Update #2: I got more information from a source at Netflix and will post a new story with the updated information.
Update #1: It looks like the 3 readers that reported the "hack" were all part of the first wave. It's worth trying if you really want to try the service, but it has been tested by other readers and doesn't appear to work. - Mike
Three different readers have sent in a possible hack that might turn on the Netflix "Instant Watching" feature. Try clicking on the following link:
http://www.netflix.com/InstantWatchingRollout
Several readers tried it, and it didn't work (they might have been part of the first 250,000 and were just activiated).
Let's try this way:
1. Click on the Help link in the upper right hand corner of the Netflix site.
2. Search for Watch Now.
3. You'll see the first result includes a link for "instant viewing." Click on that link.
Please let me know if it works.
Thanks to Laksman, Cary, and anonymous for sending this in.
No-can-do for me...
Posted by: Lamarr Wilson | January 20, 2007 at 03:07 AM
Doesn't work for me either
Posted by: erjho | January 20, 2007 at 03:19 AM
me neither. It also says that it will requite Internet Explorer 6 or higher. Would be nice if they'd let you use firefox. I can't stand IE
Posted by: Kraki | January 20, 2007 at 03:20 AM
Neither method works. The help page version gives a splash page with this image:
http://cdn.nflximg.com/us/pages/wn/wn_later_reqs.jpg
-ted
Posted by: tedder | January 20, 2007 at 08:14 AM
Nope, the 2nd method still doesn't work for me :(
Posted by: erjho | January 20, 2007 at 10:44 AM
I didn't work for me, but I wonder if they are going to hide this feature for non-Windows users. I'm using OS X and Ubuntu, so I may never get this feature. :(
Posted by: treycranson | January 20, 2007 at 12:58 PM
I'm using Windows (XP), and it didn't work in Firefox 2 or IE 7.
Posted by: erjho | January 20, 2007 at 01:30 PM
They must have turned it off before this got posted. I tried the method listed in the comments of another post yesterday and it worked for me, although I did have to switch to IE to actually use it.
Posted by: hal0 | January 20, 2007 at 03:03 PM
Wonder if there's a method to the rollout, or just random. I've had an account since 2002, I wish I'd get it soon.
Posted by: Kimberly | January 20, 2007 at 05:19 PM
I posted this technique last week. A few of my friends tried it and it worked for them. I guess they were lucky.
Posted by: vanjulio | January 21, 2007 at 03:50 PM
BINGO!
Goto the "Your Account" page.
Click Link link labeled "How can I watch movies on my PC?"
Click on the "Start Now" that's magnified on the page, the cursor should change when you hover over it.
Worked for 3 different accounts this AM!
RM
Posted by: mchero | January 23, 2007 at 09:09 AM
I don't know if I was part of the first wave or not.
I logged in this morning and didn't have the watch now feature.
I followed the directions and instantly had the watch now tab.
YAY!
Posted by: trixare4kids | January 24, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Just worked for me...
Posted by: rjspring | January 24, 2007 at 06:08 PM
Why doesnt Netflix just make instant watching work with FireFox running on Linux? What is the issue? Just do it.
Posted by: GDI | June 10, 2009 at 06:06 PM