"Hundreds" of Netflix vids unavailable via Xbox Live

Online rental service confirms licensing issues are temporarily preventing many films from being viewable on updated 360s; online reports point to Sony.

It appears that the New Xbox Experience has hit a speed bump on the eve of its release. This afternoon, gaming blog Joystiq discovered that many Netflix films have been abruptly listed as being "not available on Xbox." The ability to stream content from the online rental service is a key feature of the Xbox Live revamp, which is set to launch Wednesday, November 19.

Your NXE movie queue just got shorter.

When contacted by GameSpot, Microsoft directed all inquiries on the matter to Netflix, the DVD rental and video streaming company based in Los Gatos, California. Steve Swasey, its vice president of corporate communications, was able to confirm that licensing issues are indeed preventing some video content from being available via the Xbox 360.

"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," he explained. "In the case of Xbox 360, a few hundred titles are temporarily unavailable to be streamed via the Xbox game console. Those titles are still available to be watched on subscribers' computers and on TVs via other partner devices, and we hope they'll be licensed for Xbox 360 shortly."

Swasey studiously avoided mention of any film studios which may have licensing issues solely with Microsoft. However, GameSpot has confirmed with sources with access to NXE preview software that many of the unavailable offerings are from Columbia Pictures, a subsidiary of PlayStation 3 maker Sony. Curiously, though, Joystiq points out that some Sony Pictures films are still listed as being available for the Xbox, a condition that might change in the next few days.

Ironically, many classic films from Sony subsidiary MGM are currently available for download on Xbox Live Marketplace--for a price.

409 Comments

  • moshxpit91

    Posted Jan 6, 2009 2:52 pm PT

    i signed up for netflix last saturday with the sole purpose of streaming shows and movies instantly. and i must say, licensing issues or not, the "watch instantly" lineup as of 1/6/09 is VERY disappointing. dont get me wrong, there are some GREAT movies on there...just not as many good ones as i expected

  • superflybri03

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 4:48 pm PT

    Movies such as; Superbad; Reign Over Me; SpiderMan 3; Across The Universe and many more are now OFF of instant watching. Not only for Xbox but for the computer/other forms of streaming as well. I don't think Starz is changing up their movies yet and it's only the ones that said "Unavailable on Xbox".

  • Ikthog

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 4:35 pm PT

    This likely has more to do with the usual movie studio combination of fear and greed than it does with any attempt on Sony's part to prevent 360 users from seeing its movies. Keep in mind that you're talking about a _subsidiary_ of Sony, with an agreement with Netflix, streaming through a third party system... the layers upon layers of lawyers required to establish such an agreement are not a trivial part of the process. My guess is Columbia's agreement with Netflix did not cover streaming to the 360, simply because it may not have been on the radar at the time their agreement was signed. It's the same reason a bunch of movies cannot be streamed to the 360 after December 1st, and the same reason why movies and TV shows arbitrarily come and go on Hulu and iTunes -- licensing is a complicated process. Movie studios are greedy, paranoid companies and they are constantly jockeying for position to try to make as much money as possible, which often includes ridiculously complicated legal agreements that make little sense to normal, rational humans. There is no evidence this has anything to do with Sony (not a monolithic corporation, but a collection of often-competing entities) trying to keep its movies off the 360.

  • CheesmanMuncher

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 12:12 pm PT

    Why don't folk just get a grip already? I own a PS3, and I like it, but I don't go about bragging about how awesome I think it is compared to the 360. Unlike most of the Sony fanboys you see below, I've actually played a 360 and to be perfectly honest I found it to be a very good console. XBox Live, while pricey if you're a skint student like myself, is a million times better than PSN, particularly in keeping track of and communicating with your friends.

    On the other hand, I don't like the reliability of the 360. My brother (who owns it) is now on his third console in about 2 years. I meanwhile am still on my first PS3 and it's showing no signs of giving in.

    Every system has its strengths and weaknesses and if we could all see that, maybe we could all get on a bit better. Fanboyism is what kills things like this and is precisely why some people should just not be allowed on the internet.

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 1:49 am PT

    I really dont understand why $ony doe$nt want more money. I mean cmon wisen up $ony if you licensed the movies/tv shows over to the 360 obiously you'd set your self up to make up for the 18.5 million you lost in trial, the PS3 could come down in price even more so and...and you'd have an additional source of income. In the trying times that this economy exists in? Thats a good thing to have any additional source of revenue. Think it over wisely...

