Wasn't there some kind of announcement that MS was going to make today? Maybe this is it.

I'd be happy if I could do it through XBMC then I'd finally get around to doing that mod.

Just wondering why does this make you think it is coming to the PS3 as well?

I'd be REALLY Happy!!!!
would make me feel better for never switching to blockbuster

Something like this would get me to sign up for Netflix. I don't feel like putting a media PC in my living room, and would rather have this all you can eat plan more than Apples solution.

That would frigg'n rule. I'm not joking around!

This would ROck!!!!!!!!!

For PS3 they really just need to make it work in the browser... Who needs a damn plug-in! heh

send it to my PS3 and I sell my media center PC

<---Netflix fanboy
I don't even have an Xbox but they are constantly trying to improve their services, something a lot of other companies could learn from. If this comes to PS3 as the title (but not the survey) suggests, I would definitely use it.

I guess the question here would be: what's in it for Microsoft? They currently have a rental system in place for movies and TV shows. Why would they want to hand those sales over to Netflix?

Hell yeah! This is exactly what I've been waiting for. As for "what's in it for Microsoft?", who cares!

PS3 viewings would be a go for me. I was actually pretty impressed with the PS3's up-rezzing of DVDs vs. my Sony HDMI up-converting DVD player. It was noticeably better on the PS3. The more media I can shove in my PS3 the better.

Yes, if it is also for the PS3. Did they send out another version of the survey for PS3 owners?

I would reactivate my NetFlix account if this was going to happen soon. And I could consider getting a second 360.

I'd be more happy using my PS3.

This would give me a reason to buy a PS3. I am not a gamer at all and my wife has a Wii. But I would buy a PS3 for Blu-Ray and streaming movies if both of these options were available to me. I would defintely dump Blockbuster and jump ship to Netflix. I would not buy an XBox360.

@SinistarX:
if they made it exclusive for the Xbox I could see M$ going for it. It could increase sales

Sorta sounds like a load of crap and wishful thinking to me and here's why. This would cannibalize MS's Marketplace Video Rental Service they already have in place.

Don't get me wrong, it would be great to combined the Netflix's low prices and easy-of-use with the accessibility of the 360. But last I checked MS (like any other corporation with a pulse) likes to keep revenue all for themselves and not help out competitors.

Just a thought.

Love this idea but now that we have unlimited hours, Netflix should really put more titles on its browse instantly section.

I was planning on buying a 360 anyway, this would be even MORE incentive!

Yes, if this is true for PS3.

Streaming Animaniacs would be so cool!

@Johnny Chimpo: Thats correct, but not correct. MS does want the profit, but I'll bet they'd be willing to take that hit in return for the boost in sales and marketing (along with a cut from netflix for every streamed movie, OC).

They stand to gain a lot more than they stand to lose. They can always charge in the future, once everyone's locked in :)

Here's a interesting thought...

Microsoft aquires Netflix!

They're all about getting into new things, so Netflix would make an interesting mix.

Oh yeah, I would like Netflix streamin' on my xbox360

I would LOVE this for my 360...currently, if I want to stream to my plasma and stereo system I have to put my laptop near the "unit" and hook it all up. A bit of a PITA, so if this could work without Windows MC I'd be even happier, since I don't have that OS. Just straight to the console!!!

I don't even use Netflix right now, but I would sign up as a regular paying customer in a second if I could stream their catalog to my 360! Do it!!!

I would think that MSFT or SNE would tag Netflix for some revenue sharing if this was implemented, which would be the only way they would go for it.

If it did happen, I might actually be tempted to buy Netflix, so we could download and watch via the PS3.

I don't even use Netflix right now, but I would sign up in a second if I could stream their catalog to my 360! Do it now!!!

This move would significantly curb movie piracy. If there was a legal, easy, inexpensive, high quality way to get movies on to the PS3 people would flock to the service.

