PlayStation Gets NetFlix
Thousands of movies and TV shows coming to US PlayStations.Published 26/10/2009 at 7:00 by nofi
Wait! Netflix On PS3 Isn’t Actually Netflix On PS3? [15]
Netflix Coming To (US) PS3s? [8]
Whilst here in Europe we’re still waiting for any kind of video on demand service for our PlayStations, be that one powered by Sony or a third party, in America they’ll soon be spoilt for choice, as the US Blog confirmed that Netflix will be available on American PS3s very soon last night. The press release says that the announcement pairs “two of the most popular and fastest growing home entertainment brands in the U.S.” with 9 million PS3s in the States and 11 million Netflix subscribers.
“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.”
For $8.99 a month, Netflix members will be able to “instantly” watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their PS3s, the service will be via a Blu-ray disk that presumably installs the software, which will be heading out to subscribers as of today, I think.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
w3r3w0lf | 26/10/2009 07:28
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I take it this may require a firmware update (albeit a US specific one)?? Is there a UK equivalent of Netflix (I can only think of Lovefilm at the moment)?
BalramRules | 26/10/2009 09:04
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I thinking somewhat the same = (
All well, I bought my PS3 for buying Dynamic Themes, Exploring PS Home, Playing Games and fun plus chattin and playin with friends, Movies weren’t in my list when I got a PS3 = 1
Maybe it should’ve been.
Shlomi1995 | 26/10/2009 10:04
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“for buying Dynamic Themes”????
cc_star | 26/10/2009 11:13
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I bought my PS3 for dynamic themes as well – imagine my surprise when I found out it could play games and Blu-ray movies
bunimomike | 26/10/2009 11:23
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I’m still waiting for these sausages to cook.
BadBoyBoogie | 27/10/2009 10:07
Let There Be Rock
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Try using your 360 then…it warms up quicker!!!
dirtyhabit | 26/10/2009 07:29
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Good for them. Any news on the UK video service? They said early November,
Which knowing SCEE roughly translates to mid July.(If we’re lucky)
Fresh191 | 26/10/2009 07:39
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Sounds like that broken record again, America getting MORE content as if they didnt ‘have it all’ already.
Why is SCEE always so far behind the states?
Erroneus | 26/10/2009 08:14
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
2979 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Simply because SCEE has to cover more countries, which opens up some issues with copyright, individually laws in the countries and translation, though that is a minor issue.
TheSabreman | 26/10/2009 08:55
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I agree that SCEE has a harder job but there must be a better way of doing ‘localisation’ as Microsoft manage it.
SCEE should just release things country by country in the EU like Vidzone, the UK is the 2nd biggest gaming market in the world and they neglect it.
hazelam | 26/10/2009 09:07
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but sony own movie and tv studios, how does it still take them over a year to get the store in europe, and it’s not like they’ll be supporting the whole of europe when the video store does launch, it’ll be two or three countries at best.
so that throws that flimsy excuse scee keep trotting out right out the bloody window.
Erroneus | 26/10/2009 09:27
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
2979 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I don’t think they neglect the UK, you guys has Vidzone and Play TV
I agree SCEE are a bit slow, but let’s not forget that Microsoft hasn’t been that quick either. The Xbox 360 Video Store was released in the UK one year after it’s release in the US and still isn’t released in eg. Scandinavia countries, three years after the US release…
The PSN video store was launched in july 2008 in the US and will be ready for eg. the UK here in November 2009 and other EU countries in 2010. No it’s not super fast, but it’s not THAT slow and Microsoft hasn’t doch much better.
hazelam: It’s just not that simple. Some tv series, movies might be exclusive for some tv stations, services in some countries and the more countries you have to cover at the same time, the more complicated it gets.
