Comments on: Guided tour of Netflix Watch Now service

See a hands-on demonstration of the new Netflix movie streaming service, courtesy of Hackingnetflix.com.

[Aeirlys]

Very cool...

...if it works. I hate renting TV series via Netflix, even though I watch several on DVD after the season ends. They either eat up your entire queue, or you have to wait 2-3 days between discs. If this works well, I'll start streaming TV shows and leaving my queue free for movies.

[rickontime]

Netflix Credibility

The management at Netflix would have more credibility if they had been more forthright with what to expect. Out of the gate, this is not a download service.
The limitations are extensive. Netflix was already eating the extra cost of providing the new hi-def discs and now is eating the cost of the 1,000 older titles included in this new feature.
If, by some miracle, Netflix has continued strong subscriber growth, at a roll out rate of the new service to 250,000 subscribers a week (quoted from SF Gate), some subscribers won?t see this feature until August.
Regarding the acquisition of content for this streaming feature from Netflix:
The company, however, can only offer limited selections with its new service because most popular film titles are tied up in long-term electronic subscription distribution agreements between the major film studios and premium cable channels, like Time Warner's (TWX) HBO and Liberty Media's (LCAPA) Starz Entertainment Group.
"This is the next step of the evolution of Netflix's business, but acquiring content is going to be a long painful process for them," says Michael Goodman, analyst with The Yankee Group. "Distribution is going to be a huge roadblock for them for at least four or five years." URL: http://www.thestreet.com/newsanalysis/mediaentertainment/10332654.html
Regarding credibility:
From the New York Times article:
Blockbuster has added a staggering 700,000 subscribers since Nov. 1. ?I wouldn?t be surprised to see our online subscribers double by the end of 2007,? John F. Antioco, the chief executive of Blockbuster, said.
Mr. Hastings played down the competition. ?We have a lot of room to grow,? he said, adding that he expects Blockbuster?s online business to grow as well. ?Our relative execution will determine what the share split is? between Netflix and Blockbuster, he added. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/technology/16netflix.html?ref=business
More than a year ago, Netflix made a projection of 20,000,000 subscribers in 2010 or 2012.
Blockbuster is solidly in the online DVD-by-mail game. If this is true, and since 20,000,000 seems to be viewed as the total potential market for the online DVD-by-mail market, Netflix would be more responsible if they entirely dropped the projection of 20,000,000 subscribers or, at least, dropped it to 10,000,000 which is about the best that they can possibly hope for.

[rgunther]

Need a 10-foot interface

This is a great step, but it desperately needs a 10-foot interface. While it's convenient enough to select and download a movie at my desktop, I really want to watch it with a functional remote control on my television. This is the same place where Vongo originally fell short (but is now correcting with a made-for-Media-Center version). If this could be incorporated into TiVo, Windows Media Center, Xbox, or some other existing device, I'm all over it!

[nklsmbailey]

Netflix platform discrimination

I have enjoyed my netflix membership for several years and I'm intrigued by the
possibility of online viewing. I'm, therefore, extremely disappointed it will not be
available for OSX.

[cparrish817]

No Linux support

I have the same feeling about Linux. If this is a java applet why isn't it cross platform?

[jchandler15]

This service will rock

The thing I like about this is that it's streaming live, has little delay and has near DVD quality images. I may consider using this service in the near future

Josh Chandler
http://www.josh-chandler.blogspot.com