Netflix Watch Now Feature Announced

Netflix takes a big step into the future of online entertainment by introducing a new feature called "Watch Now" that will allow Netflix subscribers to immediately watch movies and TV series on their Windows-based PC. Netflix says that the new movies on-demand feature does not require lengthy downloading of large video files because the Netflix feature uses real-time playback technology that lets you watch the video as it's being delivered to your computer. After a one-time, under-60-second installation of a browser applet, most subscribers' movie selections will begin playing in their Web browser in as little as 10 to 15 seconds. You'll need broadband Internet connectivity with a minimum of 1mb per second, but for DVD quality video a 3mb per second connection is needed.

The Netflix Watch Now feature will kick-off with 1000 titles, but the company will add more as the service rolls-out over the next six months. The new feature will be available to all Netflix subscribers by the end of June with the following plans. Subscribers on the $5.99 plan will have six hours of online movie watching per month and subscribers on the $17.99 plan will have 18 hours of online movie watching per month. You'll need a Windows XP PC and Internet Explorer browser, and although you can't download video for watching later on another device, Netflix does have plans to deliver the Watch Now feature on Internet-connected cell phones, displays, and more in the future.

via | TechCrunch

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