Netflix/ABC/Disney streaming deal will bring TV all-you-can-eat to Apple TV
If the cheap $99 price tag of the Apple TV hasn't persuaded you to buy one of the tiny media centers yet, perhaps this news of a new deal between Netflix and The Walt Disney Company will make you reconsider.
Netflix is one of the content providers for the Apple TV, streaming a growing library of old and new movies and TV shows to subscribers who are paying a minimum of US$7.99 per month for instant access. Now the LA Times is reporting that ABC's parent, The Walt Disney Company, has reached a one-year agreement with Netflix to stream shows from ABC, The Disney Channel, and ABC Family to Netflix customers.
The deal, which is worth an estimated $150 - $200 million to Disney, will give Netflix subscribers access to previous seasons of shows such as Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, and Lost. In addition, subscribers will be able to view some shows that have aired only 15 days before.
As noted in the LA Times blog post, the deal is sure to upset traditional cable TV, satellite TV, and telecom operators, all of whom see Netflix and Hulu as encroaching on their turf. The Disney deal comes after earlier Netflix arrangements with NBC and Warner Bros. Apple CEO Steve Jobs is the largest single shareholder in The Walt Disney Company, and serves on the company's board of directors.
[via Fast Company]
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If the cheap $99 price tag of the Apple TV hasn't persuaded you to buy one of the tiny media centers yet, perhaps this news of a new deal...
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< CHRiS said 12:53PM on 12-09-2010
I suppose bbc.com should also have a US tab? Get over it, and quit bitching.>
Get over it?
Quit bitching?
I made a suggestion, if you don't mind.
Why is this an AppleTV story? I mean, sure, report it, but Netflix is available on several dozen platforms.
What's interesting about this is that Disney/ABC already own a large portion of Hulu, they're really getting into the streaming thing in a Very Good Way.
With the ESPN application on the XBox 360, it's cool to see a company that large really start to embrace streaming.
Because Apple TV has a streaming deal for ABC/Disney with Apple TV that streams content Netflix doesn't yet have - hence the title of the article.
December 09 2010 at 12:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWell sure, but it isn't just for AppleTV, it's for anything that streams Netflix, so the title is a bit misleading.
I mostly watch Netflix in Plex, also on a Mac. Or you could watch it in Safari, or any one of dozens of other ways to watch Netflix on an Apple product, or a Microsoft product, or a Boxee box, or whatever.
I have never had a problem with Netflix streaming on my AppleTV 2. However, renting TV shows from iTunes is an exercise in frustration. Hopefully Netflix will supplant the need to use iTunes rentals completely.
December 09 2010 at 11:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhile I feel for those not in the US, it is not Apple or Netflix fault. It is the studios and networks to blame. Foreign markets are huge money so they want to deal with them separately. And sometimes they wait until they have milked all the US options dry. Lame but true.
As for the 'why can't there be a US tag so I can exclude stuff that I can't get' I think that is an excellent idea and don't think it is whining at all. There are a lot of things folks might want to exclude and there isn't really support. Heck I'd love to exclude a few of the regular posters, who constantly act like jerks
The only downside is that no one in Europe will be able to benefit from these deals, unless you're one of the select few that are able to fake their location to make iTunes/Apple/Netflix and such believe they are in the US.
All these countries in Europe (I'm from Holland myself) should get of their high horse and start working together instead of keeping to themselves... there's plenty of things not to like about how America deals with internet (like the RIAA and MPAA for example), but when it comes to streaming-options America is definately way ahead of most European countries :)
The UK are hard done by too, only iTunes to view real movie content and NO TV content.
ATV2 is flawed in its HD streaming at the moment with the promise of instant streaming not being delivered even with a 50M connection. (check out the Threads on Apple disscussions) http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2671825&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2608444&start=0&tstart=0
There are alot of fustrated ATV2 owners out there.
Personally I cant wait until it gets hacked and someone gives it the functionallity people realy want and expect from this device, somthing Apple should of addressed from Day One.
Thats it Rant Over!!
I've been on the fence about Netflix and the whole cable cutting thing because of my kids and their Disney shows. Now I am seriously considering it. Good move Netflix, keep the new shows coming to the streaming site.
December 09 2010 at 7:48 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt is the 'as early as two weeks later' that makes me consider it. I really don't like hulus pay and ads game. I would almost rather wait a week or so and get it with no ads and hopefully no drop offs on the content.
ABC alone isn't enough to make me drop cable. But if the others jump in, especially the non broadcast i'll be thinking about it
Isn't it better to also have a tab USA on your site? Now in MAIN there very often is news that only concerns the US, as is the case with this article. But, believe it or not, there are more countries on this planet ;)
Rene, I didn't realize that WaaWaaWaa was a country. Glad I live in the USA because this is great news.
December 09 2010 at 7:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI suppose bbc.com should also have a US tab? Get over it, and quit bitching.
December 09 2010 at 12:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
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