Netflix

Netflix is a mail-order DVD rental service. Customers select movies or television shows online and receive the disks in the mail. Discs are returned using pre-paid shipping envelopes, included with each mailing.http://www.netflix.com/MediaCenter

Netflix subscribers use the Netflix.com website to to browse the large selection of DVD's, BluRay disks and digital downloads. Customers browse the full details of each movie including the movie post, case, liner notes, and even customer reviews. After selecting a movie, customers add it to their personal queue where it will be shipped out. After the customer receives the movie in the mail, they are allowed to keep the movie for as long as they would like without accumulating traditional rental penalties such as late fees. When the customer would like Netflix to send them another movie from their queue of movie selections that they have chosen, they simply place the move in the pre-paid envelope and return it to Netflix. Once received, another movie is sent out immediately.http://www.netflix.com/MediaCenter

In addition to sending physical DVD's and BluRay movies, Netflix also allows customers to stream movies and television shows from Netflix.com to a Windows or Mac computer. This service allows customers to watch movies and television episodes (including the current season) on their computers to forgo the shipping delay incurred as a result of the postal service. Netflix has one of the largest online collections of major movie studio and current television programs making this feature particularly popular.http://www.netflix.com/HowItWorks

Netflix reached an agreement with independent film company Relativity Media on July 6, 2010 to air the studio's film releases in place of traditional pay per view channels, such as HBO and Showtime. Both of the premium networks have refused to allow Netflix access to movies that they own the air rights to. The contract between Netflix and Relativity Media will be in place for five years and is non-exclusive, allowing Relativity to also offer its films for download on iTunes and Amazon.com.http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/07/netflix-challenging-hbo-showtime-as-it-signs-distribution-deal-with-relativity-media.html

On June 7, 2010, John Ciancutti, Vice President of Personalization Technology at Netflix, announced on the company's blog that a Netflix iPhone application was being developed and had been presented at the Apple Worldwide Developers' Conference in San Francisco, California.http://blog.netflix.com/

On April 1st, 2010, Netflix announced that iPad owners would have full access to their collection of movies and television shows using the iPad Netflix Application.

This application allows customers to immediately stream over 20,000 movies and television shows directly to their iPad. The app also allows Netflix subscribers to review their DVD and Bluray queue and browse the full collection of Netflix media.http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/03/exclusive-official-netflix-streaming-ipad/

In January of 2010, Netflix reached an agreement with movie studio Warner Brothers that would allow the company to rent films produced by the studio after an initial 28 day waiting period. The purpose of the agreement is to allow consumers to rent the movie without reducing the number of DVD sales immediately after a movie is released on DVD.http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/01/warner-bros-new-releases-to-stay-off-netflix-for-28-days.html A similar agreement is in place with Warner Brothers and Redbox.http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1623984420100216

In March of 2009, the company introduced new rates for rentals of Blu-Ray discs. Previously, adding the ability to rent Blu-Rays had cost customers an extra $1 per month. This price has now been raised, and is tiered depending on the customer's previous rental plan. Many customers will see their rate raised to $3-$4.PC World: Netflix Raises Blu-ray Rates (March 30, 2009) The new rates go into effect April 27.

Netflix introduced streaming video to its lineup, allowing users to instantly watch a selection of shows over a high-speed internet connection on a Windows computer or compatible set-top device. The new Samsung Blu-ray player will include Netflix streaming.CrunchGear: Streaming Netflix Movies on your Samsung... (October 23, 2008)

On March 25, 2010, on its official company blog, NetFlix announced that it would very soon begin offering the ability for Nintendo Wii owners to stream films and television shows offered on the NetFlix service.http://blog.netflix.com/2010/03/netflix-via-wii-coming-soon.html In the past, NetFlix has enabled similar streaming capabilities for other devices, but this would mark the first time that such a service would be available using the Wii device.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/26/netflix-mails-wii-streami_n_514764.html

Nintendo Wii owners will have to insert a special streaming disk provided by NetFlix which would enable this functionality. Shortly after NetFlix's announcement, The Huffington Post reported that the company had already begun to ship out a limited number of these streaming disks for users to begin testing the service. In order to use the service, a person will need a Nintendo Wii, a broadband connection to the internet, and an $8.99 (or higher-priced) NetFlix service plan.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/26/netflix-mails-wii-streami_n_514764.html

On November 3, 2008 Netflix announced that November 30 would be the last day customers could buy used DVDs on its site. Previously Netflix had offered used DVDs for sale at steep discounts, but the company has decided "to spend the extra time focusing on continually improving our core rental business" rather than maintaining the resale section of its website.The Official Netflix Blog: Ending sales of previously viewed DVDs... (November 3, 2008)

On August 12, 2008, Netflix announced that due to unspecified technical problems, it was having difficulties shipping orders to approximately ¹/₃ of its customers. As of August 14, the issue had not been resolved, but Netflix representatives assured customers that they would resume regular shipping as soon as possible and provide credits to those who had been affected by the delays.Netflix Community Blog: Netflix Shipping Delay (August 12, 2008)Los Angeles Times: Netflix queues up major delay in shipping DVDs (August 14, 2008)

On May 14, 2010, Netflix announced that HD streaming was available on limited titles to be watched instantly on PC computers and Mac computers. The titles are listed in a separate category to indicate the HD capability.http://blog.netflix.com/