have HD streaming to PCs.

no one likes you

Nice Wiimote Richard...

@ Mystile

Bearing the hammer is a heavy burden, my friend.

@ Monkeyzamm

damn you damn you straight to hell

Wow dude, what a BAD, stupid thing to say. HD is my future!!!!!!!! :D

Please have your teacher check your spelling and grammar during recess when you have a spare moment.

...what article did you read? Even Tmac on his worst day would never say the Wii was holding up the HD transition in general. You're insane.

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Netflix promotes Wii streaming with 'underwhelming' HD argument

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