BLU-RAY NEWS TAGGED "NETFLIX"Receive Blu-ray News via RSS

Sony Adds Netflix Streaming To PlayStation 3

Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: PlayStation 3, Netflix, Streaming Content (all tags)

Sony has announced that PS3 users will soon have access to the popular Netflix streaming service through the use of BD-Live.

Fans of the PlayStation 3 just got another bragging point, as Sony has announced that Netflix will be available as soon as next month. There’s a bit of a catch though. Rather than being able to access the service through the systems menu thanks to a system update like the rival Xbox 360, PlayStation owners will need to access the service through BD-Live.

Netflix will provide Blu-ray discs free to subscribers who can reserve the discs now at Netflix.com/PS3. Streaming will be available at the standard $8.99 price. Netflix is hoping to echo the surge in memberships seen after the addition of the service to the Xbox, but with a few extra dollars tacked on to each one for Blu-ray rentals.

Sony’s press release states “Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members.” This wording may indicate that a firmware update or installation disc may be in the works and that the BD Live streaming may only be a temporary solution.

Source: Press Release

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Sony Adds Netflix Streaming To PlayStation 3

Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: PlayStation 3, Netflix, Streaming Content (all tags)

Sony has announced that PS3 users will soon have access to the popular Netflix streaming service through the use of BD-Live.

Fans of the PlayStation 3 just got another bragging point, as Sony has announced that Netflix will be available as soon as next month. There’s a bit of a catch though. Rather than being able to access the service through the systems menu thanks to a system update like the rival Xbox 360, PlayStation owners will need to access the service through BD-Live.

Netflix will provide Blu-ray discs free to subscribers who can reserve the discs now at Netflix.com/PS3. Streaming will be available at the standard $8.99 price. Netflix is hoping to echo the surge in memberships seen after the addition of the service to the Xbox, but with a few extra dollars tacked on to each one for Blu-ray rentals.

Sony’s press release states “Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members.” This wording may indicate that a firmware update or installation disc may be in the works and that the BD Live streaming may only be a temporary solution.

Source: Press Release

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Best Buy and Netflix Announce Insignia Partnership

Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 06:00 PM ET
Tags: Best Buy, Insignia, Netflix (all tags)

In the increasingly competitive HDTV market, functionality seems to be key in nabbing sales. To that end, Best Buy will be integrating Netflix functionality into their Insignia Blu-ray players.

The ever popular Netflix streaming program seems to be a feather in the cap of any piece of electronics that allows consumers access, and manufacturers are taking note. The Insignia Advanced Series and Insignia Connected Blu-ray players from Best Buy will both feature Netflix functionality.

The soon to be released WiFi ready Advanced (model NS-WBRDVD) has an MSRP of $249, but is selling at $199 on Best Buy’s site at press time. Currently available, the Insignia Connected player (model: NS-BRDVD3) runs $179 and streams via an Ethernet connection. While the Insignia Advanced BD player will run Netflix out of the box, the Insignia Connected player will require a firmware update.

Interestingly, as Best Buy has a stake not only in the sale of their Blu-ray players, but in the sale of Blu-ray discs, this may be an indicator of a change in the marketplace. More likely though, Best Buy simply wants to make sure that Insignia Blu-ray players leave the shelves quickly this holiday season.

Source: Press Release

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Amazon To Purchase Netflix?

Tue Jul 14, 2009 at 04:10 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, Amazon, Industry Trends (all tags)

Stocks have seen a surge at the rumor of takeover.

There’s quite a bit of talk about the purchase of Netflix, a video service that has grown substantially since it first started in 1997 and has seen significant increases in membership since the introduction of their streaming service. Of course, when one company is doing well, everyone else naturally wants to get a piece of that success. Enter Amazon.

Essentially the Wal-Mart of the internet, Amazon parlayed an online book store into one of the biggest shopping sites on the net today. They offer products ranging from the aforementioned books to pacifiers, Blu-ray players, clothing, music, and even video on demand. Could it be that Amazon is looking to expand even further?

Industry analyst Michael Pachter says no, and all because of sales tax. “Suddenly in a whole bunch of states Amazon finds itself taxable, it would kill their core business.” That doesn’t seem like a huge deal to most of us, but recently Amazon stopped ads in several states to avoid having to pay sales tax. More taxes mean higher prices, and that’s not what Amazon is about.

Analysts agree that Netflix does seem to be in the position to be taken over, but the question is when, and by whom.

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HDD Editorial: Another Slap in the Face from Netflix for Blu-ray Fans

Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: Netflix (all tags)

Remember back in October when Netflix upped their monthly charges $1 for Blu-ray subscribers? Well, the company is about to launch another gouge this April.

Starting April 27, the online rental company will charge anywhere from an additional $1 to a whopping $9 a month for Blu-ray rentals depending on the plan. For example, the $4.99/month option allowing one movie at a time (two per month) will cost an additional buck, and the $47.99/month option granting eight movies at a time (unlimited per month) will cost $9 extra.

