Xbox360 Netflix takes a hit already

[Chasym]

Our Netflix streaming queues just got considerably shorter on the eve of the NXE launch. Acting on a tip, we popped into our Netflix account and sure enough, our "Instant Queue" had a new "Notes" column with an oft-repeated, red notice: "Not available on Xbox." Logging onto Xbox Live (with an NXE account) confirmed that these titles were no longer available for streaming on Xbox 360.

We've found a common thread! All of the affected titles from our Queue are distributed by Columbia Pictures. Columbia Pictures, of course, is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Microsoft rival Sony. Case closed?

Really pisses me off since i checked my queue list after hearing about this and half the titles i had on there are now not available for use on xbox, seems i will be cancelling my netflix account already when i was actually very happy with it until now.

 

[Skaw]

How petty.

Microsoft should retaliate by not allowing Sony to utilize Windows on their laptops.

 

[Firestreak]

Skaw that's the dumbest thing I ever heard, and I've watched BOTH party's 2004 political conventions!

 

[Halifirien]

It's a license issue, and they're working to resolve it. I wouldn't go nuts over what could well be a temporary problem. Besides, you can still stream the Sony content on your computer. That hasn't changed. There's a vast number of movies on Netflix that are not available as streaming video no matter what system you're on.

Netflix is first-and-foremost a mail-order movie rental business. The streaming video just sweetens the deal as a bonus to your membership. I wouldn't cancel over something that minor, and that's speaking as someone who's been eager for the Xbox-Netflix partnership since it was first announced. You could always have them send you the disc.

 

[Chasym]

well on my end, i didnt sign up for netflix for the disc rental, If i wanted a movie i usually download it as i rarely use a dvd player since i dont have one in my game room, my xbox is usually always on for gaming, or i stream a movie to it before i go to bed. I loved the idea of Netflix because i wouldnt have to wait for movies to download, and i would be able to just stream them as i normally would do without having to go through setting up media center.

I got NXE early so i went through and added over 100 movies to my stream, ive watched at least 5 of them, of those 5 i can only stream 1 now because of this, and im back down to about 50 movies being able to be streamed.
If it is not resolved, I probly will not keep the account since i cant stream them just because i am streaming them to my xbox.

 

[Morcheeba]

Not cool.

I have been looking forward to this added feature. I'll have to wait it out to see what the end result may be.
If it is a stab at microsoft from Sony, which who knows, it could be, that would just be childrens games.

 

[Skaw]

Skaw that's the dumbest thing I ever heard, and I've watched BOTH party's 2004 political conventions!

So is denying Netflix users part of their service for whatever reason. Columbia Pictures is getting their share of the subscription too.

 

[Chasym]

All Columbia Pictures movies have been pulled from the Xbox Live version of Netflix, following the launch of the New Xbox Experience dashboard update.
Columbia Pictures is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, but the move does not appear to be malicious on the part of Sony executives -- all movies distributed by Sony Pictures still remain accessible through the service.

"A few hundred titles are temporarily unavailable to be streamed via the Xbox game console," Netflix corporate communications VP Dave Swasey told consumer website MTV Multiplayer.
"Those titles are still available to be watched on subscribers' computers and on TVs via other partner devices, and we hope they'll be licensed for Xbox 360 shortly."

well if they resolve it then ill be happy with this feature again!

 

[Firestreak]

So is denying Netflix users part of their service for whatever reason. Columbia Pictures is getting their share of the subscription too.

From a intellectual property law standpoint, the studios can set whatever limitations they want to as for what platforms they're willing to put their movies on. It's simply their right and should be. Just like.. if Microsoft wanted to, they are within their rights not to license Windows to Sony laptops. Of course, they wouldn't... cause that's their main source of income...

 

[Bajaratt]

When did Sony become the largest manufacturer of computers in the world?

 

[Skaw]

From a intellectual property law standpoint, the studios can set whatever limitations they want to as for what platforms they're willing to put their movies on. It's simply their right and should be. Just like.. if Microsoft wanted to, they are within their rights not to license Windows to Sony laptops. Of course, they wouldn't... cause that's their main source of income...

