Comments on: HD streaming set to premiere on all Netflix boxes

Netflix is set to premiere 300 movies, streaming in HD, when Microsoft launches its "New Xbox Experience" with Netflix streaming included.

[badmojo42]

sweet can't wait. Sick of watching all the TV shows I missed on a laptop.

[vyper63]

"Netflix estimates the requirement being in the 8-10 Gbps range."

Think you meant Mbps?

[harrisonh1]

Gah, good catch. Fixed.

[badmojo42]

vyper63 - think they were talking combined, meaning all users at once.

[hermantf]

This is great news, but they should make it compatible with existing hardware so that customers who have purchased the Roku and other boxes (like me), won't have to fork out another chunk of cash to get the HD content.

Wishful thinking in today's world of endless upgrades....

[Zomic13]

@hermantf

It is compatible with existing hardware. All that is needed for your Roku box is a firmware update. It was built with all the necessary hardware features for HD streaming because Netflix knew that it was going to add HD streaming someday and they wanted their device to be HD-ready when the time came.

[harperjm--2008]

Wish it wasn't Xbox Gold only. Definitely needs to come to the PS3 with it's free online service.

[rage-demon]

Wait, what? You need to be an Xbox Gold member to stream through the 360? ***?! I already pay for my Netflix subscription and I?m allowed to download games, demos, movies, and anything else through my 360 with just a silver account, so why the heck do I need to have a gold account?! Microsoft certainly isn't adding any "superb online experience" to Netflix streaming, so why the added charge??

I agree with harperjm that this really needs to come to the PS3. No way am I ever paying for Xbox Live when I only want to play online maybe once or twice a month, and even then it's really just to see if the game would even be fun to play online. I'm just glad that my computer hooks directly into my 52" HDTV, but it's too bad I won't be able to enjoy any HD shows from Netflix any time soon.

[shetaan819]

Anyone know if the HD stream will support Dolby Digital 5.1 - and I mean is the source actually going to be 5.1 ??!

If that's the case, there really will be no need for DVD (although extras every once in a while is nice I suppose)...!

[mmcghie]

Totally awesome. Been waiting for this.

[jtadeo]

i can't seem to stream HD
i have tried 2 videos and they stream regular quality

any idea what's up?

[harrisonh1]

If your connection speed isn't fast enough, it won't do HD. Unfortunately there is no way to force HD in favor of a longer buffering time, so you are stuck with whatever quality Netflix judges your connection at when you start streaming the video.

Also, it's only certain pieces of content that are in HD right now. Try streaming an episode of The Office and see if it goes in HD.

[steve_swasey]

There's an error in this report regarding all of Netflix partners streaming content from Netflix in high def. Not true. HD on Xbox 360 and Roku first and eventually on LG Electronics, Samsung and TiVo. Eventually. No dates announced. The high def offering from Netflix is decidedly underwhelming though -- about 300 titles out of more than 12,000 for streaming and they're in standard def audio. No timeframe yet for 5.1 audio. -- Steve Swasey, VP Corp. Communications, Netflix