Just hours before the Xbox 360's newest
dashboard update hits tomorrow morning (10:00 a.m. GMT), our friends at Joystiq noticed the list of movies available for Netflix Watch Instantly
streaming has suddenly dropped. The culprit? Sony Pictures Home Entertainment subsidiary Columbia Pictures, flicking previously available titles like
Superbad,
Bad Boys, and
We Own the Night over to "Not available on Xbox" status (curiously, SPHE movies are still available to all.) Word from the official Netflix blog cites "the ebb and flow" of what is available on license at any given time causing a few hundred titles to be "temporarily" unavailable on the console, while still open for streaming for other devices, with an eye towards licensing them for the Xbox 360 soon. There's no way to know what movies won't work until adding them to your queue, so when you find your
Karate Kid trilogy watching time suddenly wide open for more
Gears of War 2 or
Left 4 Dead action, just remember you have Sony to thank.
[Via
Joystiq &
Multiplayer]
posted Nov 18th 2008 10:14PM
Sad.....but expected.
This is really just embarrassing for Sony. It's quite childish and really doesn't help Sony's already fairly low image. Come on Sony...
Microsoft is doing what you have been unable to... create a good online marketplace for content
Netflix is a 360 console exclusive service right now. That's pretty childish too.
Ayrkain, and Sony/BDA signing exclusive deals with Fox and Disney before Blu-ray even launched and SPS refusing to release on HD DVD was real mature also, same shoe different foot.
Sad, expected, and warranted. Micro$oft paid all this money to get "exclusive" Netflix streaming when both systems could have easily done it.
Besides, who cares about all this, PS3 can easily stream any Netflix movie with the PlayOn media server right now, I use it all the time when I'm not gaming or playing Blu-rays on it (much better quality than anything else anyway).
@Ayrkain
So then is Sony being childish keeping R2, LBP, MGS, GT5P, Ratchet, Uncharted, and Heavenly Sword (or others from 3rd party studios) exclusive to the PS3? What about those HD movies from Sony Pictures or Columbia that were BD exclusive and not released on HD DVD, was that childish? Or how about having Fox, Disney, etc. being exclusive to BD?
Where's Gears, Halo and Left4Dead on the PS3? Disabling a service that we know is possible (PlayOn does it right now) via an exclusivity deal is just as lame as this. The difference? It's happening to 360 fans now. Really though, this has nothing to do with the console wars and everything to do with renegotiating HD streaming licenses.
@all: They're not childish. They're greedy. That's a difference.
you know whats missing
"Mohahahahaha..............................."
Sony is 100% right ! Xbox 360 sucks.....
Wow, how disappointing of Engadget's readers. Instead of reading the article thoroughly and thinking about it, you all jump to conclusions and reveal your fanboy sides. Ironically, a lot of you also complain about how Engadget writers love Apple too much. I saw only about 1 reasonable post (chefgon_ign) that considered how this situation didn't make sense.
Only moves from Columbia Pictures are offline. Why aren't the other movies from Sony labels offline? Oh wait, it's because "Today, titles regularly come in and out of license and there is a natural ebb and flow to what we have on license at any given point in time."
If Netflix's licensing terms gives the movie studios power to dictate which hardware manufacturers are allowed to show their movies and which aren't then the licensing terms are giving the studios too much power. This is the equivalent of Sony licensing their movies to HBO but saying that DirectTV subscribers are not allowed to view Sony's movies on HBO.
There's way too much stupid going on in this comment thread. I'm going to call out of work because my head hurts.
The main reason M$ went with Netflix was to gain access to all the movies they couldn't get otherwise. Looks like that backfired on them.
@skazer - I agree with you that a ton of people can't seem to separate their gaming related fanboyism (which, I assume, doesn't extend to movies. For instance, a 360 fanboy wouldn't boycott a Sony Pictures movie....probably) from the issue at hand. I don't buy their ebb and flow statement though. The timing is just too close to the NXE launch for it to be a big coincidence, especially considering that the content is only "not available on Xbox" and available on the PC. The knee jerk reaction to this story was that Sony is being a giant douche here (for me). After sleeping on it, I still can't think of any possible motive for Sony to pull Columbia pictures titles, except for that most people wouldn't equate Columbia with Sony, and thus they didn't think it would be a big deal PR-wise. If that is the case, then they were wrong. Had they really wanted to be bastards, they could have pulled Sony branded content, which they reportedly haven't done, and the only reason I can think of as to why, is that Sony didn't want their name associated with the blocking of content. Then again, sure this could all be one big coincidence and Sony is just an unfortunate victim of circumstance. I don't buy it though.
