SmashedLife discovered that Netflix is testing unlimited Watch Instantly hours with new customers. Unfortunately, "unlimited hours" only seems to be available for new subscribers at this time:
I called up the Instant Watch support line and asked to get unlimited hours but they told me it was some kind of promotion and it was to new members only. I hope they roll it out to everyone because they seems to really have picked up the movies and TV shows on there such as Heroes.
To see this offer, you have to log out of your Netflix account, clear cookies, click on "How it Works," and "Click here to learn about other available plans."
Netflix currently offers more than 5,000 movies and TV episodes on the Watch Instantly feature.
Unlimited sounds great, but I'm on a 2@a time plan... having 14 hours of time is a much better deal than TWO.
Posted by: jreed | October 22, 2007 at 02:08 AM
More specifically, its only available to new Windows subscribers.
Posted by: Baff | October 22, 2007 at 07:16 AM
Even more specifically, its only available to new Windows subscribers who meet the minimum system requirements.
Mac users aren't the only ones who aren't able to partake - until I upgrade my pc, I can't enjoy that feature either.
Posted by: JustAMom | October 22, 2007 at 07:23 AM
Or until they offer an affordable set top box.
Posted by: gir | October 22, 2007 at 07:36 AM
Even though I don't come close to using all of my hours in any month, it would still be nice if they offered unlimited to everyone.
Posted by: longklaw | October 22, 2007 at 10:22 AM
I've never hit the limit on my hours, so I think this works as a promotion but isn't necessary to roll out to everyone.
Posted by: machinegunn | October 22, 2007 at 10:32 AM
As jreed pointed out above, they have significantly reduced the hours for the lower-priced plans!
Posted by: Brian | October 22, 2007 at 10:50 AM
I'm guessing that if the new customers who were drawn in based on unlimited Watch Now *EVER* lose their unlimited Watch Now that gir will be the first one to accuse Netflix of being the Masters of Bate and Switch?
Posted by: Edward R Murrow | October 22, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Well Edward, Netflix has never done a bait and switch. Much unlike your beloved Blockbuster. Raising prices on all heavy users as well.
Posted by: OdomZ | October 22, 2007 at 01:41 PM
I agree with jreed. Unlimited would be cool for people who have those plans, but I'm on 2 at a time and currently have 14 hours of watch now. I never use all 14, but I definitely use more than 2 hours. I would be greatly disappointed if my watch now hours were reduced.
Posted by: Reese | October 22, 2007 at 04:05 PM
There seems to be multiple promotions out. The screenshot I have on my blog has only the 1 at a time DVD plans with 2 hours and on hackingnetflix, the 2 at a time plan doesn't have unlimited hours.
Posted by: smashedlife | October 23, 2007 at 12:13 AM
I'm moving back to Netflix after a long hiatus (because of the BBOTA bait & switch) and see nothing that shows either unlimited watch now or 2 hour watch now. It's all the typical hours = $ deal.
Posted by: Jking47 | October 27, 2007 at 02:37 PM