Movies and TV Sony dropping a bomb on Xbox's Netflix service? - Page 3

**007** · 11-18-2008, 10:45 PM

Interesting

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/nx...ddenly-gimped/

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 (nobody likes 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 reached out to Microsoft for a full explanation -- so keep your fingers crossed that this is just a launch period mishap (like someone flipped the wrong switch ... or something). We're betting on licensing issues, though, which could further cripple the service. Currently, there's no way to tell if a title is excluded from Xbox streaming until it's added to the Queue (reminder: this can only be done from a separate computer). We're not much for statistics, but we can tell you that 13 of 110 items in our Instant Queue are now unavailable, all of which are feature films. The blackout seems to have hit a range of flicks, from: Superbad to Bad Boys; Drunken Master to the entire Karate Kid trilogy (that's right -- the entire trilogy! We don't count that Next Karate Kid noise). We'll update when we learn more.

Update: 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?

Oddly enough, Sony Picture Entertainment movies (listed here) are still Xbox-enabled.

Update 2: It appears that the sudden yoinking of Columbia Pictures films from NXE Instant Queue access is a licensing issue with Sony after all. MTV Multiplayer pinged us with word that, on the rental service's official blog, Netflix corp. communications VP Steve Swasey writes:

"As watching instantly becomes a more prominent part of the Netflix service, our goal is to have all of our streaming content licensed for all of our partner devices. We're doing well in this area, but it will take some time before we fully achieve that goal. Today, titles regularly come in and out of license and there is a natural ebb and flow to what we have on license at any given point in time. In the case of Xbox 360, a few hundred titles are temporarily unavailable to be streamed via the Xbox game console. 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."

**007** · 11-19-2008, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Yeah. "at your mercy" meaning a 50 minute wait in the right lane on the freeway, waiting to pull into Arrowhead.

Any Californian would have sped ahead in the #2 lane and merged over right at the offramp, giving the "prayer" gesture and the "shoulder shrug" while forcing his way onto the offramp.

I hate those drivers.

**007** · 11-19-2008, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

This sentence is the exact reason why anyone with any brains should buy a PS3

Definitely can't argue with that.

Miles · 11-19-2008, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Part of me wants it to RROD since I am past my 1 year bumper to bumper warranty now. It is definitely louder now than it was the day I purchased it. Sometimes the disk will kick back out as well. Will piss me off if the disk drive fails on me though.

I bought my 360 about this time last year and it has always been rather loud. With my PS3 being relatively quite it now seems even more exaggerated when I switch over to my 360.

**007** · 11-19-2008, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

I bought my 360 about this time last year and it has always been rather loud. With my PS3 being relatively quite it now seems even more exaggerated when I switch over to my 360.

Exactly!!! It's annoying as hell. Had I not broken down to get the PS3 I may never have really noticed it as much.

Miles · 11-19-2008, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Exactly!!! It's annoying as hell. Had I not broken down to get the PS3 I may never have really noticed it as much.

I thought it was pretty annoying for DVD playback but since it upscaled when my older player didn't, the sound was tolerable for a while.

**007** · 11-19-2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

I thought it was pretty annoying for DVD playback but since it upscaled when my older player didn't, the sound was tolerable for a while.

With all the issues the Xbox had, I wasn't about to use it as a DVD player as well. Good thing the Arcade version is dropping in price now. If mine dies of anything other than RROD at least I can just snap my HDD on to the new Arcade xbox and go on as usual.

**QuikSsurfer** · 11-19-2008, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

PSN lets you watch the movie while downloading.

You don't think this feature was introduced long ago on the XBL marketplace?

**QuikSsurfer** · 11-19-2008, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

With PS3 and even the crappy Wii online service being free, MS will eventually have to at least consider lowering the price.

As an Apple guy, it's obvious how I feel about M$.

The price of the online service would go up before down.

**QuikSsurfer** · 11-19-2008, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

This sentence is the exact reason why anyone with any brains should buy a PS3

**007** · 11-19-2008, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

This is a multiple console thread.

**007** · 11-19-2008, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

As an Apple guy, it's obvious how I feel about M$.

The price of the online service would go up before down.

I think, if they did that, it would be a big mistake. There will be plenty that will just keep paying but I think there will also be enough to make a dent in their model if they did raise it.

**QuikSsurfer** · 11-19-2008, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I think, if they did that, it would be a big mistake. There will be plenty that will just keep paying but I think there will also be enough to make a dent in their model if they did raise it.

I'm not saying that it is going up (I don't think it would).
I do not see the cost of service going down though.

**QuikSsurfer** · 11-19-2008, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

This is a multiple console thread.

You agree with his statement?

**007** · 11-19-2008, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

You agree with his statement?

Never said that. I did purchase a 360 first.

PS3 was a secondary purchase and primarily for Blu Ray playback. Then I realized their games were fun too.

I do feel the PS3 is the better "all around" system to own though primarily because of the Blu Ray and streaming capabilities. Not to mention the much smaller likelihood of failure.

**007** · 11-19-2008, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

I'm not saying that it is going up (I don't think it would).
I do not see the cost of service going down though.

I agree with that. Though I do think it is overpriced slightly, my only real beef with them is the fact you have to have separate memberships for each member of the family on one console. I just think thats wrong.

11-18-2008, 10:45 PM
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $13920126 VARSITY	Sony dropping a bomb on Xbox's Netflix service? Interesting http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/nx...ddenly-gimped/ 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 (nobody likes 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 reached out to Microsoft for a full explanation -- so keep your fingers crossed that this is just a launch period mishap (like someone flipped the wrong switch ... or something). We're betting on licensing issues, though, which could further cripple the service. Currently, there's no way to tell if a title is excluded from Xbox streaming until it's added to the Queue (reminder: this can only be done from a separate computer). We're not much for statistics, but we can tell you that 13 of 110 items in our Instant Queue are now unavailable, all of which are feature films. The blackout seems to have hit a range of flicks, from: Superbad to Bad Boys; Drunken Master to the entire Karate Kid trilogy (that's right -- the entire trilogy! We don't count that Next Karate Kid noise). We'll update when we learn more. Update: 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? Oddly enough, Sony Picture Entertainment movies (listed here) are still Xbox-enabled. Update 2: It appears that the sudden yoinking of Columbia Pictures films from NXE Instant Queue access is a licensing issue with Sony after all. MTV Multiplayer pinged us with word that, on the rental service's official blog, Netflix corp. communications VP Steve Swasey writes: "As watching instantly becomes a more prominent part of the Netflix service, our goal is to have all of our streaming content licensed for all of our partner devices. We're doing well in this area, but it will take some time before we fully achieve that goal. Today, titles regularly come in and out of license and there is a natural ebb and flow to what we have on license at any given point in time. In the case of Xbox 360, a few hundred titles are temporarily unavailable to be streamed via the Xbox game console. 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."
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