  • aBathingApe_

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 9:44 am PT

    Awww Sony, just another cheap ploy to temporarily delay the inevitable. I really don't think you're doing anything to disappoint 360 consumers. Personally I'll just keep renting from BBV for movies, but all of my multi-console titles, I buy solely for 360 because of achievements, how much better they look, etc. Just think about Fallout. Oh how I love Fallout. lol.

  • GunGriffin

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 7:04 am PT

    A small list of reasons can sum up all the reasons for Breaking Xbox360s over Breaking PS3s:

    PS3s break because every other update Sony releases via PSN Firmware downloads breaks a HDD or two or three, and then breaks a feature, or breaks a feature that was part of that hardware, or in the case of launch model 60GB PS3s kills the machine out right ala the GTA4 fiasco.......... The only way to get a PS3 fixed is to pay $100.00 big ones to Sony after the 1 year warranty is up and thats rughly 1/3 the full price of the Console brand new. On top of that the instal on the PS3 for a small 500MB game is rediculasly slow 20 minutes for 500MBs? PCs with 10 year old tech can do that in 2-3 min tops!

    Xbox360 consoles break because poeple place them on the floor, or play them for 10 hours a day 7 days a week. Thus the machine over heats RRODs and then they whine about it. Well the NXE fixes most of those issues if you have a 60GB HDD, or a 120GB HDD (as I do) You can instal at least 2-3 or even 4-5 of your favoret games and it will only spin the disc during game start up, then it stops your Xbox360 is no louder then the PS3 at that point you hear more of the game audio and on top of that your Xbox360 life span increases by 10 fold due to the lack of constant heat from the Disc Drive. BTW: The instal feature for the Xbox360 works on every game baring Halo3 and fixes most of the issues with their SP games as well. IE Crashing on TimeShift is no longer an issue, the texture poping on games like Mass Effect, Gears of War1/2, and UT3, as well as Black Sites AI issues are fixed, Saints Rows door opening issues and crashing problems are fixed, and even the AI in the games runs better. Trust me play Gears of War 2 on casual with it not instaled, then play it on casual with it instaled it's a major difference the AI is faster, smarter, and the game runs and plays better too. (Works wonders on StarWars: The Force Unleashed BTW fixes almost all of the texture poping issues, and the response time for the controls is now perfect.)

  • PS34EVR

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 4:43 pm PT

    After using the new NXE it isn't half bad as to the point that Sony is withholding movies from MS. That would be BS because as others has stated Sony would be making royalties off each movie downloaded. So they will I am sure sign the new contract and let things go back to normal. As for the few stated I need to take care of my Discs I do. In fact have have original movies from 1996 DVD launch in mint condition because I am so damn picky about my movies. I just meant that BluRay offers better protection to the everyday uses that many people go through like with kids and having butterfingers. I will always buy my movies on Disc I don't mind renting through Xboxlive and PSN but I will always want something I can share with family and friends when I do so. And remember you can resell a DVD or a BluRay you can't with a download.

  • jknight5422

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 2:11 pm PT

    It shouldn't matter what Sorny thinks about it since the licensing was already paid for, or should have been paid for, by Netflix. It's just a stalling tactic. I suppose if it gets ugly, Netflix, could discontinue renting Columbia movies...no great loss for the rest of us.

  • vincentnyc

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 1:32 pm PT

    Who cares anyway about Sony's library .... I am really thrilled with the service and the new interface. Looks awesome on the home theater.

  • Mac11_Fanboy

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 6:43 am PT

    who wants to pay that much to rent a movie? ill go to my local blockbuster thx. ill have it in my hand before its downloaded. with popcorn

  • Grouchy_Dude

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 7:26 pm PT

    It's funny, but I've been watching streaming Netflix movies off my computer for months, using MICROSOFT Vista, and MICROSOFT Internet Explorer for months. In fact, the streaming video ONLY works on MICROSOFT Internet explorer...I can't run it off of Firefox. I'm also running it off my HP computer. It's funny how Sony is only targeting the Xbox console. Why not target non-Vaio computers, Windows Internet explorer and the Microsoft operating system? JERKS!