The EU Video store opens in November for United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany and Spain, pretty much the rest of EU follows in 2010.
hazelam | 26/10/2009 09:44
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four countries?
it took them a year to set this up for four countries?
and it will be late, just watch, since when have scee done anything big, and rarely anything small either, on time?
they keep using the ”we have to support so many countries” excuse so much they must say it their sleep, yet their actions prove that to be the lie it is, when they release so much content in or or two countries.
i’ll say it again, the best way to spot a liar is by the inconsistancies in what they say and do.
and when sony own a movie studio that has the rights to a number of films throughout europe, then the fact it’s taken a year is down to the lack of effort put in by scee.
and when it turns out ms brought their video service over quicker than scee could manage what will their pathetic little excuse be this time?
scee are useless, end of story.
Erroneus | 26/10/2009 09:57
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
2979 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Actually it’s five countries and again, it took MS 13 months to launch in 4 countries. SCEE does 5 countries in 16 months. It’s not super quick, but it’s not that slow.
TheSabreman | 26/10/2009 10:18
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“I don’t think they neglect the UK, you guys has Vidzone and Play TV
”
lol fair play to those that like both, personally Vidzone is dire and full of teenybopper tat and Play TV doesn’t compare to a Humax PVR.
To be honest I don’t really care about Netflix or the equivalent in SCEE land.
I’d prefer SCEE to focus on the PSN Store/Home by releasing content at the same time and fairer EU pricing. SCEE need to learn to flirt with third part publishers aswell as their SCEA counterparts.
The only solution seems to me is to put the UK,NZ & Australia in SCEA as we all share the language and have very similar cultures. This would mean SCEE move to Paris and can focus more fairly on the variety of languages/cultures rather than do everything in English which is what they do now.
Vandix | 26/10/2009 10:30
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@TheSabreman, I wouldn’t like to see that happening… That would delay the PSN stuff to the rest of the EU even longer. The best solution would be that SCEE just release the English versions and work on localization after… This would give the players at least the option to download content, even though it’s not in their native language
hazelam | 26/10/2009 09:02
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i’ve said it a millions times now.
“no plans for europe” it’s the sony mantra
Shlomi1995 | 26/10/2009 10:22
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Please stop these meaningless “SCEE sucks”-rants…
SCEE is the European branch of Sony Computer Entertainment.
A worldwide consumer electronics company.
A company, a business, in it for the profits and the positive bottom line.
Everything you discussed has a logical reason – logical from a business perspective and maybe not from our perspective.
You can’t know all the complexities of distributing digital content in Europe, don’t try to understand. I’m sure the people at Sony, professional, organized workers doing this for quite a while, know what they’re doing… !
This isn’t just a matter of “SCEE’s lazy”, “SCEE suck”, etc.
There’s a deeper reason and reading “SCEE sucks”-rants over and over again each time another region has something we don’t, is really annoying!
So yeah, we don’t have the Video STORE. Nor can I access VidZone since I live in Belgium. I’m also fucking mad at not being able to “fully enjoy” all the features and feeling I’m missing out on 80% of the experience, I’m also one of those guys spamming the EU PSblog with ‘SCEE sux’ posts.
But don’t do this on TSA!
hazelam | 26/10/2009 19:02
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when did i say “scee sucks”
they do but i don’t recall stating that.
and don’t give me all that “you don’t know enough about business” pap.
i know enough to know scee are doing a fraction of what they could and should be doing if they were passionate and competant.
if not going to ignore the fact we get stiffed time and time again, i’ll point out how useless scee anywhere where it’s relevant, and a feature on a playstation news site about yet another feature we will in all likelyhood never see in europe is relevant.
when they do something good i’ll praise them, that doesn’t happen often so it may look like all i do is complain, but that’s not the case
jackshiels | 26/10/2009 08:06
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Aw man… someone tell Tretton to get it over here in Europe ASAP!
pspsamurai | 26/10/2009 08:21
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Well I’m in the US and i’m not like this because this to me means that we’ll never (or have stop workinig on) getting PlayTV.
eye8have9you3 | 26/10/2009 08:29
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honestly I dont think you’re missing anything in PlayTV, your PS3 will be connected to a tv which you can use as a tv, on demand film watching however is a huge step up
Raen | 26/10/2009 09:08
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Cool, nice to see more feature parity between the 360 and PS3.