Despite Netflix's claims regarding the higher price of Blu-ray, many readers are pointing out that the prices of Blu-ray discs are falling and their anti-scratch resistance should actually allow for a longer lifespan than standard DVDs. In a time where the economy is in peril, this move doesn't seem to be making Netflix look good in the eyes of consumers at all.

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Special Delivery - Netflix Update Arrives for Samsung Blu-ray Players

Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 09:00 AM ET
Tags: Samsung, Netflix, Video Streaming (all tags)

Samsung has released a firmware update that will allow Netflix customers to stream movies through their Blu-ray players.

As previously reported, Samsung and Netflix settled on an arrangement similar to that announced by LG Electronics which will allow owners to take advantage of Netflix's "Watch Instantly" service at no additional cost.

After installing the update to their Samsung BD-P2550 and BD-P2500 players, Netflix account holders can visit the website to add standard definition movies and TV episodes to their instant queues. Those selections will then be available for viewing on their TVs via their Samsung players.

For more information on Netflix streaming, visit the company website!

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Samsung Announces Free Player Update For Netflix Streaming

Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: Samsung, Netflix, Video Streaming (all tags)

Owners of the Samsung BD-P2550 and BD-P2500 Blu-ray players awoke this morning to some happy news. With a simple update, their players can now stream Netflix movies at no extra charge!

As announced by Reuters, the two companies have settled on an arrangement similar to that announced last month by LG Electronics which will allow owners to take advantage of Netflix's "Watch Instantly" service.

Netflix account holders can visit the website to add standard definition movies and TV episodes to their instant queues. Those selections will then be available for viewing on their TVs via their Samsung players.

For more information on Netflix streaming, visit the company website!

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Related links:
Netflix, Samsung in streaming partnership [Reuters.com]

LG Details BD300 Blu-ray/Netflix Player

Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: LG, Netflix, Video Streaming (all tags)

LG Electronics has released more information on its upcoming BD300 Blu-ray Player, which will be capable of streaming TV and movie programming to owners with Netflix subscriptions.

In an announcement made yesterday, the company said the players will be available next month at retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City. The suggested retail price has been set at $399.95

Allan Jason, vice president of sales and marketing for Digital Media/New Products at LG called the new player "The ultimate convergence of home theater entertainment and functionality" Jason dubbed the BD300 "the next step in a truly personalized entertainment experience."

As reported by The New York Times "Bits" Technology Blog the movies streamed via Netflix will not be available in High-Def, but this is one of the first players to allow instant streaming, providing the combination of top of the line picture quality, and the added convenience of Netflix's on demand video offerings.

LG representatives have also pointed out the ability to update the player's operating system to add future features through software updates. We'll provide more information on this player as details come to us.

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Related links:
Press Release: LG ELECTRONICS’ BD300 NETWORK BLU-RAY DISC PLAYER AVAILABLE THIS FALL AT NATIONAL RETAILERS [http://us.lge.com]
New LG Blu-Ray Player Streams Netflix — With Drawbacks [http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com]

Netflix to Raise Prices for Blu-ray Subscribers

Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, High-Def Disc Rentals (all tags)

Citing higher retail and wholesale prices, Netflix plans to implement a "modest monthly premium" for access to Blu-ray titles some time this year.

As confirmed through transcripts of Netflix's first quarter earnings call, President and CEO Reed Hastings made the announcement during the conference call yesterday.

"Purchasing Blu-ray DVDs costs more both at retail and wholesale than standard definition DVDs, and consumers are used to paying more for high-definition content in every other channel, including video rental stores, video-on-demand, and cable channels," Hastings stated. "Because of the higher cost of Blu-ray and the consumer expectations around high-def content, we are planning on implementing a modest monthly premium for access to Blu-ray some time this year."

No information was provided regarding a timeline for the price increase or the amount that might be charged. We'll be sure to keep you posted as we learn more regarding the company's plans for next generation subscribers.

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Netflix To Expand Blu-ray Inventory

Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, High-Def Retailing, Industry Trends (all tags)

Online rentailer Netflix says it plans to grow its selection of Blu-ray titles by as much as three-fold in the coming year.

Speaking at the Jeffries 4th Annual Internet Conference in New York on Wednesday, Netflix CFO Barry McCarthy said that his company expects to add as many as 1,500 Blu-ray titles to its existing 400 titles this year.

McCarthy went on to say that the company had not yet decided whether the higher price of acquiring Blu-ray discs (vs standard DVD) might lead to a price hike for subscribers.

"It seems apparent that content will cost us more," said McCarthy. "Whether we raise prices will be entirely a function of churn, subscriber acquisition costs and gross margins."

As we've previously reported, earlier this month Neflix announced it would phase out its HD DVD support, saying that although only a small portion of Netflix subscribers had elected to receive high-def discs, a majority of those subscribers had chosen Blu-ray over HD DVD.

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Related links:
Netflix boosts subscriber estimates [Video Business]
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Netflix Goes Blu-ray Exclusive (Feb 11, 2008)


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