Sorry Jackie boy, but it seems that Sony's PlayStation 3 has been dethroned as king of streaming Netflix. That's according to a recent Nielsen survey that pegs the Nintendo Wii as the most used device in households
to stream Netflix (outside of the computer, of course), and puts all three gaming consoles in the lead in terms of Netflix streaming to devices.
The survey, based on 12,000 online interviews in March 2011, weighs a variety of devices against each other in terms of Netflix and Hulu streaming, from Apple TV on the low end at just one percent market share, to "Directly on Computer" as the most employed method at 42 percent for Netflix and 89 percent for Hulu. The Xbox 360 brought up the bottom of the list in terms of game consoles, with just 12 percent of Netflix users going that route and two percent of Hulu users.
The real bizarre factoid in this graph is that the Nintendo Wii is also (just barely) streaming more Hulu content than the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 -- especially odd considering there's no official support for Hulu on the Wii. We've reached out to Nielsen for clarification on that possibly erroneous statistic.
Update: Nielsen explained the Hulu on Nintendo Wii statistic as such: "The reason the survey shows 3% answering this way can be attributed to respondent error, which is common in survey research. In other words, because the survey measures self-reported usage, there can be a small margin of error in which some respondents will answer this way."
Reader Comments (97)
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:41AM Teancum said
*Insert joke about Netflix being the only practical use for the Wii here*
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:48AM baby sea tuna said
@MrSmiley1
*Remove Wii from entertainment center, place on eBay.*
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*Remove Wii from entertainment center, place on eBay.*
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:48AM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said
@ObiBen8
*Inset joke about "insertion" here*
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*Inset joke about "insertion" here*
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:49AM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said
@Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En
*insert "R" into my previous comment there*
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*insert "R" into my previous comment there*
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:59AM Protege420 said
@Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En
lol you sir are to much in the a.m.
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lol you sir are to much in the a.m.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:17PM ricorich196 said
@Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En Lmfao this comment was even funnier than the insertion one, thanks.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:42AM bargaingamer said
I'm suprise the wii is the main console choose to use netflix, I thought for sure it be the xbox360 since the interface so easy to use plus you got hd videos. I guess the wii is the ultimate casual console.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:46AM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said
@bargaingamer
It probably has to do with the install base. Lotsa Wiis out there in the wild.
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It probably has to do with the install base. Lotsa Wiis out there in the wild.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:52AM dragunrising said
@bargaingamer
I think a lot of people (me included) are surprised. Probably the most likely reason I can think of is the sheer number of Wii consoles. What's disturbing though is the number of people watching Netflix in SD.
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I think a lot of people (me included) are surprised. Probably the most likely reason I can think of is the sheer number of Wii consoles. What's disturbing though is the number of people watching Netflix in SD.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 10:02AM siteuntitled said
@bargaingamer
360 requires a gold account for netflix.
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360 requires a gold account for netflix.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 11:00AM snapekillsdumbledore said
I thought it was Netflix themselves that said PS3 was the most popular way of accessing their content? Nielsen's grandma and stay at home mom favored method of gathering data doesnt mean much.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2011 12:12PM Trojan said
@dragunrising I was definitely surprised about the Wii being first (because why would you watch Netflix in SD?), but the PS3 being 2nd doesn't surprise me. I assumed PS3 would be first because you don't need a paid account to use the Netflix app like you do on 360, and the PS3 is quieter than the older model 360s (which a lot of people, including me, still have). But yeah, the install base of the Wii must just be that much higher, and a lot of those people must either not have HDTVs, or must not be techy enough to know the difference.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:43AM eat it said
If I had a tv in bedroom I would probably by a used wii on the cheap just for netflix.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 11:35AM (Unverified) said
@eat it
Pick up a new Roku for less than the cost of a used Wii and get HD streaming and a couple dozen other streaming channels.
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Pick up a new Roku for less than the cost of a used Wii and get HD streaming and a couple dozen other streaming channels.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 11:46AM Mouthsmasher said
I'm sure you could pick up a used TV from craigslist for much cheaper than a used Wii, so go for it.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:47AM StormChaser91 said
People have had probs with using the netflix on ps3 not being able to connect as well and Wii is free for netflix unlike xbox
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 1:28PM Mikekan13 said
@StormChaser91 I would call bullshit on this. To connect and use Netflix on my wii is painful. It takes way longer to load a movie and the interface is jacked on the Wii. It doesn't even have a search option. The ps3 is smooth as hell and movies load is 1 or two seconds as opposed to the Wii that takes me upwards of 15 seconds. These Nielsen ratings are bullshit--they don't work for cable Tv and they certainly don't work for Netflix.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:53AM Tihn said
I used Netflix on my Wii in the US a lot
Then I used the iPlayer on my Wii in the UK a lot
It is a great streaming device. I already play my Wii as much as my other consoles but the ease of streaming makes it the most used console in my house.