It's still a dick move when similar devices still get the full service.

 

[Morcheeba]

So on top of the complaints about vito'd movies... Netflix is NOT available to any Canadian customers. I am truly disappointed in this policy/agreement between Microsoft and Netflix as it segregates us as customers. I can understand being available in North American only, but to think I'm paying the same fees, I have a Gold Membership and do not have the same services because I'm in Canada bugs me.

I was unaware viewing all the trailers and newsletters on my dashboard of the upcoming Interface changes and all it will offer that there is limitations on the upcoming services available. I believe, as a young professional, as an adult, and as a consumer that I should have been made aware before the update, before I spent and hour or so with friends last night trying to figure out what was wrong with my dashboard.

When I called CS this morning to inquire, of course I was patched through to some call center in the middle east, they informed me after 20 minutes of dicking around and AFTER I ADVISED THEM I was in Canada that it was only available to American customers.

BITE ME MICROSOFT, what makes me so insignificant? Apparently my money is still good enough to rape from my hard working hands, but I'm not privileged enough to share this possibly fun service with multiple friends from the great ol' U.S.

 

[Halifirien]

It's not Microsoft's faut, though. Netflix has to handle the licensing, so I'd be calling them to complain about it. It may take them awhile to get over the hurdles for streaming video to Canada on a new service.

The lack of Sony-owned content doesn't bother me too much because the Instant Viewing option is already so limited that it's like whining about a skinned knee when your arm has just fallen off from gangrene. The streaming video is probably 1%-2% of their total catalog, and the majority of it is crap.

I give them high marks for their television content, but movie-wise... it's just not that great.

 

[Morcheeba]

It's not Microsoft's faut, though. Netflix has to handle the licensing, so I'd be calling them to complain about it. It may take them awhile to get over the hurdles for streaming video to Canada on a new service.

Microsoft agreed to their terms. They did so knowing Canadian customers would be disappointed. They did so and failed to advised Canadian customers it would not be available to them leaving a bad taste in Canadian 360 customers mouths. They fail.

I can understand the difficulties. I can't say whether works are in progress to make such services available in the future to North American customers, however, I feel it was a shit move not notifying us.

I was looking forward specifically to this service, watched all the trailers/newsletters on the new Interface. Spoke with multiple friends on which movies we would all agree to watch together and this is what I'm slapped with.

Thanks again for taking my business seriously.

 

[Malagra]

You're surprised Cheeba? It took them years to get to the point were we actually could download movies and tv shows from XBL onto our systems. Canada is an afterthought at best.

 

[Morcheeba]

You're surprised Cheeba? It took them years to get to the point were we actually could download movies and tv shows from XBL onto our systems. Canada is an afterthought at best.

Obviously I am. They're not come very far have they?

Lets hope they are working towards releasing streaming capability in Canada.

 

[Rappa]

Are you saying they shouldn't have released this in America just because they weren't able to concurrently release it to other countries? That's pretty asinine. It's okay to be upset, but calling it "segregation" is a bit much.

 

[Morcheeba]

Are you saying they shouldn't have released this in America just because they weren't able to concurrently release it to other countries? That's pretty asinine. It's okay to be upset, but calling it "segregation" is a bit much.

Did I say that? Or is that what you interpreted?

What they should have done is announce where the release was available, not release across the board newsletters and trailers showing services if they did not intend to make them all available to everyone which was implied. That's pretty ridiculous business. It certainly is segregation.

 

[Firestreak]

When did Sony become the largest manufacturer of computers in the world?

I considered making the distinction that I was talking about licensing their operating system to PC manufacturers in general not Sony specifically, as well as point out that Microsoft doesn't actually have their own PCs to compete with, but I thought it was obvious enough that it would seem patronizing. My mistake.

 

[Rappa]

Edit: Nevermind, don't wanna deal with you again. tl;dr version: There is a lot of legal tape you have to go through to distribute a good or service in another country. I know from experience in my job. They will distribute in Canada when they can, and there's no real way of knowing when that will be. It's not segregation.