Hacking NetFlix

Netflix New Releases for December 29th, 2009

Click here for the full list of new releases this week (21).

Interesting titles include 9, Paranormal Activity, A Perfect Getaway, Jennifer's Body, Glee, United States of Tara, Facing Ali, Last Cup: Road to the World Series of Beer Pong, Vampire Killers, Weather Girl, and The Marine 2.

Streaming releases this week include Being John Malkovich, 3:10 to Yuma, Race to Witch Mountain, Bram Stoker's Dracula, 28 Days, The First Wives Club, and 48 Hrs. (more at StreamingSoon).

Amazon Netflix Takeover Rumors Resurface

Silicon Valley Insider reports that the rumors of Amazon buying Netflix are circulating again (they've been going around for years):

Earlier today, Reuters reporter Anupreeta Das tweeted "Netflix-Amazon rumor doing rounds of options market again." While we read on Fly On The Wall, the rumor mill/financial news aggregator, "Netflix calls active on renewed takeover chatter."

It would be a great combination (Netflix on a Kindle?), but I'm wondering who else should buy Netflix? AT&T to go after Comcast? Microsoft for Zune & Xbox? Who do you think should buy Netflix?

WSJ: CBS & Disney Considering Apple TV

The Wall Street Journal reports that CBS and Disney are in discussion with Apple to offer a subscription service for television programming.

In at least some versions of the proposal, Apple would pay media companies about $2 to $4 a month per subscriber for a broadcast network like CBS or ABC, and about $1 to $2 a month per subscriber for a basic-cable network, people familiar with the proposals said. Those amounts are in some cases much higher than media companies receive from traditional distributors. The question is whether selling fewer networks at higher prices is better business.

Apple's TV proposal may be changing as the company woos networks, according to people familiar with the matter. An initial version of the proposal had envisioned selling access to advertising-free shows from a bundle of top cable and broadcast networks—the "best of television"—with a consumer price tag of $30 a month, according to people familiar with the talks.

If Apple is able to offer television programming on a subscription basis I believe a lot of people would seriously consider dropping cable TV. Apple already has more than 100 million iTunes accounts with credit cards, so Apple could potentially add several million subscribers for a cable TV alternative in a short period of time.

Netflix is another company to watch -- they're almost as big as Time Warner and half the size of Comcast.  Netflix has also quietly building a cable box alternative directly into TVs, Blu-ray players, home theater systems, and devices like the Roku Player. 

It would be great to have serious alternatives to cable TV, especially if we're able to unbundle the different channels into a personalized offering (I don't watch that many channels, and yet I'm paying for hundreds).

The next year should be very interesting.

via TechCrunch.

New Release Availability: Netflix vs. Blockbuster

To write about Netflix & Blockbuster I maintain a 3-out account from each service, and I've been observing new release availability from both services. 

Here's a few of the latest "hot" movie releases in my Netflix queue:

Here's the same list in my Blockbuster queue:

 

Blu-ray availability from Netflix is the same for the above titles, but Blockbuster has "Long Waits" on the Blu-ray editions of Inglorious Basterds, Night at the Museum 2, and G-Force.

Lately Blockbuster has been faster at shipping new releases like The Hangover, but in this case it's being shipped from a remote shipping center. Note the ship date of 12/18/2009, but expected arrival date of 12/22/2009.

 

I'm still waiting for it to be available from Netflix:

 

One customer experience is not a fair way to test both services, so I'd like to get your feedback. Please leave a comment with the service you use (Netflix, Blockbuster, or both), and how successful you have been at getting new releases.

Photos from the Netflix "House" in Nashville's Opry Mills Mall

Last week Netflix setup a temporary "house" in Nashville's Opry Mills Mall, and here are photos (courtesy Netflix):

 

  

  

I think this was a great way for Netflix to demonstrate how streaming works and show off some of the many Netflix-ready devices including TiVo HD, Blu-ray players, Roku Players, and more.

