Netflix Sees Apple Partnership, iPhone Streaming to “Come Over Time”
Netflix, which mails DVDs and Blu-Ray discs to subscribers and streams movies and TV shows directly to Xbox 360 and other set-top box owners, commented on the likelihood of their working with Apple, and specifically providing an app for the iPhone:
“[A partnership with Apple] is something that’s likely to come over time, but nothing in the short term. [With] movie watching, we are not focused on mobile yet, but on the TV, on Blu-ray and on the video game consoles. We will get to mobile eventually, including the iPhone.”
This either goes against, or pushes back previous rumors that “Watch Instantly” was on its way to the App Store.
Of course, there are significant hurdles to overcome. First, media licensing is still an outdated mess, with different rights for different content making it difficult for any company to provide similar services across geographical boundaries. Indeed, Netflix is US-only still. While Apple’s own iTunes Store movie and TV platform is in several countries around the world, including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, content varies incredibly from one to the other, and many iTunes stores are still app-only, or app and music only.
In terms of competition, Apple has recently let Spotify and Rhapsody onto the App Store, so Netflix might find a similar home despite iTunes’ own offerings. There’d still be the question of the streaming itself, however, as despite recent FCC net neutrality proposals, AT&T and other carriers might not have the capacity to handle that much bandwidth on such a popular device, consigning Netflix to Wi-Fi, much like SlingPlayer.
[Reuters via Digital Daily via Gizmodo]
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:03 am
Ahhh will it come to the US? AT&T will prolly have a cow.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 am
This sounds complicated. I wonder how long it will take. Years?
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Netflix on AppleTV??
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Well dont even look foward to it… The day apple allows a huge company like netflick into the app store. iTunes will lose all sales in online DVD rentals and movies. Don’t listen to that lie about AT&T not being able to handle that bandwidth… Please! Mr. So called FASTEST 3G speeds in te world! Ha the day they let that mess pass through iTunes let alone the app store will be the day Steve jobs finally decied to enable “VIDEO MMS” … 2012 ????????
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
You can’t stream Netflix in Canada but I’m not sure about other countries. So, to me, it looks like it will be on AT&T’s network. Hopefully anyways.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I’d rather have AppleTV support.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
i actually wouldn’t mind if this was just over Wifi for now.
eventually, when the network is ready for everyone streaming video data all the time, this will be even better – but for now i think all video streaming capabilities should probably be kept off the network.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if streaming came to the Apple TV soon. It’s an awesome feature, I love it for the 360 and use it all of the time. It would be even sweeter if it was streamable on the iPhone over 3G. Maybe if Apple and Google keep fighting Apple will replace the YouTube app (seldom used by me) with a Netflix app. I would poop my pants if that happened.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
It’d be nice to have Netflix stream over the cellulars network, but I’d be content on having it only over Wi-Fi… at first. Better than nothing.
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Just release it wifi only NOW, and I’ll worry with how I can get it running on other bandwidth mediums. 3G UNRESTRICORRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea—-hhhhh!!!
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
ooops was ATT listening? who cares.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:22 am
Man **** AT&T them ******** won’t let me get a iPhone…
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I’ve wanted AppleTV from the start but refuse to buy it until it offers Wi-Fi Netflix as well. I don’t give one iota about my phone being able to stream movies.
I’m holding out, Apple! It’s up to you.