James Delahunty
16 Jan 2007 19:50
Netflix is set to start offering streaming movies to its subscribers over the Internet. The company will launch a service soon that will initially include 1,000 titles and will be free to use (with some limits) to subscribers of its DVD rental service. Instead of having a maximum number of movies to watch, the service will have a cap on the hours of content watched per month.
For subscribers paying $5.99 per month for example, 6 hours of video can be streamed in a month. For those with the more popular $17.99 per month plan, 18 hours of video content can be streamed. Streaming the movies keeps content providers feeling safe and not having to worry about full file downloads being cracked.
In order to use the service, an Internet connection of at least 1MB/s is required (3MB/s to stream video in its native resolution). There are no plans yet to offer HD content through such a service. Netflix claims that one browser applet download will allow customers to begin watching movies within 15 seconds of pressing play.
"While mainstream consumer adoption of online movie watching will take a number of years due to content and technology hurdles, the time is right for Netflix to take the first step," Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said. "Over the coming years we'll expand our selection of films, and we'll work to get to every Internet-connected screen, from cell phones to PCs to plasma screens."
The service will be rolled out gradually and should be available to all subscribers by July.
Source:
Ars Technica