Netflix Jumps Into The Download Business
By Shane C. Buettner January 18, 2007 — Netflix has moved into the movie and TV download business with Watch Now, a supplement to its DVD rental subscription that will allow users to stream this content to a computer. Unlike download services that require the download of a large file in its entirety, customers can start watching Netflix' streaming video feeds within seconds.

Watch Now will feature movies and TV shows from every major studio with the exception of Disney. Apple's Steve Jobs is Disney's largest shareholder and Disney's movies and TV shows are available through Apple's iTunes store.

The Watch Now service is being rolled out incrementally and will be available to all Netflix subscribers by the end of June of this year. The initial offerings will be mostly comprised of catalog titles. According to Netflix' statement, the Watch Now offering represents the company's "first step" in this space.

With Watch Now Netflix subscribers will be given a number of free viewing hours that is dependent on their respective subscription plans. Customers subscribing to the tune of $5.99 per month are given six hours of Watch Now content, while the $17.99 per month guy or gal will be hooked up with 18 hours of Watch Now content.

Using this service requires users to download and install a browser application to use the service. At this time this application only works on Windows PCs, not Macs, which leaves the author, a devoted Mac user and Netflix subscriber, out in the cold!