netflix

mobile
February 24, 2012
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Netflix: No plan to support BlackBerry OS or PlayBook OS

By on February 24, 2012 at 1:40 PM.

Netflix: No plan to support BlackBerry OS or PlayBook OS

Netflix on Thursday revealed that it has no plans to bring its streaming service to Research In Motion’s mobile platforms. With the release of the Playbook 2.0 update, it was not immediately clear whether the company would port its existing Android app to the platform or perhaps create a native app for RIM’s tablet OS, however neither will be the case. ”We don’t have any current plans to support BlackBerry devices, including PlayBook,” the company confirmed on Twitter. Netflix has more than 24 million U.S. subscribers and it recently expanded its streaming-only service to make it available in Canada and parts of Latin America. Read on for a screen capture of Netflix’s confirmation. More →

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Entertainment
February 6, 2012
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Season 1 of Netflix’s first original series ‘Lilyhammer’ is now live

By on February 6, 2012 at 8:30 PM.

Season 1 of Netflix’s first original series ‘Lilyhammer’ is now live

The debut season of Netflix’s first original series “Lilyhammer” is now available on demand to all Netflix “Watch Instantly” subscribers. All eight episodes of the series’ first season can be streamed beginning Tuesday, and the show is available in high definition. Lilyhammer is the first in a string of original content Netflix is working on in an effort to create an all-inclusive online-only network that will truly pose a real threat to traditional pay TV networks. The show features Steven Van Zandt of “The Sopranos” fame, who stars as a relocated New York City gangster trying to make a new life for himself in a small town in Norway. Netflix is working on more original content that will launch this year, including a new season of “Arrested Development” and “House of Cards,” starring Kevin Spacey. More →

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Business
February 6, 2012
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New Verizon, Redbox joint venture to offer Netflix-like video streaming

By on February 6, 2012 at 7:45 PM.

New Verizon, Redbox joint venture to offer Netflix-like video streaming

Verizon and Redbox-owner Coinstar on Monday announced a new joint venture in which the two companies will offer a new streaming video service. The joint venture was originally called “Project Zoetrope” and initial details began to surface in December of last year. It’s still unclear what the joint venture will be called or what exactly each company’s role will be, however Verizon said that the companies will begin to offer a “video on demand streaming and download service” that will no doubt compete directly with services such as Netflix and Vudu. Verizon’s press release follows below. More →

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Business
January 25, 2012
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Netflix adds 610,000 DVD subscribers, beats Q4 estimates

By on January 25, 2012 at 5:05 PM.

Netflix adds 610,000 DVD subscribers, beats Q4 estimates

Netflix on Wednesday announced its earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011. The company noted $876 million in revenue, up 47% from the same quarter last year, and earnings per share of $0.73. Analysts had pegged the company to report revenue in the ballpark of $857.4 million and EPS of $0.54, Barron’s relayed. Netflix also said it added 220,000 new subscribers, a far cry from the 800,000 it lost during the third quarter, and now serves 21.67 million streaming customers in the United States. The company has 24.4 million U.S. customers signed up for DVD subscriptions and that figure jumped by 610,000 during the quarter.

Netflix serves 1.9 million international streaming customers and added 380,000 new subs during the quarter. “We are encouraged by the strength in acquisition that we are seeing, coupled with continued improvements in retention among our domestic streaming members,” the company said in a statement. “For Q1 to date, our domestic net additions for streaming are tracking close to our net additions in Q1 2010 of 1.7 million net additions. Given this trend, we are comfortable with our ability to continue to expand our domestic streaming contribution margin.”

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Legal
January 17, 2012
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Upset investors file class action lawsuit against Netflix

By on January 17, 2012 at 9:00 PM.