hazelam | 26/10/2009 09:12
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and before anybody says it, no we don’t have netflix in europe it seems, but there are services that are exactly the same, lovefilm seems to be the biggest, my brother uses it.
but we’ll never see any deal like that in europe, because scee would have to do it, and actually going out of their way to bring us content simply isn’t something scee are prepared or bothered to do.
cc_star | 26/10/2009 11:37
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LoveFilm’s streaming is no where near the level of Netflix, and Netflix has those all important US TV shows in addition to the film library, which stream soon after airing.
hazelam | 26/10/2009 19:04
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but it’s a comparable service, so it should be possible to have something like netflix here, that’s my point.
cam the man | 26/10/2009 10:39
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$9 not bad if your a movie buff, and american
AlienStitch | 26/10/2009 10:43
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I,m so sick of this bullsh*t, Europe is always left out. I paid the same if not more for my PS3 than people in the US, so I want the same features.
mynameisblair | 26/10/2009 13:57
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Will this actuallly be useful?
And will we get it about a year after the US?
Whats the point in having a video store when we can stream them with this?
Raen | 26/10/2009 14:09
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I’d say yes, I’ve heard good things about 360 Netflix streaming.
We won’t get this, we don’t have Netflix. We might get something from LoveFilm, but they have less content available for streaming.
The video store gives you choice, and a solution if you’re not in the US or not a Netflix customer
BlingOnMyWrist | 26/10/2009 14:38
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I thought the same thing. I’m sure the Video Store’s sales will drop. But, the difference between Netflix and the Video Store is that Netflix is a monthly subscription of $8.99. The Video Store is a one time denomination of $1.99 (SD) or $2.99 (HD) to own a TV episode, and movies come in all different prices. Older, less popular films will be cheaper to buy/rent than newer more popular ones… Usually buying a movie is around $9.99 – $14.99. Renting movies are $3.99 (SD) and $5.99 (HD).
So you can see that if somebody was just looking to watch a single TV episode, or wanted to grab a movie on the strange occasion, or buy a movie to watch anytime, then the Video Store is the way to go.
Otherwise Netflix seems like a great alternative.
BlingOnMyWrist | 26/10/2009 14:16
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Some cool information: “Initially” using the service will be free aside from a $8.99 subscription. Also, the PS3 will not just have a standalone application which uses Netflix, it will use a free Bluray which takes advantage of the BD-Live feature of the PS3 to connect to internet and display the Netflix UI.
“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.”
So, this is a very unique addition. Unlike the 360 version where I believe that, in order to add a movie to your queue, you must first visit the Netflix website from a computer. According to the press release, you will only need your PS3 to do everything. While I’m not quite sure if it means using the PS3’s web browser or if the application has it’s own queue options (I’ll end up using my computer instead of the PS3 browser). Also, there are no extra fees aside from the $8.99 subscription. I’m not sure if you have to pay more to access Netflix on the Xbox 360, or if the only additional fee is requirement to have a Gold subscription to Live.
The only thing that gets me is that word “initially” beginning the statement that states pricing and the technology that will be used to run the Netflix application.
If it’s stating that we won’t always have to use a Bluray disc, then awesome! (I’m lazy, and I’d rather not get up to put a disc in.) Otherwise, it could be stating that the service will not always be free aside from the $8.99 subscription fee.
xdarkmagician | 26/10/2009 17:01
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Netflix streaming is free for gold members, but if youre not a Netflix member for 8.99$/month you can’t access all of the content. Sony pulled all of their TV shows and movies from the 360 access unless your also a Netflix member.
gurglesletch | 27/10/2009 01:31
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I wonder if it going to cost extra or if they will give me that disk for free. My family arleady has netflix
RedStarGlow | 27/10/2009 02:40
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Already got Netflix…. It is called streaming video via PlayOn (TheMediaMall). Best $30, I spent on my PS3.