@cool8man - I'm also intrigued by how they could hold such power. A 360 is a computer, why would Netflix ever have negotiated terms that involved the 360 licensing being separate than the PC licensing? I have a feeling that Sony probably had something to do with that, but then again, I don't want to make an accusation without even a sliver of supporting evidence.
@bananaboat
360 and PC are not the only NetFlix streaming devices. Since these streaming films are still available to the Roku Netflix Player, apparently there is fine grained access control available, allowing for individual devices to be blocked on a per-movie basis.
Found a contact email for Sony Pictures, figured I'd give them my two cents on this matter.
mailto:consumer@SPHECustomerSupport.sony.com
Found the link on:
http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/sonypicturesfaq.html#9
I figured these actions full under the contact of "For problems with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment products please email"
Yeah, my problem is that you entertainment products were pulled from Netflix streaming on the 360.
So when is Sony going to block playback of their Blu-Ray movies on non-Sony (Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Sharp) Blu-Ray players?
While I won't say this is a classy move on Sony's part, it is quite shrewd, and almost funny.
I've personally been wondering when Sony was going to start to synergize its media holdings with its hardware offerings. Looks perfectly legitimate to me, somewhat douchey, but legit. How do they put it? Oh yeah, "It's business."
You know what would be an even more shrewd and ultimately more humorous? If Sony found licenses for Windows OS temporarily unavailable. Then Sony would have a hell of a time selling any of its computers through retail channels. Its not like it hasn't happened before with other suppliers, back in the good old days if you pissed of Intel you soon found yourself at the unfortunate end of a processor supply shortage.
That would be pretty funny though.
Though PS3 dos run linux doesn't it. That would be an interesting event.
Other End of processor supply = Cyrix Processors!
This isn't good business. Integrated strategies don't work. You don't win people over, you just lose sales. Sony aren't big enough to pressure Microsoft. You see, Microsoft needs movie studios for the 360, but the movie studios need Microsoft's co-operation with DRM even more.
I hope for Sony's sake this isn't console war related. If it is, they're in trouble, and lost potential revenues aren't even the start of it.
OMG YES! MS take away all DRM usage for Sony. Tell them they can go fend.
Seriously, I will not buy anything Sony at all until this is resolved. What a bunch of whiny babies. Why not... um, I dont know... put the customer first.
RB2 and GHWT had to settle it and make instruments cross compatible because it was best for us, now get over yourself Sony.
What douchbags
Honestly, it's not like SONY produces too many good movies. I'm pretty sure that I'll be content without SONY's trash.
yea....what the other guy said. if you goto sony's dvd site, you'll see their selection is your typical list of movies that "you aren't even motivated enough to rent"
Superbad was pretty F-ing funny though.
It really wasn't
This stinks of Sony seriously no matter how Netflix wants to pretty it up.... Sony waiting till the eve of this (if it was an issue why did it work before now? There have been people using netflix for weeks thanks to Major Nelsons preview) Sony just freaked out and realized they may actually have to prove their console is the "Entertainment console of choice"
I hate business
Internetz is serious business.
of course they would block the 360, why would anyone in their right mind support their enemy. im foreseeing this feature appearing in home. . . if it ever comes out.
couple more weeks to go.
it wont be in Home. Netflix and microsoft have an exclusive agreement for streaming ONLY on 360. This is why i'm happy that Sony just did that. If we cant have it, NOBODY CAN! hahah. But no, seriously, i'd rather just have netflix on my ps3....
Tall-poppy-syndrome much?
@Tony.........no they dont......they are simply doing it first.......there is NOTHING exclusive about it......
Don't be a narrow-minded fool. Sony's and Microsoft's businesses cross paths in more than one arena.
Ever heard of Windows? It comes pre-installed on virtually every Sony computer for sale. One company starts hitting the stop button here and there, and then the other one does too.