In my mind, I'm seeing a new NetFlix icon in the PS3 Cross Media Bar (navigation / XMB). This icon would lead to a web page on the netflix site that works much in the same way that the current PlayStation Network does.

With Sony support, you have to think that having the movies expire in x number of days would be possible.

*sigh* sorry for the double post; Giz's comments blog doesn't handle traffic so well apparantly.

@SinistarX: nothing. Nor is there anything in it for Sony I imagine, since they probably want to do the same. I think this is probably complete rumor.

What's in it for Microsoft? People that have Netflix that don't have an Xbox 360 would consider purchasing one then. I think this would be great and hopefully it happens. Also, isn't one of the Netflix people on the board at Microsoft?

@ripfire4: Who cares? Well, you should if you like the idea. What is proposed above is tying Netflix to Xbox LIVE. If Microsoft doesn't have some reason to let that happen, they're not going to open up the Marketplace to streaming Netflix content.

Netflix currently offers movie downloading/streaming as part of its regular subscriptions. If they want to play on Xbox LIVE, part of their subscription fee (and thus, part of their profit) has to go to Microsoft. That portion has to be significant enough for Microsoft to consider it profitable enough to supplant their own Marketplace offerings.

This is the third time I've heard this rumor over the last three months. It would be great in my opinion if they did this. My question is, where is that survey? I don't see it on the Netflix site and haven't gotten any emails. So who are they asking? As someone posted above I also have to hook up my laptop near my entertainment center to use the watch instantly feature as it stands now, which is a pain in the butt. I'm sure MS would get a piece of the Netflix pie for this, and in return Netflix gets access to a whole new (if somewhat overlapping) potential subscriber base.

Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix is on the Microsoft board of directors...this could be much more of a reality than we may have thought.

[www.microsoft.com]

put it on the 360 and/or the ps3. i'd be a happy boy.

Why is the Wii left out of the streaming love?
It'd be the perfect streaming tool.

Yes, it's old news...but still...

Microsoft Board of Directors Adds New Member and Declares Quarterly Dividend
Reed Hastings of Netflix to Join Board; Dividend of $0.10 per share payable in June.
Related Links
Microsoft Resources:
•

Microsoft Investor Relations
•

Reed Hastings Biography

REDMOND, Wash. - March 26, 2007 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that its board of directors has increased the size of the board from nine to 10 members and elected Reed Hastings, 46, chairman and CEO of Netflix Inc., to the board. Hastings has also been appointed to the finance committee. At the meeting, the board of directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share, payable June 14, 2007, to shareholders of record on May 17, 2007. The ex-dividend date will be May 15, 2007.

I would prefer a Wii channel or MCE2005, personally. Or hell, MythTV?

I really hope this happens, and that they make a plan to just rent via streaming, no Physical discs, and they should have some affordable plans. Like 10 bucks a month for like 25 hours, 15 bucks for 40 hours and 30 bucks for unlimited. That would be awesome. Only thing I was wondering about this story is why would they get the idea of it coming to the PS3 if the survey never even mentions it. Maybe Giz made a mistake, or maybe they're just trying to get PS3 owners to read the article??? More hits does equal more $$$ after all.

Apple TV who?

Yes. I would use this. I would absolutely use this. I would love it. This would make me uber-happy. To answer the question another way: I have a 360. I love it. I recently built a "media pc" (from spare parts) in my living room JUST to stream Netflix. If I didn't need this extra PC but could use Netflix directly from my 360? I'd love it. Please oh please Microsoft and Netflix, get together! Oh, and Netflix, add more movies and TV shows to streaming. How about some Boston Legal love.

Kick ASS!

Want. Need. Must have. Gimme. Gimme.

dooooooo it

It would be cool, but Netflix needs to improve thier watch instantly selection. I doubt it would cannibalize the MS movie rental service because that deals with newer movies and Netflix watch instantly mainly has older movies. still I would love both companies if this happened. now to get Netflix to free up some of those long wait blurays in my queue.

