Title could not be worse. Netflix will not be a channel. You need a Netflix subscription and a TiVo. This deal is only working around some bizarre business constraints around streaming video.
The only interesting part here is watching Netflix "without switching remotes or inputs", which frankly is a sign of how desperate cable providers are to keep subscribers locked in to their STB model.
It shows more of how Netflix's approach to winning the "moment of truth" is changing. The moment of truth used to be about which remote the customer picked up. For example the cable remote or the appletv/roku/xbox/ps controller to play Netfix.
Now it seems they are finding success in the second moment of truth, which is when the customer picks up the cable remote, do they go to AMC, HBO, Showtime, or Netflix?
The article describes a regular cable channel. I can image Netflix taking its content, and 'scheduling' a 24/7 video stream that plays over a cable TV channel. Its funny to think of Netflix content as "appointment TV" since it was Netflix that went so far with "anytime TV".
One of the most (sadly) awe inspiring moments in my recent past was the realization that the standard remote on my Panasonic TV controlled the menus (including Netflix) on my PS3 almost perfectly.
"...you would pick up your remote control, you would tune to Channel 450, and there you'd find Netflix. You'd select it and that'll launch the Netflix app. Literally, watching Netflix is as easy as changing the channel."
It may seem a bit crazy to us, but I think it is a brilliant stepping-stone into a (really big) market of people who 1) watch a lot of TV and 2) have shown that they don't really grok Netflix's new-fangled user experience. My parents still switch back and forth between three shows to avoid commercials. They often do this for hours a night. They have a fully configured Roku and Chromecast boxes, and they use their smart phones more than I do, but they still reach for the cable remote instead of the Roku remote or Netflix app on their phone.
It's a good lesson to learn: good user experience has a lot to do with understanding what users you're targeting and how best to do so.
This seems like just an extension of Netflix's desire to be on every device hooked up to a TV. They've been building apps for TVs, BluRay, Roku, AppleTV, etc for years. The cable box is another device, so they want to be on it.
I think this is a little interesting because Netflix and Cable companies are seen as competition today, so I imagine there's been some resistance.
I don't know if the streaming rights modification is that relevant, except as a reminder of how convoluted those agreements must be.
Cable should stop seeing themselves as being "competitors in a different industry." They are in the same industry, just with new mediums appearing. Watching what you want when you want is clearly the future. Carrying forward the technical restrictions of analog broadcast is simply insane, if you step back and look at it.
A lot of people in here comment on how this is not tghat big. I have a netflix sub, and every time I visit my parents, they want to watch it, and use it. They don't use it when I'm not there because they can't figure it out. It's an app on a new TV, and is literally 2 or 3 button clicks away. If netflix was channel 500 or something on our TV box they would happily pay for it.remember that not everyone is as technically inclined as we are.
Here is what I think happened. Netflix has "new media" rights to the content. They can't play the content over cable. Some cable companies provide a TiVo as a cable box, and Netflix works on TiVos.
This presents a legal problem: is playing netflix on a cable company's tivo box "cable"? Well no, but they probably had to get the content providers to agree. Now that the content providers agree, the Netflix app can be installed on these cable company provided Tivos.
I am speculating, but the article makes no sense otherwise.
This has been available in the UK for a while (on Virgin Media TiVo boxes, the only cable supplier here).
I don't have a Netflix subscription so I haven't tried it properly, but the integration with TiVo is good. If you're browsing an actor and find a film, as well as any upcoming TV showings it will give you the option to launch it from Netflix.
It's obviously a big move away from the major TV channels, but (in the UK at least) I think the big money is in the sports channels and Netflix isn't competing with them there.
[+] [-] tantalor|12 years ago|reply
The only interesting part here is watching Netflix "without switching remotes or inputs", which frankly is a sign of how desperate cable providers are to keep subscribers locked in to their STB model.
[+] [-] tzakrajs|12 years ago|reply
Now it seems they are finding success in the second moment of truth, which is when the customer picks up the cable remote, do they go to AMC, HBO, Showtime, or Netflix?
[+] [-] flinty|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] donpdonp|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] corylehey|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] colechristensen|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gagege|12 years ago|reply
facepalm
That's some bad old-fashioned UI right there.
[+] [-] sanderjd|12 years ago|reply
It's a good lesson to learn: good user experience has a lot to do with understanding what users you're targeting and how best to do so.
[+] [-] ForHackernews|12 years ago|reply
And they're pretty fast: http://ispspeedindex.netflix.com/usa (click "INCLUDE SMALLER ISPS")
[+] [-] e28eta|12 years ago|reply
I think this is a little interesting because Netflix and Cable companies are seen as competition today, so I imagine there's been some resistance.
I don't know if the streaming rights modification is that relevant, except as a reminder of how convoluted those agreements must be.
[+] [-] stcredzero|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] maccard|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jcampbell1|12 years ago|reply
This presents a legal problem: is playing netflix on a cable company's tivo box "cable"? Well no, but they probably had to get the content providers to agree. Now that the content providers agree, the Netflix app can be installed on these cable company provided Tivos.
I am speculating, but the article makes no sense otherwise.
[+] [-] omh|12 years ago|reply
I don't have a Netflix subscription so I haven't tried it properly, but the integration with TiVo is good. If you're browsing an actor and find a film, as well as any upcoming TV showings it will give you the option to launch it from Netflix.
It's obviously a big move away from the major TV channels, but (in the UK at least) I think the big money is in the sports channels and Netflix isn't competing with them there.