Then I used the iPlayer on my Wii in the UK a lot
It is a great streaming device. I already play my Wii as much as my other consoles but the ease of streaming makes it the most used console in my house.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:54AM Joeybeast said
That makes sense. Most people don't give a crap about HD video. Netflix and Hulu on Xbox requires a gold account.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 1:22PM leobebes said
@Joeybeast
Then why are manufacturers so dead set in pushing the HD agenda? Seriously if not one gives two craps about HD then why push it. All manufacturers have eliminated SD sets from their lineups, sounds like a foolish business decision if no one really gives a hoot about HD.
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Then why are manufacturers so dead set in pushing the HD agenda? Seriously if not one gives two craps about HD then why push it. All manufacturers have eliminated SD sets from their lineups, sounds like a foolish business decision if no one really gives a hoot about HD.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:55AM (Unverified) said
Pretty sure if you want an accurate representation you can ask NetFlix since they will know exactly where their service is being accessed from.
It always amazes me how you can survey 1% of a population and claim that as a representation of the entire populace, the error rates for that must be huge.
It always amazes me how you can survey 1% of a population and claim that as a representation of the entire populace, the error rates for that must be huge.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:55AM CaptainProtonX said
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 12:30PM snapekillsdumbledore said
If thats the only way to use Hulu on the Wii then we can officially count this study as bogus, like most Nielsen ratings.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:58AM foxhound said
The HULU thing is a bit odd, but Netflix stats on the Wii don't surprise me at all. Some of my casual videogame playing friends and relatives use the console just as a el-cheapo "web TV" since it's easier to use than surfing through the HDTV itself.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:58AM Prince David said
Why do they keep changing the UIs on consoles? On the PS3, if you were watching a tv show, it used to tell you the description of the episode but now it just tells you the description of the entire series! Not helpful!
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 10:01AM baby sea tuna said
@Prince David
It's not just consoles, they've changed their whole web interface like 2 or 3 times in the past year alone.
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It's not just consoles, they've changed their whole web interface like 2 or 3 times in the past year alone.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 1:08PM yo Naturale said
@Prince David
I know that for a while the UI on the PS3 was changing quite a bit, and from what I understood there were several variants out there in the wild at once that Netflix was testing.
For myself, if I'm watching a TV program and I want to see the individual episode description I have to go to the "See More Episodes" sub-menu. Whereas before, it used to give the description of the next episode in line to view in the first window after you selected the program (i.e. the "start/play" window).
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I know that for a while the UI on the PS3 was changing quite a bit, and from what I understood there were several variants out there in the wild at once that Netflix was testing.
For myself, if I'm watching a TV program and I want to see the individual episode description I have to go to the "See More Episodes" sub-menu. Whereas before, it used to give the description of the next episode in line to view in the first window after you selected the program (i.e. the "start/play" window).
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:08PM fohf said
@Prince David
That is my one complaint about Netflix. THere is no unified interface between devices and they update them (most often for the worse) too frequently.
Not only that, but you don't even get all the same features with each device or UI. Biggest missing feature: Subtitles. Only a couple devices support it.
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That is my one complaint about Netflix. THere is no unified interface between devices and they update them (most often for the worse) too frequently.
Not only that, but you don't even get all the same features with each device or UI. Biggest missing feature: Subtitles. Only a couple devices support it.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 10:00AM Jon Jon said
It's a shame that the Wii can't do HD. In all honesty, I prefer using my Wii for Netflix over my PS3 (with the BD remote).
I actually really enjoy using the wii mote to control it. Especially if I want to skip to a specific part in a movie or show, it's way easier.
I actually really enjoy using the wii mote to control it. Especially if I want to skip to a specific part in a movie or show, it's way easier.
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 10:18AM Brian333 said
@Jon Jon I also have both a 360 and a Wii and I prefer using Netflix on the Wii. The interface is more usable and even though it is in SD, I rarely have any interruptions. My 360 will frequently have to pause to buffer but my Wii never has any troubles. Also the SD content does not look much worse than my 360 normally since it rarely runs at full bars. My internet is fine as well, I can stream non-stop HD content to my PC, but the 360 seems to have trouble with it.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2011 10:01AM eat it said
kind of otf topic a bit but does hulu plus still have commercials?
Posted: Jul 28th 2011 10:02AM baby sea tuna said
@eat it
Yes, but they're (for the most part) brief and relatively unintrusive.
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Yes, but they're (for the most part) brief and relatively unintrusive.