  • rarson

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 4:27 pm PT

    Those of you blaming Netflix for this haven't used their service, I'm assuming. They gave all of their customers an account credit just because a shipping problem delayed delivery of our movies for a day. Netflix goes above and beyond to provide their customers with exceptional customer service. I'm quite certain that if they could do anything to rectify the situation, they would've already done it.

  • Squeets

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 5:47 am PT

    The Sony Group are a bunch of idiots... they can only make money from this... "ONLY"... they sign the license... the movies are available... people download them... Sony just sits back and gets royalty checks from Netflix... What a bunch of A holes.

  • yrret876

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 11:59 pm PT

    Fanboys, who really cares what sony does with the stuff from Columbia pictures its theirs so let Sony do what it wants

  • killkill3

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 8:31 pm PT

    Sony owns those movies so why should they be forced to stream on a platform that they don't like? Microsoft has been taking all kinds of anti-competitive measures especially against Sony so it is only right for Sony to finally have something to boast about. If Microsoft really wanted to stream those movies all they have to do is contact Sony and buy licenses and with the huge amount of cash Microsoft currently has it shouldn't be difficult so blame Microsoft not Sony.

  • fmprodguy

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 6:38 pm PT

    I hate FANBOIs

  • DarkBiegus

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 2:19 pm PT

    Wrong Sony doesn"t want to make Microsoft fail they just want to get a slice of the pie. See Microsoft refuses to pay Sony for the right to be able to play the new content under license by Sony(And I don't really blame them) stating that the deal made with Netflix should be all that was needed since Netflix already pays for the right. Netflix wishes to stay neutral with both parties and says that they have no plans at present to add a similar service on PSN. I hope this can clear up some of the hate. Now lets all get out there and start doing as our name implies gamers = gaming.

  • nanikore

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 8:53 am PT

    Beatz, about the Mac vs PC thing, I'm pretty sure it was the other way around.

  • prioritymail

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 7:37 am PT

    Ugly.

  • -Beatz-

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 5:44 am PT

    Oh and uhh, PS34EVR, with such a username, and pointing out pointless flaws instead of all the thing it is superior in, is totally fail. Go watch movies with your 'Station 3, we're going to be less fanboys here.

  • -Beatz-

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 5:41 am PT

    Oh god, Sony again. Reminds me of Apple and Microsoft, Sony has to do something to try to make Microsoft lose, but Microsoft doesn't have to do anything, just like with the Mac vs PC thing. Microsoft won both of those, just because of the fact they don't have to "try" to beat the other one.

  • kytomasi

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 8:23 pm PT

    Will people get an Refund? lol MS

  • kakarote22

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:54 pm PT

    This is BS as far as I am concerned. Totally monopolistic move on Sony's part. The justice department needs to stop Sony from blocking the movies from being viewed on the Xbox if it allows to be streamed to a PC or other set top device. I understand Sony has the right to license their property to Netflix But this is an obvious attempt to put a thorn in Microsoft's NXE update. Sony didn't block the other set top boxes...hmm...only the Xbox 360. What do you think the justice department would do to Microsoft if they tried buying a Major Motion picture studio to block movies from the Playstation Network?

  • Senor_Kami

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 4:56 pm PT

    @ Nappan

    This isn't bait and switch. Its you competitors screwing you. This is legal for Sony, but the "Justice" Dept would go insane if MS decided to refuse to sell Windows to Sony (both for their office and for the OS on their laptops that they sell) or charged them some insane price.

  • Setsuka13

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 4:27 pm PT

    At least 360 is doing something new, even if it does have a few bumps.

  • nappan

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 3:53 pm PT

    This is called a bait and switch. Fortunately I don't think MS is going to want this kind of bad press, and they are a MUCH bigger corporation than Netflix. Besides, they'd both be foolish to squander the good will of their consumer base after the 1 billion RROD warrenty fix, and other issues. I LOVE Xbox for it's Live service the way I love the PS3 with it's blu-ray. If MS lets Netflix mess around because the MPAA is getting cold feet, they need to clamp down HARD. Installing games to HD and Netflix are the only two really substantial changes that came with NXE, one works, one is foundering. Sony and MS need to stop sniping each other this way and work together. If they did, they would make an even larger fortune than they are now.

  • NoseWeed619

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 2:57 pm PT

    Awww....

