Netflix has finally confirmed what industry observers have been saying all along—that the company has more than 12,000 titles available for video-streaming.

The largest U.S. movie-rental service via mail last week started posting on its Web site that more than 17,000 of its titles can be delivered digitally. Blog HackingNetflix.com reported the update last week.

Netflix, which is set to release third-quarter earnings next month, has been augmenting its DVD-by-mail service by expanding both the number of its digital titles and the number of electronic components that can play them on TVs. About a third of Netflix’s new subscribers are previous customers who had canceled their subscriptions but were lured back largely by the expanded digital offering, Netflix chief financial officer Barry McCarthy said at a conference in New York last week.

Although Netflix has long pegged its digital inventory at about 12,000, HackingNetflix.com said as far back as April that the total was closer to 15,000. The company is able to maintain its profit margins while boosting investment in its streaming service because Netflix’s widening customer base allows sales growth to keep pace with its increasing digital-content investment, McCarthy said.

Netflix in July forecast third-quarter earnings of about $25 million on sales of about $419 million, both representing a 23% increase from year-earlier results.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6696754.html

That's good. My Watch Instant queue has been hovering at about 60 titles for quite awhile now, and I watch maybe 4 Blu-Rays and 3 instant titles each week. If a title is available in Blu-Ray I get that shipped to me rather than watch it through the WI service.

What does that mean? That means enough titles in my normal DVD queue (around 380 currently) are becoming available for Watch Instantly that I can't watch them faster than they become available.

Good news...thanks for letting us know!

DGK

While they have upped content, the quality is still terrible.

Watching Lost, season 4, ep. 2, the stuttering is almost non-existent but the video in many scenes is a blocky mess. Night scenes exihibit a large amount of noise.

The only way to get it watchable is to reduce to 3" screen.

While they have upped content, the quality is still terrible.

Watching Lost, season 4, ep. 2, the stuttering is almost non-existent but the video in many scenes is a blocky mess. Night scenes exihibit a large amount of noise.

The only way to get it watchable is to reduce to 3" screen.

Sucks for you.

Many others are enjoying Netflix streaming. I know stuttering is never an issue as it auto-senses bandwidth and adjusts accordingly for me. Granted, it is generally rock solid.

Lost is actually extraordinary as it streams in HD. I know I am enjoying Netflix streaming tremendously!

Sucks for you.Show me one video professional or video reviewer that says Netflix streaming looks good.

Show me one video professional or video reviewer that says Netflix streaming looks good.

Just from the first page of search results for "Netflix streaming reviews":

My biggest fear was that you were going to end up with heavily pixalated veiwing since it was streaming over the Internet and being blown up to the size of a TV screen, but I am pleased to say I was totally wrong about that. Last night my father wanted to watch a movie since he is laid out on the couch recovering from knee surgery, and he chose The Illusionist from 2006. What little I watched of the movie since I had work to do was just stunning in its quality.

http://www.seanpaune.com/2008/12/16/netflix-streaming-review/



WIRED Textbook definition of a simple setup. Good video quality from streams. Box automatically upgrades as new software features become available. No cost above normal Netflix subscription.

You can show your non-techie friends the Roku Netflix Player, and they'll get it right away. Unlike most version 1.0 products, you won't have to keep making excuses for delays, awkwardness and various bugs. The box does what it says it does well and doesn't promise to do anything else. In my tests, it was easy to use, responsive, with good video quality.

http://www.nextadvisor.com/blog/2008/05/21/netflix-streaming-set-top-box-review/

While most movies are in SD, Netflix has to date made about 300 videos available in HD, many of which are TV series and not actual movies. Watching the SD movies on a 50" plasma screen looked amazing and HD is really incredible.

http://blog.streamingmedia.com/the_business_of_online_vi/2008/10/review-hands-on-with-netflix-movies-on-the-xbox-360-hd-included.html

Add me to the list of people happy with netflix streaming. I watched the entire season 3 of Heroes in HD and never had one single issue. Sounded good looked good, and this is on a 123" screen!
Best,
Chris

While they have upped content, the quality is still terrible.

Watching Lost, season 4, ep. 2, the stuttering is almost non-existent but the video in many scenes is a blocky mess. Night scenes exihibit a large amount of noise.

The only way to get it watchable is to reduce to 3" screen.
Im guessing since you mentioned 3 inch window that you are using the pc player.... the pc player is nowhere close to the quality of the netflix devices designed for your tv. The pc player doesnt even get access to the highest quality SD feed and no HD at all (both of which are on the netflix devies).

Awesome news! I've been enjoying this via my BD390 for a month or two now.

I really don't care much what video reviewers say about Netflix streaming. If it looks good to ME on my TV (and it does, BTW, using my Roku box to stream Netflix's content) than what difference does it make what the reviews say? ;)

DGK

SD stuff can be hit and miss, and they really need to work on getting everything at the correct AR (Dead Calm was apparently in HD as it ran at 1.33:1...WTF?). Gonna start watching Harpers Island next as they have it in HD :)

I really don't care much what video reviewers say about Netflix streaming. If it looks good to ME on my TV (and it does, BTW, using my Roku box to stream Netflix's content) than what difference does it make what the reviews say? ;)

DGK

As I stated... there are many, many people enjoying Netflix streaming. So much so that Netflix is reporting incredible growth due to streaming, including an influx of ex-subscribers.


