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Netflix partners with Relativity Media; adds to 'Watch Instantly' pool

By | July 6, 2010, 5:55am PDT

Summary: Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” service is poised to go head-to-head with the major premium channels like HBO and Showtime thanks to a new deal with Relativity Media.

Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” service is poised to go head-to-head with the major premium channels thanks to a recent deal with Relativity Media.

Under the newfound partnership, Relativity-owned titles will be made available in the streaming section of the online rental site at the same time these films would debut on HBO, Showtime and Starz. This will significantly bump up the normal extensive wait time between the DVD release and previous availability on Netflix.com.

Some of the Relativity films we can expect to see include The Fighter with Christian Bale and Season of the Witch starring Nicolas Cage.

It’s a small start with only a handful of films, but it’s always nice to see Netflix’s streaming library expand.

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NetFlix Inc., Rachel King

Rachel King is a staff writer for ZDNet based in San Francisco.

Disclosure

Rachel King

Rachel King has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted in this blog.

Biography

Rachel King

Rachel King is a staff writer for CBS Interactive in San Francisco. Before serving as a contributing editor at ZDNet in New York City for two years, she previously worked for The Business Insider, FastCompany.com, CNN's San Francisco bureau and the U.S. Department of State. Rachel has also written for MainStreet.com, Irish America Magazine and the New York Daily News, among others. Rachel has a B.A. in Mass Communications and History from the University of California, Berkeley and a M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University, where she served as art director for the student magazine, Plated.

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RE: Netflix partners with Relativity Media; adds to 'Watch Instantly' pool
non-biased 8th Jul 2010
I have been with Netflix since the first of the year and am happy with it. I wish there was more prime time network programming available for instant viewing but that will probably change. I made the move from Blockbuster to Netflix when the store near me closed. Blockbuster was more expensive but I could return movies to the store and the next one would ship immediately as well as I could get an in store rental for free. They have a fair amount of work to do to get it where I think it should be but I have not found another service that I overall like as much.
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RE: Netflix partners with Relativity Media; adds to 'Watch Instantly' pool
jimch@... 6th Jul 2010
Good thing, this. Hooked up with Netflix streaming for Wii several weeks ago, not much content there. DVD lost in mail second week of service, not too happy with the time delays..
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Blockbuster will be in bankruptcy by September, so ...
terry flores 6th Jul 2010
Between Netflix and RedBox, Blockbuster and most other storefront rental outlets are toast. The coming competition is now from Video OnDemand and premium movie channels. VOD is finally getting tolerable due to more advanced set top boxes from the cable companies. But the prices are still very high, competing against the old Blockbuster $3.99 price point. Netflix did a really smart thing by introducing their VOD service essentially for free, even with a limited catalog of not-so-choice titles. After working out bugs and getting more supported platforms, they are finally ready to do what they wanted all along: a paid VOD service using generic broadband delivery and a variety of set top devices. Smart guys!

Now if they don't get derailed by bandwidth caps or network non-neutrality ...
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RE: Netflix partners with Relativity Media; adds to 'Watch Instantly' pool
dvanderwerken 6th Jul 2010
I canceled my Netflix account after having it for well over a year. The big reason is I wanted to watch True Blood on HBO and I had to make a deal with the wife. Cancel Netflix to get HBO.

Regardless, I considered Netflix's lack of quality streaming video as a huge reason for giving it up.

On a side note, all of the Hollywood Video stores in our area have closed.
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RE: Netflix partners with Relativity Media; adds to 'Watch Instantly' pool
wellcraft19 6th Jul 2010
Good to see Netflix sigining up yet another partner for their amazing "watch now" service".
Had Netflix now for about 18 months, and streaming since last fall on the PS3. I have a very hard time understanding why people complain about the lack of quality in their "watch now" collection.

If you are looking or the very latest movie you might be out of luck (go to the theatre), but there is so much in their archive (everything from big budget feature films, via foreign, independent, documentaries, TV series, educational) that it ought to be more than enough for a life time of watching. At the current price point ($10/month) I am seriously considering giving up Cable TV in favor for Netflix.
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Agree with wellcraft19
KarrasB 6th Jul 2010
We started Netflix just over a month ago and are still quite delighted with the service. A new Cd goes into the mail as soon as return CD is at the post office. Amazing. We, too, are about to give up cable television. No more disgusting commercials. Life is good:)
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RE: Netflix partners with Relativity Media; adds to 'Watch Instantly' pool
jerry@... 6th Jul 2010
I've been with NetFlix since a few months after they started and have really had no issues with them. My only complaint with their instant watch is no sub-titles which I like especially if I'm watching a movie I've seen previously. Once they opened a mail center in my area it has been a one day turnaround.

Editor: Why all the commercials in this thread?
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RE: Netflix partners with Relativity Media; adds to 'Watch Instantly' pool
henri421@... 6th Jul 2010
I have been with Netflix for over 3 years and I am very pleased with the service. I so Love the streaming, would like more TV shows as choices, other then that no complaints. I have DirectTV and I am pleased with that. So with the 2 I have great viewing choices and no complaints. Yeah Netflix...looking for many more years.
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RE: Netflix partners with Relativity Media; adds to 'Watch Instantly' pool
non-biased 8th Jul 2010
I have been with Netflix since the first of the year and am happy with it. I wish there was more prime time network programming available for instant viewing but that will probably change. I made the move from Blockbuster to Netflix when the store near me closed. Blockbuster was more expensive but I could return movies to the store and the next one would ship immediately as well as I could get an in store rental for free. They have a fair amount of work to do to get it where I think it should be but I have not found another service that I overall like as much.

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