  • BlazingDrakul

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 1:56 pm PT

    Lmao I tried signing up for the "Netflix free trial" and when I went to the site it said "Free trail only $16.99"
    Fail

  • mankeyador

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 1:35 pm PT

    so I won't be able to see spiderman on the NXE. Big deal!!!

  • flameducky

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    Wow PS34life, that was a big thought

  • flameducky

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 12:40 pm PT

    PS3 is god. 360 is Jesus. I don't know exactly what that means but I think it means PS3 is ganging up on 360. And this could be why.

  • xchiefmegadethx

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 12:25 pm PT

    Im on my first xbox 360 since launch,so stop crying!
    i had 3 pss1 in a year and a 1/2%..."its just the way she goes"

  • rarson

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 11:39 am PT

    @PS34EVER

    "Oh and This is my 4th 360 and now I only by exclusives for the 360 everything else I buy for my PS3, I have also decided to buy all the old games that I have for 360 for my PS3 and trade the 360 versions since BluRay disc handle scratches a heck of alot better than DVD's do. I swears you need to run a bluray over with a peterbilt before is gets damaged."

    Must be nice to have so much money to throw around. But here's an idea: how about just trying to take care of your discs? I've got DVDs that are over a decade old that still play perfectly, because I don't scratch the hell out of them.

    And as far as your previous comment is concerned, regarding your complaints about the 360, that is the price you pay for early adoption, and if you have so many qualms about the system then perhaps you shouldn't have bought it at all, let alone multiple times. You have no one to blame for that but yourself.

    But I do thank you for being one of the many people who cannot stand to wait until they own the newest and flashiest item, as it is very educational for those of us who are smart enough to let you guys figure out all the bugs.

  • rarson

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 11:31 am PT

    I'm fairly sure that Sony cares more about its movie business than it does its console business (given that the movie business is FAR more profitable), so I doubt Sony is blocking their movies just because of the machine that is playing it.

    I wish that Microsoft would update the 360 by adding wireless and allowing the use of non-MS hard drives. That, combined with fully-functional Netflix capabilities (I love Netflix), and I might buy one. Of course, Sony still has free online. So maybe if Sony could get Netflix on the PS3, then I'd buy one of those instead.

    Damn, I'd sure love to buy a 360, but it really seems like PS3 is closer to (and yet still isn't) my ideal machine. And in the meantime, I've still got scores of PS2 games that are tons of fun that I haven't even fully played through yet. I'm cheap.

  • SteelGeek55Atl

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 11:28 am PT

    NXE is awesome plus I have Netflix & if I can't stream a Sony movie online then I will rent it via the Netflix DVD selection. I watched a streamed movie that was in HD & it looked & sounded great. I have a 52 inch HD widescreen TV with a 5.1 setup & I'm very happy. I'm not a Sony hater but I don't need two gaming systems..especially when XBox360 & Netflix fills my gaming/movie entertainment likes...and most important..my budget.

  • THORINATOR

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 11:21 am PT

    @ PS34EVR
    I know what ur saying, I'm on my third 360, I totally agree with ya, the only games i get for my 360 now are exclusives(Halo 3, GOW2 etc.) I still love it though...but u do kinda lose ur faith in a machine thats let u down so many times! PS3, on the other hand has never let me down & i think at this stage it's over taken 360!

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 3:10 am PT

    @maverick4ever: have you ever been out of your mom's basement? i could provide you links to how widespread RROD is, how bad your "VERY STABLE" VISTA is and how microsoft did not only back HD-DVD but was a major player in establishing it's specs, but i have more important things to do than babysit kids. if you heard of the website called google, you can update yourself with current and not so current events. gullibility of many consumers is microsoft's favorite weapon in their bid to gain another monopoly.

  • benboz

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 10:01 pm PT

    The New Xbox Experience is awesome. I hope this online video rental thing comes on the Xbox 360, it looks awesome. PS3 can get stuffed!!!!

  • PS34EVR posted Nov 19, 2008 8:09 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    PS34EVR

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 8:09 pm PT (hide)

    Oh and This is my 4th 360 and now I only by exclusives for the 360 everything else I buy for my PS3, I have also decided to buy all the old games that I have for 360 for my PS3 and trade the 360 versions since BluRay disc handle scratches a heck of alot better than DVD's do. I swears you need to run a bluray over with a peterbilt before is gets damaged.

