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.
this is good news cause all of my friends that have 360 always brag on how they have netflix and i dont. so what now dawg!
but even though i am a blockbuster subscriber so idk.
so is video psn store coming for canada
and is this too?
Sweet! Looks like ill be restarting my netflix membership, used to love streaming but didnt use as much on pc but now with ps3 access ill use it way more often. Those wondering why you have to have the Disc inside, well its pretty obvious its the work around xboxs console netflix streaming exclusive rights.
This is FANTASTIC! Please, please, please can we get 24-bit DTS 2.0/5.1 audio for Netflix streams?
The PS3 has built-in DTS decoding, and it would be silly not to take advantage of it. VUDU has Dolby Digital Plus, and it doesn’t hold a candle to DTS.
Nice, was going to cancel Netflix, but I’ll keep to see how this works out.
PSN’s rental service has way better stuff than Netflix though. Might eventually put my $10/month to PSN.
There’s been a interview with a Netflix representative about this posted on joystiq:
*http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/netflix-ps3-disc-must-remain-in-system-until-2010-update/
As the end of the URL implies, the guy confirmed that you do have to insert the disc every time you use it. Sucks, but thems is da breaks. Apparently, writing it in BD-Java, so I suppose that it runs in the context of a disc menu app. You wouldn’t think that they could implement the streaming network protocol that way, but if they say so. Maybe Netflix owned the code for one of the embedded Netflix streaming app, which was written in some flavor of Java and they converted that. It has all of the features of the latest Netflix player (including browsing of a limited range of the catalog and playing and queuing titles from the app–for all other devices you have to go to Netflix’s site to add titles to your “Instant Queue” and can only have those for streaming.
He also stated that they’d be doing an XMB-integrated version of the app, but it’s not slated for release until “late next year”.
FOR THE 100,000TH TIME, WHAT ABOUT CANADA!!!???
Why do we have to start another program while we all ready have a perfectly good play station video store. Did any one think about the video store!!
For those of you who claimed adding Netflix to PSN is a stolen idea from Xbox Live, you are ignorant, period.
Netflix is just a streaming service similar to Youtube, the only difference is the former is a paid subscription service while the latter is completely free of charge. Other differences are indeed the video lengths and video qualities (1080P).
Well, Good job, Sony Computer Entertainment America! let’s just put it as a big slap on Microsoft’s face who originally stated “Netflix will remain an exclusive streaming video service only available on the Xbox 360 platform”.
P.S.: When will Facebook, Twitter and other online community services to be added to the PSN? that’ll slap XBox Live even harder, since it’s a paid service there. LOL
About time. Lets see, I have had a netflix account for about 2 years now and I got my PS3 at launch.
So yeah, about time.
and canadians get screwed again……
Yea I know @462, no movies and shows now this. Plus I only saw PSN Cards in stores here recently!
Marvelous. I have Netflix and a PS3, so his is really awsome. One question: can we watch other movies, like dark knight, that are not on the instant que?
thanks but not needed
I could be wrong but Netflix, neither by mail rental nor by streaming over the web operate in Canada. I’m sure it has to do with licensing rights from movie studios. Why do you think this will work?
I mean do xbox 360s in Canada work with Netflix? If not why would you think this would.
If Canada has a Netflix like service i suggest you guys start asking them to get into talks with sony/microsoft to offer something there.
It’s funny how people take this the wrong way. It’s not about Sony taking away Microsoft’s Netflix console exclusivity. It’s about Netflix’s goal to one day have its streaming service virtually everywhere. Every future Blu-Ray player, consoles, televisions, computers, and everything in between!
Again, Netflix Watch Instantly is not remotely the same as the PSN Video Store (except in that they’re both ways to get video to play online). In the PSNVS, you rent or purchase videos to download onto the HDD of your Playstation.
With Netflix WI, you choose a video from their catalog and start watching it “instantly” (a small delay for connection/buffering). You pay a single monthly price to Netflix based on the number of discs that you want to keep out, currently a minimum of $9/month to hold one disc at a time ($11/month if you want to rent BDs). The WI streaming service doesn’t cost anything extra, and those of us who’d subscribed to Netflix disc rental weren’t asked to pay anything more when they added it.
You can watch as many streaming videos through WI as you want. No matter how many you watch, you’ll only be charged the same monthly fee for whatever disc rental plan you subscribe to. They don’t have the latest popular stuff on disc, but you can look for that on PSNVS or–hello!–rent a disc from Netflix. They have lots of slightly older popular films starting a year or two back, lots of indie film, lots of documentaries and lots of television of all kinds, now some 18,600–see instantwatcher.com.
Finally !!!!… more rental option.
Everyone complaining about this is a complete ignorant fool! Don’t like it, don’t use it. Simple as that. If that’s too complicated of a concept to understand, then I feel sorry for your birth.
This is great news. I was considering on buying a XBOX as it can deliver NetFlix, npw I don’t. I will wait for Netflix to be available on PS3, something that I have waited for a long time.