Upset investors file class action lawsuit against Netflix

Investors who were upset by Netflix’s poor decision making in 2011 have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company in a U.S. District Court in Northern California. ”At the beginning of the class period, Netflix was facing increasing competition for streaming business, and content providers were exploring new ways to distribute their content and/or maximize their licensing fees,” the lawsuit reads. “Rather than fully disclose the devastating cost increases which were then threatening Netflix’s entire business, the defendants talked about [the company's] ability to grow.” Netflix lost as many 800,000 customers during the third quarter of 2011 when it decided to raise its prices and spin off its DVD rental service into a new subsidiary called Qwikster. The spin-off decision was soon reversed but customers had already left in droves. According to paidContent, investors are also suing because several of Netflix’s executives sold stock before it tanked due to poor decision making. More →

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Entertainment
January 4, 2012
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Netflix’s first original series ‘Lilyhammer’ premiers February 6th [video]

By on January 4, 2012 at 5:40 PM.

Netflix’s first original series ‘Lilyhammer’ premiers February 6th [video]

Netflix on Tuesday announced that its first original series, “Lilyhammer,” will begin streaming to subscribers on February 6th in the United States. Starring Steven Van Zandt of “The Sopranos,” the series follows the life of a New York City mobster who is relocated to Lillehammer, Norway upon entering the federal witness protection program. ”I am very careful with my choices and this project was so exciting to me because of the wonderful writing, the rich characters and the fascinating culture of Norway,” said Steven Van Zandt, the show’s star and Executive Producer. “Netflix is the perfect home for such a unique show.” Lilyhammer is the first in a number of original series Netflix plans to offer its Watch Instantly subscribers. The company is also prepping an exclusive new season of “Arrested Development” and a new original series starring Kevin Spacey titled “House of Cards.” Netflix’s full press release follows below along with the Lilyhammer trailer. More →

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Business
January 4, 2012
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Netflix streaming subscribers watched more than 2 billion hours of video during Q4

By on January 4, 2012 at 3:10 PM.

Netflix streaming subscribers watched more than 2 billion hours of video during Q4

Netflix announced on Wednesday that its streaming subscribers around the world watched more than 2 billion hours of video during the fourth quarter of 2011. The company also said it served more than 20 million streaming subscribers during the quarter. “We were thrilled to deliver more than two billion hours of TV shows and movies across 45 countries in the fourth quarter,” said Netflix Co-Founder and CEO Reed Hastings. “Netflix delights members by giving them choice, convenience and control over the entertainment they love for an incredibly low price.” The company lost 800,000 customers during the third quarter when it upset customers by raising its prices and then confused them with a short-lived attempt at a DVD rental spinoff business called Qwikster. Netflix is set to debut its original series “Lilyhammer” on February 6th and fresh content, such as Drive, Hugo, Captain America and Margin Call, will be available to customers in the coming months. The full Netflix announcement follows after the break. More →

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Gaming
December 15, 2011
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Game console owners stream more video content than ever before

By on December 15, 2011 at 7:15 AM.

Game console owners stream more video content than ever before

New data from Nielsen suggests that console owners are using their Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii game consoles to stream video content more than ever before. “Streaming now represents a reported 14 percent of Xbox 360 time, 15 percent of PS3 time and 33 percent of Wii time,” Nielsen said Wednesday. The market research firm explained that the growth in time spent streaming was driven by services such as ESPN 3, Netflix, MLB Network and Hulu, but that time spent using consoles also increased overall. Console usage during the first half of 2011 jumped 7% from the same time period last year. Nielsen said gaming is the most popular activity on Xbox 360 (34% of usage), the PS3 is most used for DVD/Blu-ray viewing (22% of usage) and the Wii is used most for offline gaming (55% of usage). More →

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Business
December 13, 2011
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Verizon said to be ‘very serious’ about potential Netflix bid

By on December 13, 2011 at 5:15 PM.

Verizon said to be ‘very serious’ about potential Netflix bid

Mediatech Capital managing partner Porter Bibb believes Verizon Communications is seriously considering making a bid for Netflix. Rumors swirled around recently suggesting that Verizon may team up with the kiosk movie rental service Redbox in 2012 to create its own streaming service to compete head-to-head with Netflix, although perhaps Verizon Communications is considering a different strategy. “I am hearing rumblings from inside Verizon that they are very serious about either Netflix or something similar,” Bibb told Bloomberg on Tuesday. Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed earlier this month that the company is looking to enter the steaming-video space in an effort to bolster its FiOS offering. More →

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Software
December 13, 2011
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Barnes & Noble Nook Color update brings Netflix, other Nook Tablet features

By on December 13, 2011 at 3:00 AM.

