Netflix adds 'Lost,' other ABC shows to streaming lineup

Four seasons of "Lost" are already available.

(Credit: Netflix/screenshot by John P. Falcone)

Several of ABC's top shows will soon be available to watch via Netflix's "Watch Instantly" online streaming service. The first four seasons of "Lost" are already available, and they'll be joined in September by "Desperate Housewives" (seasons four and five), "Grey's Anatomy" (season five), and "Legend of the Seeker" (seasons one and two). The deal builds on an earlier agreement to make Disney Channel content available on Netflix (ABC is a division of Disney.)

While most of these programs are already available for viewing online on ABC's Web site, the Netflix deal allows them to be watched on TV screens via a large and growing number of Netflix-compatible home video devices, including many Blu-ray players and home theater systems, some Internet-enabled TVs, the Xbox 360, and the $99 Roku Digital Media Player. The ABC content joins programs from rival networks, including Fox, NBC, and CBS, that have long been available on Netflix. (Disclosure: CNET is a division of CBS Interactive.) The online video streaming--available at no extra charge for Netflix subscribers on the $9 per month or higher rental tier--currently offers approximately 12,000 movies and TV shows.

As far as I'm concerned, this seems like another feather in the cap for Netflix. These sort of serialized dramas are perfect fodder for sequential online viewing. (The final season of "Lost" starts early in 2010, and Netflix subscribers who want to catch up--or start from scratch--can do so at no extra charge.) What's interesting to me is that ABC's making this move, which could potentially lower demand for sales of the same episodes on DVD and iTunes. One wonders how Disney board member Steve Jobs feels about it.

What do you think: Are you excited to see these ABC shows hitting Netflix, or does it just highlight some favorite shows of yours that still remain unavailable?

[drbohner]

For most users - the quality from Streaming does not, yet, match that from DVD... Until the quality is at least that of DVD, folks are gonna continue to watch off-line...

(db)

[bblande]

Netflix looks great online through my 360, especially the NBC shows in HD. Much easier (not to mention cheaper) than renting/buying a DVD.

[tyrelh]

The shows don't always look that great on your computer, but if you play them with the $99 Roku Player, X-Box 360, or other such device, they can stream in HD which is certainly better than DVD. Even standard definition shows look just as good as the DVD. I, for one, am always excited when more content comes to Netflix Watch Instantly, particularly from a major network like ABC. Netflix Watch Instantly (via the Roku Player) is my only source of television now.

[thenet411]

@drbohner

You are 100% wrong. Most movies that I watch with my Roku box on my 50" plasma either from Netflix or Amazon look AT LEAST as good as standard DVD and better for HD titles. I was concerned about the quality when I bought my Roku box but I was pleasantly surprised with the first movie I watched. I have been very happy ever since.

[kalel33]

He could be right, but wrong about blaming the source. If he only has a 3MB connection or lower, then the quality will suffer. Netflix will downgrade the quality to slower connections. When I moved up to 7MB connection speeds, from 1.5MB, the quality jumped up significantly.

[celticbrewer]

The wife thought I was watching a DVD on the PS3. Nope, netflix streaming. So, yes, it's good enough. Am I excited about this news? Specifically, no, because I have no interest in those shows. But in general, the more content available, the better off we are.

[umbrae]

I must say Netflix looks great. The quality was aweful when I had 1.5 mbps DSL, but Netflix requires 5 or higher for HD and highest quality. Once I upgraded it is fine. Maybe not full HD, but at least on par with broadcast DTV.

my Roku displays just as good of a pic as my upscaling DVD player when viewing newer HD titles. I've found that most of the time someone says that it's not is because they don't have the service and dont want to admit how good it really is. As long as you have a 5MB connection the pic is awesome and all for $9.95mo plus the internet payment that i have anyway.

[NJMetsHero]

I watch stuff on my CPU a lot and it works great, better than things like Hulu. I'd love to get all Lost on there.