  • PS34EVR posted Nov 19, 2008 8:05 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    PS34EVR

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 8:05 pm PT (hide)

    Downloaded the new interface looks good made my avatar looks decent. Looked around a bit to explore. I changed my user picture back to Marcus Fenix from my avatar pic. Since I just beat Gears of War 2 already. I shut down the Console. And Switched over to my PS3 to watch Wall-E. And I am planing on watching Tropic Thunder which I rented from Blockbuster today. Will Probably play Resistance 2 Coop online after. MS Big Whoop looks good I guess I still want a HDMI connection that you all swore everyone didn't need when ou launched you Big Future Ready Next Gen Gaming System. And I also want my $400 back for my Second 360 I had to buy when the First Gears was released because my Feb Launch System Died on me and I was forced to buy another. Why screw WalMart and return it I said boy was that a Big Mistake. Good Thing I have a 2nd PS3 as well at least I watch Movies on that and can connect to my network Wirelessly, I need a Frickin $100 adapter for your system to connect. Your Lame Greedy SOB's. But I guess all of corporate America is thats why our economy is going down the tubes right now. Ok I digress. I must apologize to all the 360Fanboys that think MS can do no wrong, but remember that the PS3 have sold 17million worldwide and is catching up to MS since only 20million have sold of there machine worlwide more than MS did their 2nd year with the 360. Let the flamming begin. Haha Ok going to watch the movie See Ya folks, go play some game and have fun no matter what system your using.

  • finaleve

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 7:42 pm PT

    maxpaynev3 > They bought out Bungie...and Bungie is now free as a bird yet it will still make games for 360. Rare on the other hand, I can understand, but then Rare hasn't come up with anything good since the original Perfect Dark (I disliked DK64 because they got rid of the old characters from the Country series).

    Honestly, if you have the account, just go on your PC and transfer...or better yet, get it delivered. I would seriously only use the netflix on the 360 if I had a bunch of friends over and then decide to watch a movie, and hopefully find one that we'd all want to watch.
    But I got a blockbuster right down the block so it really doesn't affect me much at all.

  • Media_Mind

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 7:16 pm PT

    If its such a problem, go buy the actual disc at a local store, there not that expencive

  • umbrae

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 7:15 pm PT

    Of course Sony would interfere. Its why a Media Company should not be involved in creating electronics...

  • ShadowXStorm

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 6:39 pm PT

    Netflix = Fail

  • Everiez

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 6:30 pm PT

    Law suit everywhere, fanboys everywhere, recession everywhere, what happen to our world? mankind never learn.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 5:53 pm PT

    sure there's a lot of good movies we're missing out on not having Sony let Netflix content be used on the NXE's Netflix feature, but paying less than $10 a month for everything else is still a good deal, and beats paying several dollars per rental over PSN

  • star77241

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 5:49 pm PT

    Really??

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 5:41 pm PT

    Netflix on the Xbox 360 is a big disappointment for several reasons, in my opinion.

    Let me explain:

    1. None of the movies available for download from Netflix include 5.1 sound. This is a huge disappointment.

    2. The library of High-Definition movies available on Netflix is very small. But what's worse is that the library does not include any type of high-budget movie at all. The only forms of high-definition movies available for download are B-Movies. Movies that were made for HBO like "Iron Eagle 3" and low-budget horror movies like "Satan's Little Helper" aren't even worth downloading.

    3. Standard-Definition movies are often not downloaded in a widescreen format. I couldn't believe it when I downloaded Aliens and I saw that I was seeing a movie with black bars on the side, since it was only in 4:3 format.

    4. The number of movies available for download is very disappointing, because it includes so many low-budget movies, but completely forgets about high-profile movies. For example, I wanted to see what sort of Horror movies were available. I found out that none of the Halloween movies were available. None of the Friday the 13th movies were available. And only one of the Nightmare on Elm street movies was available.

    ...Until Netflix gets a lot more high-profile movies available for download, I will not keep my subscription beyond the 2-week free trial period. Also, even if Netflix improves their movie library, I will not be willing to subscribe unless the movies include 5.1 sound and are in High-Definition...Seriously, the lack of 5.1 sound is a big disappointment--a complete step in the wrong direction back to the 80's.

  • Mike_Labeckio

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 5:10 pm PT

    frankfurter209

    If you believe this to be news, I have suggestions of other reliable news magazines for you to read.
    Enquirer
    The Sun
    Some of the best reporters work for these trusted publications.

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