Attention, PlayStation 3 owners: want to watch a movie streamed instantly from Netflix via your PS3? I’ve got terrific news for you; very soon you’ll be able to do just that.
We’re excited to announce today that Netflix and Sony have partnered to bring you thousands of movies and TV episodes streamed instantly from Netflix to your TV via your PS3 system at no extra charge. When the application launches next month, you’ll be able to access and watch thousands of Netflix choices directly through the XMB. We think that the nearly nine million PS3 enthusiasts and 11.1 million Netflix members in the U.S. will make quite a match.
If you want to get a head start on your PS3 Netflix experience, you can sign up today at http://www.netflix.com/ps3.
For more information, check out the press release below (or click here), and stay tuned to the PlayStation.Blog for further updates on the rollout.
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COMING SOON: NETFLIX MEMBERS CAN INSTANTLY WATCH MOVIES AND TV EPISODES STREAMED TO TVs VIA THE PLAYSTATION®3 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
With Movies Streamed Instantly from Netflix, Blu-ray/DVD Playback and Downloadable Videos via the PlayStation®Network, the PlayStation 3 System Offers The Industry’s Most Comprehensive Options for Watching Movies and TV Shows
FOSTER CITY and LOS GATOS, Calif., October 26, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced that they are joining forces to make thousands of movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. Netflix expects to begin streaming via the PS3 system next month at no additional cost to Netflix members in the United States who have a PS3 system.
Today’s announcement pairs two of the most popular and fastest growing home entertainment brands in the U.S. The PS3 system’s installed base has reached close to 9 million units in the United States, and Netflix recently reported 11.1 million U.S. subscribers as of September 30.
The partnership further solidifies the PS3 system as the most complete home entertainment hub on the market today, enabling consumers to play high-definition games, watch Blu-ray movies, listen to music, view photos, browse the Internet, and download content from PlayStation®Network − from exclusive games to blockbuster movies and popular TV shows. PS3 system owners will soon enjoy an unparalleled experience watching their favorite movies and TV shows streamed instantly from Netflix, downloading from the PlayStation Network or watching Blu-ray/DVD media. The Netflix offering expands on the entertainment experience delivered to PS3 system owners via PlayStation Network.
For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers via Netflix ready devices such as the PS3 system and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes.
“The PlayStation 3 system has always been about more than just gaming, and it will soon be the only platform in the industry to offer consumers such a variety of convenient options for enjoying movies and TV shows,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. “Whether you want to watch content on Blu-ray disc and DVD, download it from the PlayStation Network’s video delivery service, or stream videos instantly from Netflix, the PS3 system is the only solution that offers it all.”
“As instantly watching movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix becomes an increasingly popular way to enjoy the Netflix service, our goal is to rapidly expand the devices that stream to our members,” said Netflix CEO and co-founder Reed Hastings. “As a leading game console and Blu-ray disc player, bringing Netflix to the PS3 system is a real win for both Netflix members and PS3 system owners.”
Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members. The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live™ technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Netflix members simply slide the disc into their PS3 systems to reveal movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. These titles are conveniently organized into a variety of categories based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues. Members can use the Netflix Web site or navigate directly on their PS3 systems to add movies and TV shows to their Queues. With the PS3 system’s Wireless Controller, members can choose a movie to watch from their instant Queues or just play directly from any of the lists. They also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies. In addition, they have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream via the Wireless Controller.
Netflix members and PS3 system owners can now reserve a free instant streaming disc for PS3 systems by going to www.netflix.com/ps3. Upon availability, the instant streaming disc will be delivered for free by first-class mail, generally one business day after members request it.
About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game consoles, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its digital services which include the PlayStation®Network and the PlayStation®Store.
Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one® game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, and the PlayStation 3 and PSP systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
About Netflix, Inc.
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world’s largest online movie rental service, with more than more than 11 million subscribers. For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. There are never any due dates or late fees. Netflix members can exchange DVDs as often as they want using a postage-paid return envelope. Members can choose from a vast selection of DVD titles and a growing library of movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. Netflix is partnering with leaders in consumer electronics to bring to market a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to members’ TVs. These devices currently include Blu-ray disc players and new Internet TVs from LG Electronics; Blu-ray disc players from Samsung and Best Buy’s Insignia brand; the Roku digital video player; Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console; TiVo digital video recorders; and, soon, the PS3 system and Internet TVs from Sony and VIZIO.
Thanks Steve, I was just about to buy a Roku player. Not anymore!
Thank you!Thank you! Sony and Netflix I have been waiting for this a long time. Know there only two more things that we need in my opinion thats just cross game chat and having the PS3 play MVK files and all types of media and then the Ps3 will truly be the best Media Hub. Now I only have two Question when is it going to be available on the ps3 and Do I have to pay normally with a credit card or can I pay using the money in my Playstation Network account?