I can see it now, in Ballmer's office, "So they don't want us playing there movies, lets see how fast those computers move off the shelf with invalid Windows licenses. And if I remember correctly, I think they are building some phones with Windows Mobile, not anymore! While we're at it, lets break BD drivers in Windows... maybe Jobs was on to something after all! Hahahaha, I've been waiting years to do this, thank god they gave me a reason!"
It would be an awesome move for Linux and Mac (if Sony worked out a deal with Apple) in the event that Microsoft pulled the strings. I welcome it.
@ Andir
Do you really think Apple would start licensing OS X and give up their hardware mark-up cash cow for Sony? If they did, Apple would price OS X at a very pretty penny, in which case Sony computer's would cost more then Apple's.
Linux is still too niche for Sony to adopt as a consumer OS.
I'm not an MS fanboy, just stating the facts.
@Andir3.0 "It would be an awesome move for Linux and Mac (if Sony worked out a deal with Apple) in the event that Microsoft pulled the strings. I welcome it."
Suddenly, Sony has to tell its customers it can no longer sell Windows, which all of its customers use, and that all current keys handed to Sony can no longer activate or validate with WGA. I'm sure that makes perfect sense. Absolutely. Perfect. Sense.
Right. Tell me, are you a business major?
Nope... not a business major ... but if you find a problem with Microsoft having that much power over the industry (world?) then you need to get off my planet.
err, if you don't find a problem... *
Thats pretty childish IMO.
So are you, Shinji.
C'mon, Surfaced's comment wasn't THAT bad... I found it mildly amusing.
Wow.... was not expecting that reaction.
Yeah, me neither. Plus 1 for the NGE reference...
@InvisibleMoose
Odd to see you get the low rank as well as what you said was exactly correct. It was a NGE ref and the original poster has Nerv and the name Evangelion, not really hard to make the connection.
Talk about being a spoiled brat and a bad sport about it, XBox 360 is doing better in the market and was able to coax NetFlix into their system and Sony pisses and moans about it.
No offense, but your capitalizing grammer isN't tOO good.
I don't know what capitalizing grammar is, but I assure you, his capitalization errors were only in proper nouns and were pretty understandable considering the weird-ass usage of capitals a lot of companies employ nowadays. A couple of grammar/punctuation mistakes, but nothing notable.
No offense, but you are a buttmuch
No offense Seth, but it is g-r-a-m-m-a-r.
Who is the jack@ss now?
...and they wonder why pirating is so rampant.
Good...shows SONY might be taking this fight seriously.
Keep paying $30 a BD, fool
You're seriously a fool if you do pay $30/BD. They go on sale all the time, and end up being about $20-25/BD, which is a whole lot more reasonable.
@ tuaamin13
I hope that was sarcasm...If so, you have a great sense of humor!!
all you need is computer bittorrent and a conveter to view all sony's movie for free on any device
isn't it ?
2 things.
1. I just sneezed
2. Where is the DLC for GTA IV ?
Oh and smart move by sony, as a 360 owner I don't like it but whatever all is fair.
I love you. I wish we were sisters.
Bless you
Further proof that media companies are just plain evil.
Not evil, just POOR. Sony's CEOs are just a bunch of filthy beggars. They can't get through a DAY without asking us for more money. BEGGARS!
It's about time the ceo's got into a bit of Fanboyism.
In retaliation, Microsoft should no longer license the use of Windows on Sony laptops. Now that, would be funny. (If that is at all possible, not at all sure how that works.)
great idea, but imagine the uproar if MS done that. Surely there is some anti-competitive action there
Sony - the one and lonely
they probably cant/wont stop selling windows to sony. but they could always raise the cost significantly. :)
Now, what would be more funny if Microsoft did that indirectly. Considering Sony's (and rebranded) battery packs explode setting fire to the laptops, maybe, just maybe Microsoft should ban the use of a Sony manufactured battery in a laptop if its using Windows.
"Surely there is some anti-competitive action there"
Well, considering Sony has already been in trouble for anti-competitive practices using their media arm, and that Columbia is a seperately operating subsidary, if Sony was legitimately guilty of pulling the titles directly in opposition of the 360 they would be in equally hotwater.