There just happen to be 3-4 people who come to this sub-forum seemingly for the sole purpose of trying to find absolutely anything to be negative about with streaming. Unfortunately for them, the news surrounding Digital Distribution is all about growth in usage and improvements in quality.

SD stuff can be hit and miss, and they really need to work on getting everything at the correct AR (Dead Calm was apparently in HD as it ran at 1.33:1...WTF?). Gonna start watching Harpers Island next as they have it in HD :)

I didn't bother checking, but I am guessing that was something from Starz. They are notorious about providing poor encodes (especially of older content) to Netflix.

Im guessing since you mentioned 3 inch window that you are using the pc player.... the pc player is nowhere close to the quality of the netflix devices designed for your tv. The pc player doesnt even get access to the highest quality SD feed and no HD at all (both of which are on the netflix devies).
Thanks for the info.
If you hadn't said anything I might have thought that pc image problems were exactly what was going to be displayed on a regular tv through a roku box.

Kris Deering and other professional reviewers rate Netflix video quality from “Watchable to Horrible”.

The poll at Hacking Netflix (http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2009/02/how-would-you-rate-netflixs-streaming-quality.html) has interesting results.

Has Netflix upgraded sound to DD 5.1 or is it still just stereo?

Kris Deering and other professional reviewers rate Netflix video quality from “Watchable to Horrible”.

The poll at Hacking Netflix (http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2009/02/how-would-you-rate-netflixs-streaming-quality.html) has interesting results.

Has Netflix upgraded sound to DD 5.1 or is it still just stereo?

Thanks for posting the link to the poll at hackingnetflix.com

From reading the comments, almost everyone says it is good to excellent. The one who was having issues with quality was using a PC (no surprise there).

As one commenter noted, the poll is very unscientific dues to employees of competitive companies easily able to vote (and not post). Even then, more than half posted as either "Good" or "Excellent". Nice!!


Do you have a link to the Kris Deering review (and other reviews) that state the quality is horrible?

Hmmm... Here is Kris Deering talking about Netflix streaming for SD:

With four bars, the quality was close to what we see from DVD playback, depending on the quality of the title. Some movies look better than others, but most big titles looked pretty good.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/discplayers/samsung_bd-p2500_blu-ray_player/


I did not see a review of the HD playback.

As one commenter noted, the poll is very unscientific dues to employees of competitive companies easily able to vote (and not post).That works both ways. It is possible there are many Netflix employees and supporters voting many times for “Excellent” or “Good”.

Do you have a link to the Kris Deering review (and other reviews) that state the quality is horrible?Kris Deering has commented on Netflix quality when reviewing Blu-ray players that include Netflix streaming capability. These reviews were in the printed version of Home Theater Magazine. Reviewers for Sound & Vision Magazine has made similar comments when doing Blu-ray player reviews that include Netflix streaming capability. You could check to see if they have the reviews online. I only read Wide Screen Review reviews of BD players done by Stacey Spears or Greg Rogers and IIRC they have not done any Blu-ray player reviews that include Netflix streaming capability.

Has anyone done screen caps to compare Netflix to the same title on DVD (as in Xylon’s Blu-ray vs. DVD (or other sources)?

So basically, your at the mercy of the cable provider and demand. Low demand will get you a dvd quality picture and high demand a picture that is "pretty bad". Sounds like what I was watching.
Even hulu seemed to have a better picture with an NCIS episode. The picture was still between vhs and dvd quality but the blocky/ noisey picture was not as frequent.

That works both ways. It is possible there are many Netflix employees and supporters voting many times for “Excellent” or “Good”.

Considering that just about everyone who posted their setup posted as Good or Excellent, I am guessing that is less of an issue. Streaming is certainly driving new business for Netflix, and that would not be happening if people were not happy with the service.

Kris Deering has commented on Netflix quality when reviewing Blu-ray players that include Netflix streaming capability. These reviews were in the printed version of Home Theater Magazine. Reviewers for Sound & Vision Magazine has made similar comments when doing Blu-ray player reviews that include Netflix streaming capability. You could check to see if they have the reviews online. I only read Wide Screen Review reviews of BD players done by Stacey Spears or Greg Rogers and IIRC they have not done any Blu-ray player reviews that include Netflix streaming capability.

Has anyone done screen caps to compare Netflix to the same title on DVD (as in Xylon’s Blu-ray vs. DVD (or other sources)?

So you are saying you don't have links to a review where he states it is horrible or unwatchable.

Here IS a link and quote that can be confirmed, again regarding SD:

With four bars, the quality was close to what we see from DVD playback, depending on the quality of the title. Some movies look better than others, but most big titles looked pretty good.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/discplayers/samsung_bd-p2500_blu-ray_player/

So basically, your at the mercy of the cable provider and demand. Low demand will get you a dvd quality picture and high demand a picture that is "pretty bad". Sounds like what I was watching.
Even hulu seemed to have a better picture with an NCIS episode. The picture was still between vhs and dvd quality but the blocky/ noisey picture was not as frequent.