[raggy1222]

So you watch TV on your central processing unit?!?! WOW that must be amazing, you gotta post pics of how you pull that one off.... :)

[BDoubleZz]

It's called a "PC" not a CPU. lol. a CPU is your processor inside of your computer. Made by intel or AMD.

[stevesancarlos]

I'm very excited about this. And the quality I experience with Netflix streaming is "good enough," for the most part.

[djjeesh]

Netflix still doesn't have enough streaming content. I have a free trial and don't think it's worth it at this point in time. Maybe in a year they will catch up to actually having new releases be available to stream.

they have tons of new content you just haven't found it yet. they have all kinds of current TV shows and new release movies that just came out in video stores.

[bikerval]

I have the HD Tivo. The Netflix Watch Instantly is fantastic. The High Def fare looks absolutely beautiful on my 42" HD screen. The regular def shows look really good too. There's a pretty good selection though it's hard to tell what is HD and what isn't when you are putting things into your Watch Instantly queue. Maybe there's a way to tell HD from SD that I don't know. Meanwhile, Watch Instantly rocks!

[bikerval]

I have the HD Tivo. The Netflix Watch Instantly is fantastic via the Tivo. The High Def fare looks absolutely beautiful on my 42" HD screen. The regular def shows look really good too. There's a pretty good selection though it's hard to tell what is HD and what isn't when you are putting things into your Watch Instantly queue. Maybe there's a way to tell HD from SD that I don't know. Meanwhile, Watch Instantly rocks!

Hopefully they add Better Off Ted to the mix so that more people watch one of the funniest shows on TV next season...

[carguy622]

I just bought the LG BD 390 and I stream Netflix wirelessly on my cablevision high speed internet. I don't have the boost service, but I find the quality and content available to be great. Everything looks crisp and clean when I stream HD content. Granted I've only got a 32" 720p LCD, but I was more than pleased.

[jaxstephens]

This is great news. I've been a Netflix fan for years, and this just reinforces that. One step further toward one day being able to watch anything, any time, on any device . . .

[ywkhgqo]

I AM SO EXCITED. LOST RULES

[Magicland]

Quality is great watching Netflix on my Xbox 360. Why bother subscribing to a movie channel to watch the same 5 or 6 movies, over and over and over again (and never any that you want to see in the first place) when there's a ton of stuff on Netflix? Hopefully they'll keep growing their "on demand" library, because it's the only reason to have a netflix subscription, and for under $10 a month, it's well worth it.

[ywkhgqo]

I AM SO EXCITED. LOST RULES

[rnaoncfixd]

B-b-b-b-but I already bought all the DVDs. This came too late.

[QuadFather]

Much needed development. The streaming content on Netflix is found largely wanting, and I find myself frequently visiting the "Red Box" because I don't typically plan my movie-watching days in advance (necessary if i'm going to use netflix's snail-mail rental service).

At the same time, I'm not sure i'd be willing to usurp Netflix's business model by ultimately streaming all content online (though this may be inevitable in the long-term).

Crazy!

[ptsenter]

I'm very excited. Netflix introduced me to some shows I've never seen before. I used to use a laptop connected to TV to watch Netflix and quality was so-so, but with BD390 it's not worse than DVD at least. Plus, some DVDs came scratched and not even playable: way to go ABC and Netflix!!!

[mihal1]

Well, I suppose this is good. I mean, everything in my queue is consistently on "LONG WAIT" or "EXTREMELY LONG WAIT" status! They apparently never have enough dvds to cover their customers, they might as well offer something.

[dmeisner01]

I have been very happy with my HD streaming quality thru a Roku box via DSL and wireless. I am particularly pleased by the simple UI and the number of instant view titles has been steadily improving.

[RobD60]

Yes! Yes! This is GOOD! The Roku works great on my LG70 42" screen. As for content, you gotta take that up with the studios--but Netflix has over 12,000 films and shows available. No, not so much first-release as I'd like, but don't overlook the classics available: 2001, Casablanca, Laura, Ben Hur.... And now, along with Dr. Who, my queue will be filled with Lost.