Par, MGM, Lionsgate films stream to Netflix
Many of us are in a love-like relationship with Netflix’s Watch Instantly streaming video feature.
The bugs seem mostly ironed out, and you do get a glimpse of home video’s future via its user-friendly menus and features. We’re seeing more high definition movies via the stream, which look pretty good on a big-screen.
The biggest problem, which Netflix has been scrambling to address, is its limited catalog. The hits are in short supply and everything feels, well, used.
Looks like a partial fix is on its way. Netflix just confirmed an online streaming deal with the three Hollywood studios that own the little-known pay TV channel Epix.
That brings Netflix subscribers Epix movies from Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate to Netflix, beginning Sept. 1.
You won’t be able to “watch instantly” — there’s a 90-day window after the films’ debut on premium TV and on-demand subscription services — but the move clearly means a quantum leap in Netflix’s online offerings. (Watch Instantly is three steps down the distribution channel.)
It’s not clear how many recent boxoffice hits will be flowing through the channel. Epix movies of the moment include “Iron Man,” the latest “Star Trek,” “The Cove,” “G.I. Joe” and “Crank” — almost all more than a year old.
Catalog titles include the “Godfather” trilogy, “Blood Simple,” “Star Trek” movies, “Dances With Wolves” and “Last Tango in Paris.” That the cream of the archives, however: Anyone for “976-Horror 2″?
Epix immediately becomes profitable with the deal, studio executives pointed out. Good thing, since its current distribution is approximately squat.
Netflix’s stock picked up even more speed with the news, posting a 7 percent gain on announcement day.
The deal runs for five years and is worth as much as $1 billion, the Los Angeles Times and Reuters said.
Netflix outputs its streaming content to computers, game consoles such as the Xbox 360 and to various consumer electronics devices such as Blu-ray players.
“Adding Epix to our growing library of streaming content, as the exclusive Internet-only distributor of this great content, marks the continued emergence of (Watch Instantly),” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix.
The DVD rental giant recently pacted with Warners for rights to show “Nip/Tuck,” “Veronica Mars” and various catalog TV shows.
Its month-old deal for guy-oriented Relativity Media films (”Robin Hood,” “Get Him to the Greek”) allows for streaming during the “pay TV window.” Netflix said this would mark “the first time that studio quality theatrical feature films will be streamed via subscription by Netflix instead of being broadcast by the traditional pay providers.”
Watch Instantly reels in 300 indie titles
Netflix’s streaming video service goes arthouse with the addition of 300 new indie and foreign titles, from the likes of the Criterion Collection and Kino Lorber.
Other distributors announced as part of the Watch Instantly expansion into the indie arena include Gravitas Ventures, Music Box Films, Oscilloscope Laboratories and Regent Releasing.
“We’ve found that a large number of members enjoy the innovative, artist-driven nature of independent film,” press-released Robert Kyncl, vice president of content acquisition for Netflix.
Much of the Watch Instantly fare that’s classified as independent fare is of mixed value, a lot of aging B-movie crap. The new indie film deals are designed to bring in higher-quality films, such as “Au Revoir Les Enfants,” “Departures,” “As It Is in Heaven” and “A Nos Amours.”
Criterion’s online video service began more than a year ago, serving up titles such as “La Strada,” “Grey Gardens,” “Monterey Pop” and “M.” It’s not clear how many of those titles will be available via Netflix, since the Tiffany DVD label charges for those films on its site.
On Criterion’s “Online Cinematheque” site, the movies go for $5, but they’re renting for $3 on Vudu, another online video service that recently cut a deal with the DVD distributor.
Pretty much everything released by the Criterion Collection is worth watching and owning, but so far the streaming movies contain only a few of the label’s greatest films.
Netflix movie stream rerouted to PS3
Netflix is streaming its Watch Instantly service away from Xbox 360 and over into the PlayStation 3 camp.
The Netflix deal with Microsoft (Xbox) simply expired.
Not much to get excited about, really. As we’ve written before, the Watch Instantly is underwhelming, a lot of average to low-grade movies that are generally available any night on free TV.
On the Xbox 360, the two-step process to get the film streaming into your game console was a clunky pain, and once there the images looked borderline crappy.
This part is getting even worse on PS3, for now. In order to get the service, PS3 users have to insert a Netflix-supplied Blu-ray disc into their players, which also have to be connected to the Internet. A software update apparently will fix this later.
Also in line for the service, apparently, are owners of Nintendo’s Wii system. Tech blogger Dan Rayburn says he’s been leaked photos of the Wii-Netflix service, which could come this year.