Sony you have never let me down. Keep it comming just and wait till this spring.
nice, another reason not to own a 360
hope the install disc is a 1-time thing
I have been steaming netflix on my PS3 for ages now. Its still good to see the relationship between Sony and Netflix blossom. Congratulation.
I love you Sony. Teach them who’s boss. Haha!
PSN…for freeeee!
The press release is somewhat confusing. Most of it makes it sound like the client will be a native application in the XMB (which should certainly be the case, as there’s no technical reason it wouldn’t be possible, so far as I’m aware), possibly installed by the disc itself. But the bit about inserting the disc to see the choices sure makes it sound like the disc is needed every time.
Could we possibly get some clarification here?
Ok ok one last thing, not sure how possible it is, but if you could let us pay for netflix with PSN cards/wallets instead of a credit/debit card I would love you guys forever.
Awesome! And thank you for keeping the PSN a free service. Keep up the good work!
Ok the [DELETED] just got real. PS3 already has a huge library and now netflix on PS3, Can it get better than that? This just made my day!
Now we want Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter straight from the XMB or give up Google Chrome Xd.
Thanks anyways.
oh look something we CANADIANS CAN USE! ._.
Okay, cool. Now how’s about adding into the Home client. Just sayin.
Ehm… You know, I hate to rain on this parade, but how does this serve to benefit the audience which *already has a video service*!? Personally, I think the video store we in the US have now is fine- I’m simply shocked that the audience that COULD HAVE used such a service, Canada, is notably absent from this transaction…
i have argued with one of my close friends who has a 360 for some time now. His only decent point that he has made against me is netflix. Thank you for demolishing this barrier sony.
Yes Please Clarify the Disc Usage.
Is the disc needed for the beta users?
Is the disc needed each time i want to stream netflix movies?
Is the disc an extension for more features not available in XMB like BD LIVE content?
haha, pwned… i had to :P
THANK YOU SONY!!! You’ve just made my Xbox 360 a door stop. An coincidentally, last week I had received an email from Microsoft telling me that my XBLive account was scheduled to be automatically renewed near the end of November. Note to Microsoft:
I WILL NOT BE RENEWING. You now do not offer me ANYTHING that I can’t do on my PS3 without an annual fee.
…Well Except Cross Talk between games. Sony, if you make that happen, I’ll send you a video of me trading in my 360 for some more PS3 games!
The only thing I don’t like about this announcement is that they only mentioned America, I’m Canadian.
Great! The more applications the better. My sister has been nagging me about using netflix, this is a great opportunity.
Here is some Q&A from the netflix website…
Q:
Why do I need a Netflix instant streaming disc to watch instantly via my PS3?
A:
The disc loads the Netflix instant streaming application. This application enables you to watch instantly via your PS3.
Q:
How do I watch instantly via my PS3?
A:
In order to watch instantly via your PS3, you need the following:
1. * A PS3 connected to a broadband internet connection
2. * The Netflix instant streaming disc. This disc is used every time you want to watch instantly via your PS3.
3. * A Netflix unlimited membership plan.
BBBBOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I need a disc everytime I want to load netfix? That sucks? Is this due to a patent issue with micrsoft? What gives?
Aloha…
“Tonight’s the night (&) I want to go to there…”
Viva Los Terra Nombres…..peace.
[-NBCraftsman]
Well we be able to play movies in PS Home?
Since theres a disc . . .
. . . will there be trophies? lol
Because of this I think I’m actually going to get a netflix account now, never would because it would just suck watching them on your laptop when you could just divx it and put it on the ps3, but now I can’t wait!!!
Does the disc need to be put in the PS3 every time you want to use netflix?, I hope not because that would just be annoying
Glad to hear this! Awesome news!
F-IN SWEET. I was going to buy the other guys stuff because of the netflix and lastfm. but i think ill stick with what i got now!
Thank you, Sony and Netflix.
Next Stop: Hulu.
ha, I can see the commercial already “It does NETFLIX”
I think it’s great that the ps3 offers two different video services …. more movies to choose from HD & SD better for the consumer right? now all we need is a US version of VIDZONE :D
awesome my girl is going to be happy cuz she loves netflix but why the hell do we need a disc the 360 doesn’t need a disc
If we really do need the disc every time, that’s a pretty big failure, both on Sony’s and Netflix’s part.
It GREATLY reduces the utility of the service, and more to the point, I don’t see what can possibly be on the disc that couldn’t be provided with an installable application.
Also, what’s with the “directly through the XMB” comment if it’s really all accomplished via some lame disc-based application? I don’t play Gusteau’s Gourmet Game “directly through the XMB.” I have to spin up the Ratatouille disc and then navigate its menus.
What gives??
I was super excited about this news until I read that it required a disc. This should just be an application on the XMB, hopefully it gets fixed.
:(
yet another think i want thats exclusive to the US.
im starting to wonder why i bought a ps3.
@3 your an idiot.