Netflix New Releases for December 22nd, 2009

Click here for the full list of new releases this week (27).

Interesting titles include All About Steve, (500) Days of Summer, Extract, District 9, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, Staten Island, It Might Get Loud, Family Guy: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side, Call of the Wild, American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, & Blind Date.

Streaming releases this week include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Megafault, The Last Emperor, Caligula, Onibaba, Ikiru, Yojimbo, Open Window, The Auteur, and Wanda Sykes: Sick & Tired (more at StreamingSooon).

Netflix Faces Class Action Lawsuit For Netflix Prize Data Release

Wired reports that a class action lawsuit was filed today on behalf of millions of Netflix subscribers that had movie rating data released as part of the Netflix Prize contest: Netflix Spilled Your Brokeback Mountain Secret, Lawsuit Claims.

An in-the-closet lesbian mother is suing Netflix for privacy invasion, alleging the movie rental company made it possible for her to be outed when it disclosed insufficiently anonymous information about nearly half-a-million customers as part of its $1 million contest to improve its recommendation system.

The suit known as Doe v. Netflix (.pdf) was filed in federal court in California on Thursday, alleging that Netflix violated fair-trade laws and a federal privacy law protecting video rental records, when it launched its popular contest in September 2006.

The suit seeks more than $2,500 in damages for each of more than 2 million Netflix customers.

If you're interested in reading the class action suit filing, Wired has posted a copy (PDF).

Netflix Makes Website Change to Put Streaming First

Netflix just made a minor site change with interesting implications: they're putting the Watch Instantly tab before Browse DVDs:

  

Netflix has more than 100,000 DVD titles but just under 20,000 streaming titles, so it's curious that they're promoting streaming over DVD. Netflix also moved the friends link from the top of the page to the bottom.

Have a Netflix-Ready Device? What do You Like or Dislike About It?

Jeffrey writes, "I have been shopping around for a new Blu-ray player that will stream NETFLIX (and other content as well), and I have read a bunch of reviews on ALL of them. Do you have any recommendations as to what you think is the best one. It seems a lot of people have had problems with the firmware updates on some of the Samsung models, and the LG models are limited on what else they can instant stream thru their players. The one I really like is the Sony BDP-N460. Most reviews are quite favorable, and besides NETFLIX, this particular model offers up Blockbuster On Demand, Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, Crackle, Fear.net, and a host of others. I’m just checking with you to see if you have heard of any problems where this device and NETFLIX instant streaming is concerned since that will be my major application for this unit."

While I own a total of 7 Netflix-ready devices (2 Roku's, 2 Windows Media Center PCs and an Xbox 360), I only have 2 Netflix-ready Blu-ray players (PS3 and Insignia). I really like the PS3 for Blu-ray as it includes WIFI and also plays games, but the Insignia is just a basic Blu-ray player with WIFI. I've played with other Blu-ray players, but  Jeffrey is looking for feedback from people that own the different devices.

Do you have a Netflix-ready device, such as a Roku Player, TiVo HD, Blu-ray player, TV, home theater system, PS3 or Xbox 360? 

What do you like or dislike about the way it works? Have you had problems? What could be improved?

Visit the Netflix Demo "House" at the Nashville Opry Mills Mall on December 17th

Netflix will be demonstrating Netflix-ready devices on December 17th at the Nashville Opry Mills Mall in Nashville from 10am to 9pm.

Santa’s shop may be closed to the public, but the Netflix Holiday House will be open to provide you with some great holiday gift ideas and a chance to put up your feet and instantly watch some of your favorite movies.

For one day only, Netflix and a bevy of holiday helpers will guide you through the Netflix Holiday House where you can see all the latest and greatest devices that allow you to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streamed from Netflix. So take a break from the wrapping, eggnog and carols to join us at the Netflix Holiday House at the Opry Mills Mall.