Meanwhile, in other lame-tech news, Apple TV has been upgraded to 3.0 software. The changes mostly allow for more features from the iTunes Store such as the LP multimedia packages. No support for outside content, such as the Netflix package.
Macworld called the Apple TV 3.0 update “a pleasant improvement that addresses some lingering interface issues while adding whole new levels of mystery about exactly what (if anything) Apple is going to do with the product.”
Update: Apparently the Apple TV 3.0 update wasn’t an entirely pleasant experience for end users. Let’s hear it directly from Apple:
There is an issue with Apple TV software version 3.0 that can possibly cause your content to disappear after a period of time. All customers running Apple TV software version 3.0 should immediately restart their Apple TV and then upgrade to Apple TV software version 3.0.1.
Yes, that’s disappearing content.
After the botched iPhone 3G update … and the iTunes update that resulted in mysteriously AWOL library MP3 … you’d think they would be more careful. Someone should make a TV ad about this.
Watch Instantly, on Windows Media Center
Those TV shoppers who just can’t bring themselves to pay good money for Apple’s good products will be pleased to know that Netflix’s streaming videos are coming to the Windows Media Center.
Only catch is, users have to be running Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate. You basic Vista won’t cut it … another reason to regret that operating system. Also out in the cold are the XP diehards and downgraders.
Netflix and Microsoft previously partnered on Xbox 360 delivery of “Watch Instantly” streams, available to the game console’s Live Gold subscribers.
“We’re building on our broader vision to alleviate the need to jump from Web site to Web site to find TV shows, movies, sports and news,” Microsoft said in today’s freshly cooked canned statement. “With Windows Media Center, (viewers) can now find it in one place.”
The Windows Media Center elite must also have a basic or better subscription to Netflix. The streaming catalog of 12,000-some (mostly dated) movies and TV shows comes at no additional cost. Microsoft’s Silverlight video platform will do the heavy lifting.
Home Premium runs about $60 more than Basic, while Ultimate adds another $120 or so to the tab. Microsoft, meanwhile, is ready to trash Vista with a highly anticipated OS, Windows 7.
WMC added a sports channel in March with content from CBS and Fox.
Update: Silicon Valley Insider looks at the Netflix deal from the Apple perspective. The post notes that “Netflix support makes the Xbox 360 a more attractive movie machine than Apple’s sad Apple TV. … And it makes Windows Media Center more attractive than Apple’s “Front Row media center software.” The dagger gets slipped in thusly: “Apple admits its home entertainment business is a ‘hobby.’ But right now, maybe ‘joke’ is a better word.
Meanwhile, live streaming site Mogulus has redubbed itself Livestream, reflecting its function rather than, uh, some futuristic executive whose bit was left on the cutting room floor in “The Matrix.”
Max Haot, Livestream CEO and co-founder, lets slip this bit of promo-talk:
Livestream is doing for live video streaming what YouTube did for on-demand video clips. While we didn’t invent live streaming, we’re removing the barriers — making live video production and streaming easy and affordable for anybody to use and experience. … Live video streaming is well positioned to become a key force moving us toward richer, more immersive content experiences and communication.”
Netflix floats streaming HBO video
Netflix wants to know: Would you pay another $10 a month for HBO shows and movies via the streaming video service Watch Instantly?
The mail-rental giant asked subscribers about their interest in online versions of current HBO series such as “Big Love” and “Flight of the Concords,” as well as oldie goldies “The Sopranos,” “Six Feet Under” and “The Wire.” And a bunch of movies showing their age.
Netflix’s Watch Instantly streaming service comes with a regular subscription. It features mostly catalog movies and indie fare but has a solid 12,000 or so movies on tap.
The poll cited “HBO content,” not specific channels. There are seven.
Netflix has been moving aggressively into the broadband streaming video business, finding hardware outlets recently on the Xbox 360, Tivo, and Blu-ray boxes from LG and Samsung. The HBO fare would be available via those channels, as well as on PCs.
$10? (Well, make it $9.99.) Sounds like a non-starter. If you get the Time Warner premium service via cable or satellite, who needs it? And $10 will get you most of the way to paying for the cable tier, anyway. The value to such a service may be in exploring older HBO series such as “Rome,” maybe.
“Big Love” looks surprisingly strong this season, but for the most part HBO’s glory days have come and gone. I’m thinking the price point for HBO streaming video via Netflix is something like $5 a month (make that $4.99). Even though HBO fare goes for $1.99 an episode on iTunes. Remember, Watch Instantly is free … of additional charge.
Hacking Netflix broke the story. Video Business quoted a Netflix flack as saying hundreds of similar polls are emailed out each month, and that there were no talks with HBO anyway.
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