Good job Sony! It’s a shame you have to put in a Blu-ray just to use the service when 360 doesn’t. Why can’t you build it into the firmware like MS does? Great job nonetheless.
Next up… Cross game voice chat, and auto-sync trophies. Then finally PS3 will be unstoppable.
About damn time, I use this all the time and it’s ridiculous that your competitor has had this option for many months now. I don’t understand why we need a disc to use the service, as my PC does not need one, but at this point I’ll take what I can get.
It seems there’s no pleasing some people. I can’t believe some people are actually complaining about this! What the HELL is wrong with you?
Netflix until now was one of 360’s biggest advantages. Now it’s no more. Now PS3 has both Blu-ray AND Netflix. Not to mention it still has its own video delivery service for those who don’t use Netflix. This would be one of the biggest features on the PS3 for me if I lived in the US.
Unfortunately there is no Netflix in the UK and no sign of that video store coming to our region that was promised back in GamesCom.
Serious, STOP FRICKIN COMPLAINING you spoiled little people!
now all we need is for $ony to start looking after ALL their customers not just america. there is an entire world outside, you do know that dont you?
meh, wtf do i care. i wouldnt pay for that junk anyway. i download all my movies for free. tehparadoxdotcom + free premium rapidshare & netload accts FTW!
If the entire functionality is being provided via BD-Live, and the disc is required every time because there’s no native application, doesn’t that mean this disc would work on pretty much any 2.0-compliant Blu-ray player? How is this even a “PS3” feature?
I’m so confused.
That is freakin awesome news. I loved the streaming service on the 360 even though I don’t have a netflix account or a 360 (my brother does). I really hope it works smoothly though.
Very excited I am!
@177
+1
america seems to get everything handed to them on a platter. even though they have one of the lowest install base’s per capita.
Awesome, and we don’t need to worry about paying for a membership. Next up, cross game chat. I know it’s coming.
Why does it need a disc? It should be a native app in the XMB.
I will deff sign up for this
This is a really good surprise. However, in the UK we don’t have netflix. However, lovefilm.com is the equivilent. If they could get them for the UK I would definitely sign up and get into watching more movies and tv series I missed.
This is really awesome news. Though, I have one concern about how it all works. Why do I have to insert a disc every time I want to use Netflix? It doesn’t add up in my understanding. Why could the application not be native to the XMB? Hopefully, we can get this issue cleared up soon.
I’m sure everyone at SONY and Netflix understands the physical limitation a disc based application brings. It means I have to go through many more steps to get what I want out of the experience, which is never a good thing. These experiences should be made as easy as possible.
Anyway, like I mentioned hopefully we can get this all cleared up in a follow up blog post. I’m sure many people have questions that they would like answered.
You do know that it only does everything right? Lol!
Its about time.
I’ve had netflix longer then I had my PS3, and unlike you yolks out there that don’t understand netflix.
This is how it works.
You pay $8.95/12.95/14.95/ect/ect for 1/2/3+ disks you can recieve in the mail. You also have access to there ONLINE selection that is not DOWNLOADED but STREAMED. (Huge difference idiots)
PSN has its own video service yes. But really, Comparing prices is just stupid. PSN ‘rental’ is just as expensive as a ‘real’ rental place. Netflix? $15, 3 disk at a time deal, 2 shipments a month = 6 movies, $15. Thats $2 a movie.
3 Shipments a month = 9 movies $15, or $1.60 per movie. 4 shipments = 12 movies $15 or About a $1.25.
Then theres the online selection of generally [DELETED] B movies and an occasionally good movie or two hidden amongst the rough Diamonds.
Comparing Netflix and the PSN movie selection are two totally different things. 360 already has a similar setup as-is. Its about time ps3’s gets netflix.
And hey, you don’t require a gold subscription from xbox to use netflix. you just need a netflix subscription. (instead of both).
^_^
Sweet!!!! but wait a minute, this is for USA only. European ps3 owner got vidzone, but it sucks!
The netflix streaming disk does kind of make sense though, once you realize one important thing.
360 = property of Microsoft.
currently the Netflix Watch Online function, uses Silverlight, which is owned by Microsoft, So it would be fairly easy to ‘incorporate’ there netflix viewer with there already ‘native’ (windows) program + silverlight into 360 UI.
The disk-based option for PS3 just sounds to me like a lame excuse of netflix to
A) ship more disks around like AoL
B) to lazy to support download/install feature for the program.
Maybe the disk-based option is there added security? I dunno. THey really should have a download option… Unless they part of there ‘deal’ with sony was to not have there ‘software’ actually installed on the PS3? Aka the disk/based/software acts as a plug-and-play into any PS3 no download required to watch?
Still odd.
sweet… another feature that will be for us only. Well done!
Im canadian :(
Hey Sony!!! Thanx…….Now how about a “NEW” MUCH BETTER BROWSER? Firefox would be nice!!