It is unfortunate that you do not have equipment for an enjoyable experience.

Sounds like you are in the lower end of the bell curve.

Streaming is certainly driving new business for Netflix, and that would not be happening if people were not happy with the service.Between cable and pizza dishes there are more than 90 million subscribers. By your logic these folks must be elated with their picture quality. Most videophiles are not overly happy with the picture quality from these sources.


Here IS a link and quote that can be confirmed, again regarding SD:That is not the review I had read but it will do:

Unfortunately, cable Internet speeds largely depend on how many people are using the pipeline at any one time, so my Internet speed fluctuates throughout the day.

With two bars, the quality was pretty bad; it had obvious macroblocking and combing artifacts. It also took longer for films to buffer.

And folks should remember, this is for SD. With HD, look for macroblocking and noise to be even worse under the same conditions as above.

Between cable and pizza dishes there are more than 90 million subscribers. By your logic these folks must be elated with their picture quality. Most videophiles are not overly happy with the picture quality from these sources.

ROFL! Is that really the road you want to go down? Lack of availability of titles is what drives cable and dish subs.

Streaming is DRIVING Netflix growth, despite there still being a higher number of titles available via physical media. People are choosing to go to Netflix (and go back to Netflix) because of streaming. Both for the convenience and obviously the quality.


As far as the review, that is for two bars. So yes, if the best connection you have is 1400kbps, then it will not look nearly as good. My guess is that if video quality is at ALL a concern then you will have the 3080 kbps required for 4-bar SD (4760 kbps for HD).

It is a value decision, just like the decision to purchase BD or DVD.

It is unfortunate that you do not have equipment for an enjoyable experience.

Sounds like you are in the lower end of the bell curve.
Thanks for thinking about me...It's not a total loss, they have an excellent selection of dvds and BDs.

Thanks for thinking about me...It's not a total loss, they have an excellent selection of dvds and BDs.

So you have that going for you... which is nice.

Lack of availability of titles is what drives cable and dish subs.??

Both for the convenience and obviously the quality.Convenience=Yes, Quality=No. Just look at the AVS interest in streaming. If you were to post news items in the News thread instead of starting a new thread with each news item them the activity in this area would be near zero :D.

??
Convenience=Yes, Quality=No. Just look at the AVS interest in streaming. If you were to post news items in the News thread instead of starting a new thread with each news item them the activity in this area would be near zero :D.

Quality of Netflix today is very good depending on the encode. It will only get better.

I would not be surprised if there is a commercial offering in 2010 that surpasses Blu-ray quality.

As far as interest... One only has to look at press releases, executive comments from entertainment and CE companies, analyst reports on growth and consumer trends to see that the interest is there and that growth is steady and strong.


Ultimately I realize that it IS that growth that cause people to troll here. For whatever reason, the growth scares them.

??
Convenience=Yes, Quality=No. Just look at the AVS interest in streaming. If you were to post news items in the News thread instead of starting a new thread with each news item them the activity in this area would be near zero :D.

I happen to enjoy PSound's posts. I have found out things that I might otherwise have missed.

Maybe this section needs a warning like in the HD and BR section, If you are not here for video download service and hardware , move on.:)

I would not be surprised if there is a commercial offering in 2010 that surpasses Blu-ray quality.

Now THAT would be cool! :)

I happen to enjoy PSound's posts. I have found out things that I might otherwise have missed.

I totally agree. I've learned a lot that I otherwise would never have known about.

DGK

I happen to enjoy PSound's posts. I have found out things that I might otherwise have missed.


Ditto. I'm very interested in where all this is heading and use streaming/download from many sources to my HT (Netflix, Hulu, Xbox Marketplace, PSN, etc) and am totally enjoying it (along with my Blu-Ray rentals).

It's unfortunate this section just attracts a couple people who are insistent on bashing everything that's not Blu-Ray. Kindof ruins this section and why I gave up posting much.

I just like reading PSound's news, and ignore all the other arguments that are repeated over and over ad-nauseum, as if we aren't already aware of the current drawbacks to the streaming tech. I love having a couple dozen different ways to view content. Great times to be a content lover.

Anyways, just wanted to post my appreciation of PSound for providing the news. Rest assured that there are people here interested and using it, even if we don't post much in this section. Keep up the good work.

??
Convenience=Yes, Quality=No. Just look at the AVS interest in streaming. If you were to post news items in the News thread instead of starting a new thread with each news item them the activity in this area would be near zero :D.

Its going to take some time.

When I first streamed Netflix to my PC, the results were not favorable to do it again. I didn't know then that I was only getting SD.

I've started using my kids Xbox 360 to stream the 720p HD material, and overall it has been pretty good. I would slot it right in between DVD and BD for picture quality.

Now if they can get 5.1 audio to go along with it.;)

Thanks to those who posted support!

I know that there was some gross (and unchallenged) misinformation about streaming as late as the beginning of this year. I am happy to provide information about the business, the technology and the actual growth of Digital Distribution.

Facts and info are far preferable to FUD. :-)