I think that is the point that Jim was trying to make. Leveraging one part of your business to hinder a competitor for a completely different part of the business (and there is a distinction between strengthening your own brand and hindering the competing brand), especially for companies the size of either Sony or MS, is generally not cool in the legal sense. It also isn't horribly great for public image, and media companies need as much help there as they can get. They really shouldn't be cutting off legal avenues of watching movies, especially as the 360 supports pirate friendly formats for playback, and they shouldn't be striving to make people feel justified in pirating the movies (well I would have watched this on net flix but since Sony won't let me...)
Wow, he got all of that from what I wrote.....I'm stunned. :S
Yeah. This is already backfiring. They have not made an enemy of Microsoft--they have made an enemy of the consumer.
I just sent Sony an email to let them know that I would not be buying any Sony products or paying to watch any Sony movies until the issue was resolved. I was planning on buying a PS3 for the Blu-Ray player and for Little Big Planet (one of the few PS3 exclusives I wish I could play). For now, though, I'm done with them. This move has actually saved me quite a bit of money. Thanks, Sony.
Jim,
That's why we are putting you in charge of the Scranton branch, effectively immediately! You can make a paragraph's worth of points in only one sentence.
lol, someone who watches The Office
Who doesn't watch the office?!
ps3 =fail sony tries to cover up
You know if Sony is so jealous why don't they get Netflix streaming too, I'm sure Netflix will gladly do it for them if they stop the block on the Xbox 360. I'm a PS3 owner so I'm not trying to be mean to Sony, but this was just plain childish
becasue netflix is exclusively with xbox now. i believe there was a contract involved
If ya get PlayOn for your PC you can join the Netflix bandwagon on your PS3 (plus Hulu and youtube on your big screen) Works with 360 too, so technically you could still stream the columbia stuff that's blocked for the 360 streaming end, by bypassing using PlayOn's media server.
Just add this to the laundry list of why Sony sucks as a company...
And...if Microsoft made movies they would do the same thing on Sony's movie download service and you all know it. Sure it sucks, but thats how it works.
@Antelix:
No, if Microsoft made movies and Sony got a Netflix deal they would TRY to remove their content, but then they would get hit by a crapload of antitrust litigation. And even though Netflix is only available in the US, I wouldn't be surprised if the EU tried to sue MS for that anyway, in addition to the obvious lawsuits they would encounter here in the States.
!$@#$
I just signed up for Netflix for this!!
WTH, sony is so childish i mean it's as if they bought their way into exclusivity
Sony sucks. Always has always will.
anddddddddddddd sony's gay.
(admins remove if see deemed unappropriated)
thats why microsoft has office for macs right?
Office in on the Mac because of a settlement between Microsoft and Apple back in the day. And if I'm correct, Office was always on the Mac, before it was on windows.
I don't think you can compare an optional service on a system as the same thing. Also I am sure Columbia pictures/Sony were fine with keeping their movies on netflix, as long as Microsoft was willing to pay to licensing fees, but Microsoft probably denied it.
It does, office 2004, and 2008
Part of a settlement and that one time MS totally bailed out Apple... god I just love watching the youtube vid of Gates coming up on the big screen during Jobs' keynote. That was not a happy crowd!
Total bitch move on sony's part.
First my PSP blows up, now this!
Sony.... Stop ruining good things!
yeah, Sony products tend to do that; especially their batteries...
LOL
How did your PSP blew up?
That's sad, if for no other reason than that it shows the Sony knows they're losing, and instead of manning-up and competing, they playing dirty. This will only be bad for Sony... anytime I see this sort of thing from any company I make a note of it so that I can have as little to do with them as possible.
*cough* sore losers *cough*
How is this being childish? All Sony did was stop the movies that THEY OWN THE RIGHTS TO from being streamed to XBOX 360s, which is a console that one of their own products is in a stiff competition with. It's not being childish, it's called being smart (Actually, more like being non-stupid).
What's childish is Microsoft going around and throwing money at third party studios to STOP them from releasing their games on the PS3. All of which is money that could be better spent on their own first party studios (there isn't a lot of them, and the ones they do have are pretty crappy). So instead of getting MORE games, all the XBOX fanboys are getting is bragging rights over being able to play a game that they would have already been able to play, but now instead others are being stopped from playing it.
So I guess the next logically acceptable step would be to forbid anyone using a Microsoft-based operating system to use Sony published games.
Giving Sony an inch is giving them miles of leeway in the future. Don't ever forget their rootkits.