Thank you SONY and NETFLIX!!!
YES!!!! Thank you so much SONY! This is why I bought a PS3! Thank You! This will be a well beloved feature. It will go well with my newly purchased Uncharted 2! You guys are totally awesome!
Nice Feature for the PS3, Such a handy system to have. Esp with HDMI cable!
I’m not trying to be negative, I love the idea because I already have Netflix I love my ps3 and buy every blu-ray movie possible. I use netflix every so often to catch up on old seasons of shows and some movies I’ve never seen I do have a xbox 360 and netflix works great on it I do Love my PS3 had it for almost 3 years now but if I have to put in a disc to watch netflix I’ll stick to the xbox cause all I have to do is just turn it on please I beg you just added to your ps3 system the disc idea is dumb, just hate the fact that I would have to go and take this in and out every time I want to use netflix give me straight access to it and maybe you’ll make me turn my 360 on less since I use it alot for that but your not giving a reason to stop.
@474…the disc issue is temporary and it will be added to the xmb in 2010.
So glad to hear they will be integrating a NO DISC PATCH to the netflix service in 2010!! AWESOME GUYS + GALS!! :)
Awesome. This may just may me sign up for Netflix, always wanted to but never had a reason to. I only wish that the Ps3 had internet radio as the psp does
Great job SCEA. You guys are making all of the right moves. Keep up the hard work and I’ll keep happily buying your products. I am very excited about this news today.
woooooooooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! YA!!! way to go sony
I just bought a new PS3 slim today and I can honestly say this system is only getting better. Still trying to find a copy of Uncharted 2 but the Netflix is a true pick me up. I can’t wait.
wow cool :)
This sounds great but I have a couple questions for Netflix.
Are new releases going to be available to stream the day of national release?
Are these streamed movies going to be HD quality?
If they’re not HD quality I’ll wait for the blue ray or DVD to become available.
Very happy that the service is finally arriving.
Sony better not skip out Canada for netflix like they did with thier video service!
just reserved my disc.
though i do have to say… a disc?
c’mon!
oh well, i assume it’ll be undone by a firmware update
2 all that are saying that ps3 it’s trying to be like the xbox 360 they’re wrong cause ps3 has so many cool games as 360 not i have a 360 and never ever use it it’s 400 dollas that are collecting dust in my shelf , don’t compare the 2 cause you can’t… now we have Netflix 2 ha ha ha ha ps3 Rocks…..
ps Love motorsorm
love MotoreStorm
Drake’s tresure fan
Great news, way to go Jack! Please get it to the Canadians and soon or every post from here on out will be filled with complaints from the attic. ;)
Also, will it support surround sound or just stereo?
This is awesome sony is really gaining terrain here but 4 me when’s the voice chat update coming that’s is one important factor between the 360 n PS3 systems please sony give us the voice chat update we need it.
now I won’t have to use up hard drive space for movies
I don’t normally comment on the blogs but I am really excited that we are finally getting this feature!! This is one of the last reasons (for me) to have an xbox and Sony is getting it!
4 those of u like imurdaddy dumba$$ its not about sony snappin away the exclusivity its about netflix agreements with sony n one more thing the 360’s success is based on ps2’s line of work ok their going crazy buyin every game developer studios 2 assure sony’s failure but they 4get one thing…..in one word….blu ray
50gb info, true HD graphics not that emulated HI-REZ crap the 360 has so please get with the program people n 2 all owners of a 360 get ready 2 be rip off and 4 a 100 dollars more
PLEASE BRING NETFLIX TO THE UK, PLEEEEEEEEEAAAAASSSE!!!!
can’t wait to get the disc, i tried playon as a test and the video is clear. i will enjoy this so much, might buy a new ps3 for my bedroom tv.
very nice sony AND netflix…you guys are going to make money like crazy! (PS3 will probably sell more and in my case, I’m subscribing to netflix!)
This is surely a great strategic step in Sony’s favor. With this, the playing field for PS3 has more than likely been levelled. I don’t think that Sony is trying to copy Xbox, plus there was hardly ever an exclusive right on Netflix in the first place for Xbox. Given the recent uprise in sales for PS3, I think that this year, PS3 might come out as the victor.
Here’s the next console battle: It will be Microsoft’s Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 Bundle versus Sony’s new 250gb PS3 Slim with Netflix. Who will win? Figure it out…
As for the Wii, it is on a level both above and below PS3 and Xbox 360.
Will the price change depending on which country you live in?
And no Canada again. 8(
@477, thatjenkinboi
Have you tried Pandora.com or ourstage.com on the PS3 browser? I haven’t tried pandora but have ourstage. If you’re looking for internet radio, give it a shot.
@Sony, Netflix
I’m sold! This is awesome, and just what I’ve been waiting for. I have Blockbuster service right now, and the only reason I’ve really stuck with it is because of the free game rental coupon per month. I’m cancelling and switching next month because of live streaming on my PS3, but I would like to request that Netflix or Sony maybe try to offer a free game rental now and then.
Thanks