Barnes & Noble Nook Color update brings Netflix, other Nook Tablet features

Barnes & Noble’s previous-generation Nook slate is getting an update beginning today that will add a number of features from the new Nook Tablet to the device. “Among the new features, NOOK Color v1.4.1 now offers access to streaming popular movies and TV shows through Netflix, comics and graphic novels, new PagePerfect NOOK Books, reading NOOK Books in portrait and landscape modes, and many other enhancements through-out the device,” Barnes & Noble said. Version 1.4.1 of the company’s Android-based operating system is available immediately as a manual update on Barnes & Noble’s website and it will automatically be downloaded to devices over Wi-Fi beginning some time this week. Barnes & Noble’s full change log follows below. More →

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Legal
November 17, 2011
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Walmart may settle Netflix price fixing conspiracy case with $27.5 million payout

By on November 17, 2011 at 6:05 PM.

Walmart may settle Netflix price fixing conspiracy case with $27.5 million payout

Walmart has agreed to pay $27.5 million in damages to more than 25 million Netflix customers who subscribed to the service between May 19th, 2005 and September 2nd, 2011, as part of a settlement in a class-action lawsuit. Litigation was levied against the nationwide retailer after Walmart ditched efforts to run a DVD-by-mail business that would compete directly with Netflix. Reportedly, Walmart agreed to bail on its plans provided that Netflix pointed its customers to Walmart to purchase DVDs. Walmart has not admitted any wrongdoing and Netflix plans to continue fighting the charges during a January 23rd trial. While a tentative approval of the agreement was already granted by a judge in September, the final ruling will come during a court appearance scheduled for March 14th. Netflix members will receive payment in Walmart gift cards and cash. As MercuryNews points out, $6.9 million, or 25%, may be paid to Netflix’s lawyers while another $1.7 million will be paid out to cover legal fees. In that case, 25 million Netflix customers would have to divvy up the remaining $19 million, which means members would receive less than $1 each in damages on average. More →

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Software
November 15, 2011
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Netflix launches new tablet UI for Android; iPad version coming in a few weeks

By on November 15, 2011 at 10:00 PM.

Netflix launches new tablet UI for Android; iPad version coming in a few weeks

Netflix, compelled by the increasing number of Android tablets now flooding the market, announced a brand new user interface for tablets on Tuesday. The company explained that the revamped UI now displays twice as many movie and TV titles, with larger cover art, and that users can easily swipe through titles to find additional content. The changes are all welcome, since we found the old UI was a bit sluggish while searching for something to watch. “In the last 12 months we have seen a threefold increase in how long Netflix members are watching on their tablets,” Netflix chief product officer Neil Hunt said, noting the company wanted to introduce the redesigned UI in time for the expected influx of new users from the Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet. The update is free and is available in the Android Market now. Netflix said the update will be available for iPad users “in a few weeks.” The full press release follows after the break. More →

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Entertainment
October 24, 2011
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Netflix beats Street but loses 800,000 subscribers in Q3; DVD decline to continue

By on October 24, 2011 at 5:30 PM.

Netflix beats Street but loses 800,000 subscribers in Q3; DVD decline to continue

Shares of Netflix stock plummeted more than 27% in after-hours trading as the company revealed it lost more than 800,000 customers in the third quarter. Netflix now serves 23.8 million total customers and it reported third-quarter revenue of $822 million, beating estimates of $812 million. Earnings worked out to $1.16 per share, which also beat Wall Street’s consensus of $0.96. “While we dramatically improved our $7.99 unlimited streaming service by embracing new platforms, simplifying user-interface, and more than doubling domestic spending on streaming content over 2010, we greatly upset many domestic Netflix members with our significant DVD-related pricing changes, and to a lesser degree, with the proposed-and-now-cancelled rebranding of our DVD service,” Netflix said in a letter to shareholders Monday. Netflix expects DVD shipments to decline sharply during the fourth quarter, a continuation of the company’s earlier changes, but it expects growth in weekly gross additions compared to the December quarter last year. The company said it expects global consolidated income to fall between $19 million and $37 million during the fourth quarter and EPS is expected to land between $0.36 and $0.70. More →

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