Sony presses 'pause' on streaming Netflix Instant Watch movies to Xbox 360*

* UPDATED NOV. 26: Some Sony titles have since made their way to the Xbox 360. Click here for an update of this post.

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Sony is fine with selling its movies and TV shows through digital means -- just not, apparently, when it involves working with its chief video game rival.

Sony has thrown a minor monkey wrench in the launch of Microsoft's revamped Xbox Live online platform. The rejiggered Xbox Live has, among other new features, the ability to stream about 12,000 movies and shows from Netflix's Instant Watch service to Microsoft's Xbox 360 video game console.

But now it's 12,000 minus "a couple of hundred" titles, Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said. He declined to reveal the studios behind those titles. But an executive with knowledge of the matter confirmed reports that they come from Sony, which makes the PlayStation 3 console, and its subsidiaries. (The executive declined to be named, citing sensitive negotiations between Sony and Netflix.)

"We're very hopeful we will have these titles on the Xbox 360 shortly," said Swasey, who added that it would be a matter of "weeks" rather than months.

Sony issued the following statement:

This issue is not specific to Xbox or any other individual platform.  Sony Pictures is currently in discussions with the relevant parties to resolve certain licensing matters related to the distribution of its motion pictures.  Given the ongoing nature of these discussions, we don't think it is appropriate to comment further at this time.   

Netflix subscribers who can't wait to stream "Superbad," "Drunken Master," "Bad Boys" or "Karate Kid" can still watch them on the Roku Netflix Player, the TiVo digital video recorder and several Blu-ray players made by Samsung and LG, as well as on Macs and PCs. Just not on the Xbox 360.

-- Alex Pham

Photo : Image of the Netflix service on Xbox Live by Microsoft

*UPDATED at 5:35 p.m. with a statement from Sony.

Comments

[Pete]

Doesn't really bother me right now as i can't think of a single movie from Columbia Pictures that i want and don't already have on DVD, but it would be a really petty move by Sony if it stands and it might just come back to bite them.
I already boycott PS3 because it tried to force the added cost of Blu-Ray on me just to win an HD format war and i still haven't forgiven them for my rootkit infection.
I hadn't gone as far as boycotting their TVs and Movies as they are completely different divisions within the company but if they choose to be this petty maybe i should too.

[fc]

Sony the loser's style !!

[scott]

I boycotted microsoft xbox 360's after they released an unfinished product just so they could be first to the market, rrod could have been avoided but now it's the most common problem of any next gen system. plus they charge people to play games online. Micro$oft dumps tons of money in people faces to try and steal ip's from sony, they play unfair so sony plays unfair.

[BlueJuice]

to the person that said that xbox charges to play online....while that maybe true, XBL has the best online service. i've heard many a ps3 user complain about psn...even my cousin who is an avid ps3 fanboy said its not that great playing online, and went on to say "you get what you pay for", so in that sense i have no problems with xbl cost $54 a year...

[dan]

who really cares what sony does its all about microsoft.usa made the first video game console and i believe it will finish it...go xbox.not to mention i dont buy any sony made products of any kind do to a 93 day car stereo warranty issue that supposedly i broke.so sony if your listening who cares about your big money when beyond 90 days theres no give just your out of luck.even if you did spend 300.

[B Shears]

Xbox brand ushered in a new generation of gamers, mostly spoiled grade schoolers unaware of and naive to Microsoft's history. Any one who slams a company for being corrupt and deceptive in order to specifically support Microsoft has either lost their freewill, become brainwashed and/or doesn't have a sufficient understanding of their own claim.

[Rio]

This effort from Sony to ban their movies from playing on the Xbox 360, just shows how petty they really are. It's not like MS wants PS3 games played on the Xbox, it's a movie that I can rent and watch on whatever DVD player I chose or stream to whatever computer brand I chose, not just a Sony one, so why care about Sony movies playing on an Xbox!! What's next, you won't even be able to play Sony DVD movies on the Xbox?? MS should stop letting Sony put Windows in it's computers, that would show them!!

[Brie]

After figuring out the media platform and getting everything set up... um, WHY ARE THERE NO MOVIES of any worth or excitement available for LIVE STREAM?! I was so disappointed kind of like when you were 5 and found out the "Tooth Fairy" was really your mom in pajamas and open toe slippers. Im just saying.

If I was really into The Honeymooners, BeWitched and Happy Days I'd be in heaven.

I dont know, if you DONT have the GOLD MEMBERSHIP and have NetFlix --and are considering buying a membership for this reason only... one piece of advice. Just wait.

I couldnt find anything of speakable worth to watch.

[GetAlong]

My guess is ultimately Sony sees Blu_ray sales going down since streaming video is a less expensive to offer competition to the DVD - no more trips to the store to buy/rent a movie - just stream it and start watching whenever and before someone else would have gotten home from the video store, plus no fuel costs, no getting out in the rain or cold, etc.

I agree with Rio. Microsoft could tell Sony no more Windows on the computers Sony sells and the war could escalate to even more pettiness to include products like cd burners, music players, etc...

Ultimately - industry should get along for the benefit of the consumer - not just to stuff their own pockets and leave us, the consumers, on the sidelines. We won't play in your wars - we want what we want and right now - some of us want Sony movies on Netflix streaming over Xbox, some don't, and some will.

Don't worry so much about the old stuff that's already out there - Sony movies are out there and if we can't watch them, we'll just watch something else, so you are just hurting yourself and your image.

Develop better technologies, better games, and better movies and movie scripts - we will buy regardless of whether we own and Xbox or Playstation or both.