Netflix Expands Internet Viewing Option, Day Before Macworld

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Girding for a potential threat from Apple Inc., online DVD rental service Netflix Inc. is lifting its limits on how long most subscribers can watch movies and television shows over high-speed Internet connections. The Associated Press has learned the change will become effective Monday, on the eve of Apple's widely anticipated move into the movie rental industry. Although Apple hasn't confirmed anything yet, Chief Executive Steve Jobs is expected to make it official during a presentation Tuesday in San Francisco. Netflix is gearing up for the increased competition by expanding a year-old feature that streams movies over the Internet instead of making customers wait for their online rental requests to be delivered through the mail.

Until now, Netflix restricted how long its more than 7 million subscribers could use the streaming service each month, based on how much they pay to rent DVDs. For instance, under a popular plan that charges $16.99 per month to rent up to three DVDs at a time, Netflix customers could watch as many as 17 hours of entertainment each month on the streaming service, dubbed "Watch Instantly." With Monday's change, virtually all Netflix subscribers will be able to stream as many movies and TV shows as they want from a library containing more than 6,000 titles. There will be no additional charge for the unlimited access. Only the small portion of Netflix customers who pay $4.99 to rent up to two DVDs per month won't be provided unlimited access to the streaming service.

View: Full Story @ Associated Press

#1 thollian on 13 Jan 2008 - 19:40

awesome!

(1 reply) #2 Pixil Eyes on 13 Jan 2008 - 19:58

Compention at its best.

#2.1 Daffy_Duck on 13 Jan 2008 - 20:57

Yeah. And also competition at it's best.

#3 .kvn on 13 Jan 2008 - 20:31

It's amazing what rumors can do.

(3 replies) #4 internetworld7 on 13 Jan 2008 - 21:12

The two most feared companies in technology are Google and Apple. These two make everyone tremble, especially Microsoft. Netflix is going to have to do more in order to compete with the Mighty Apple. Apple is going to revolutionize this industry as they do everything they get involved in. Too bad we can't vote for Steve Jobs as the new President of The United States. Can you imagine how immensely Rich, Powerful and technologically advanced the U.S. would be? Wow! I get major chills just thinking about it!

#4.1 IceBreakerG on 14 Jan 2008 - 00:21

Quote - (internetworld7 said @ #4)

Too bad we can't vote for Steve Jobs as the new President of The United States. Can you imagine how immensely Rich, Powerful and technologically advanced the U.S. would be? Wow! I get major chills just thinking about it!

Not very. But Mr. Jobs sure would. Like his $1 salary bull****. His pockets will get fatter, ours won't.

#4.2 Swordnyx on 14 Jan 2008 - 06:43

Quote - (IceBreakerG said @ #4.1)

lol seriously why is internetworld7 getting so worked up about another guy's happiness and riches? Weird guys.. why don't you do something rather than admire random people's skills (or in this case, selfishness).

#4.3 GreyWolfSC on 14 Jan 2008 - 14:47

*sigh* here we go again... You can vote for Jobs if you want. It's called a write-in. And nobody fears Apple and Google. Google is Internet Bubble 2.0 waiting to happen, and Apple is, well, fruity.

#5 RichardK on 14 Jan 2008 - 13:44

When I signed up for Netflix (again) about 2 weeks ago, it already said that the package I signed up for included unlimited "Watch Instantly" movies/TV Shows. Though their selection is pretty poor.

#6 GreyWolfSC on 14 Jan 2008 - 14:51

I kept wondering why this mentions Macworld. Here are the missing citations from the source that relate to Apple.

Quote -

Removing the time constraints on its streamed entertainment could give Netflix an advantage over Apple's movie rental service. Apple will charge $3.99 for movies that can be downloaded and played for up to 24 hours, according to media reports citing people familiar with the company's rental plans.

Apple's rental service is expected to offer its customers more flexibility, allowing movies to be viewed on the Cupertino-based company's ubiquitous iPod and iPhone, as well as on computers.

Apple last year began selling a $299 device designed to transport video from computers to TVs. LG Electronics hasn't disclosed the price of its Netflix box, which is expected to debut in late summer or early fall.

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