Yes, there is a PS3 version of this plan -- not sure why Gizmodo left it out:

"If as part of your Netflix membership you could instantly watch movies and TV episodes on your TV with your PS/3 or XBOX 360, how likely would you/anyone in your household be to do that?"

"Now you can watch movies from Netflix instantly by using your Internet-connected Playstation 3. Simply insert a special Netflix disc into your PS/3 to enable instant movie streaming. The disc is available from Netflix for a one-time fee of $3."

@SinistarX A few reasons (in theory) for what MS could gain from this.

A. It's possible that Microsoft could gain more business from Netflix users if Netflix brings more traffic to that specific area of XBLive. I love XBLA but I really only play on-line with friends and download the occasional arcade game. I don't like paying extra to watch a movie or television show when I know I could have it through Netflix.

B. The XBLive Movies selection blows. Netflix has a huge library of movies to bring to the table which could, again, very well increase the amount of traffic on XBLive. Increased traffic equals more people possibly venturing into other sales areas of XBLive which equals more potential revenue for MS.

C. I think that a service like this could possibly bolster sales of the 360 console as well as XBLive gold accounts. In this day and age where people want everything super fast, even a two-day turnaround for movies from Netflix seems like an eternity. If users knew that they could have a large selection of movies at their fingertips at no extra cost to them one would have to be crazy not to jump on board.

D. It's possible that Microsoft and Netflix could come to a deal where Netflix subsidizes MS for the usage of space and services via XBLive. Netflix is still getting their money since one still needs to have an active account to utilize this service, and MS could take a little out of their pocket all the while crossing their fingers for more revenue with all the new traffic.

All in all it seems like a great deal, and in the end the true winners are the end users. I would LOVE to have a service like this.

@SinistarX: As a consumer, what Microsoft would want from Netflix or vice-versa is none of my concern. I'm sorry, but I'm more of a bottom line person.

@DaveTyranham: It'd more likely be under the Video or Network section of XMB, but yeah, I can definitely see that happening.

Oh FUCK yes.

<--- Has Xbox 360 without HDMI. *poop*

Just FYI: I submitted the article, and went back to check regarding streaming to PS3. The survey first asks whether you own a 360, PS3, or both. I only own a 360 at the moment, so I only saw the 360 side of the survey.

If you answer that you own a PS3, it asks a similar question, but includes the following in the question:

Now you can watch movies from Netflix instantly by using your Internet-connected Playstation 3. Simply insert a special Netflix disc into your PS/3 to enable instant movie streaming. The disc is available from Netflix for a one-time fee of $3.

So, it looks like they're looking at streaming to both PS3 and 360 for now. In fact, that was probably the point of the survey, to figure out how many of their customers have which console.

This would be awesome!!!! I would totally use this. Benefit for MS? More functionality out of a machine and their subscription service is ALWAYS beneficial.

This is the first time that I've heard about being able to insert a special disk to add functionality to the PS3. I sure hope that's the way of the future.

I would join Netflix in a quick minute to have this service form my Xbox

I would seriously shit a brick if this came out. The ability to watch basically ANY movie I wanted instantly on my big screen? yes please

well it wouldn't be ANY movie you wanted because the watch instantly selection sucks. hopefully they start adding some newer movies to their selection if this happens.

The very fact that you used the animaniacs reference totally just made my day a lot better.

@Sora57: The survey I got came from Sony.

@DaveTyranham: There is the option to upgrade the firmware in the PS3 by disc.

Couldn't you already do this with linux on the PS3? I guess that it might be hard on the video processing with the RSX locked though.

OMG GIMME GIMME GIMME! I would LOVE to have this functionality, as long as its a good resolution coming to my TV im set. This is what I have been waiting for from Netflix. All they need to do now is expand their Instant Viewing library (with new releases hopefully ) :p