Netflix adds streaming service to Playstation 3
The mystery of the next consumer electronic to get Netflix streaming support has been unveiled, and it isn’t really that much of a surprise.
It has been rumored for some time that the Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) would be adding Netflix streaming support at some point, and as of today that rumor is official.
In an earnings call about the Netflix’s third quarter performance, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings had mentioned that the company was looking to partner with a major consumer electronics brand and also dropped hints that the company liked working with video game consoles. Seeing as the Microsoft Xbox 360 already has support, that left only the PS3 and Nintendo Wii as options, and the Wii just didn’t feel like that viable of an option for the next device to receive the support.
The only drawback currently to how the system will work is that subscribers will need to request a special free Blu-ray disc from Netflix that they will need to place in the console any time they want to watch something streaming on their console. Mr. Hastings assures customers that this is only a temporary fix until an update for the PS3 software is released some time in 2010.
According to The New York Times, each implementation of the streaming service allows Netflix to negotiate better deals with the studios to add more titles to the service. “Our ability to license more content is based on what checks we can write,” Mr. Hastings told the newspaper. “If getting on the PS3 helps our subscriber base grow, that helps us write bigger checks.”
While it’s great to see the service finally show up on the PS3, I wouldn’t count on Netflix adding many more subscribers to its user base until they get past that Blu-ray disc problem. Customers want convenience, and that work-around certainly does not meet that criteria.
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October 26th, 2009
I agree that’s lame. Who wants to have to get up and FIND the Netflix disc and insert it and wait? We’re too lazy for that Netflix, get with it!