UPD Netflix UK Expand Unlimited Internet Movie Streaming Service to Sony PS3

Netflix UK has officially expanded its increasingly popular broadband based unlimited movies and TV subscription video streaming service to the Sony Entertainment Network (SEN), which includes selected Internet-connected Sony BRAVIA televisions, Blu-ray players, Network Media players and PlayStation 3 (PS3) game console devices.

The service itself, which costs just £5.99 a month, has been designed to take on the likes of LOVEFiLM and offers a special 1 month free trial offer (cancel at any time) to new subscribers. For more details readers should check out our recent comparison of UK movie streaming services.

Greg Peters, VP of Netflixs Product Development, said:

“Adding Netflix to the Sony Entertainment Network, gives consumers an even broader choice of devices to instantly watch unlimited TV programmes and films streamed over the Internet. We’re always looking to provide people with new ways to enjoy Netflix.”

It’s worth pointing out that films on Netflix come with three different video quality settings (based on Microsoft Silverlight technology). The lowest quality requires a “minimum speed” of 500Kbps (0.5Mbps) and will consume up to 0.3GB/hour of data. By contrast the High Definition (HD) stream eats up to 2.3GB/hour and will need a stable speed of about 5Mbps (Megabits per second).

UPDATE 11:13am

Netflix has also released its Q1-2012 financial results, which includes data from its UK launch.

http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/NFLX/1819313585x0x562104/…Investor%20Letter%20Q1%202012.pdf

Netflix launched their service in the UK and Ireland in January and, after the first 90 days, they claim to have had substantially more members than after the first 90 days of their Canada or Latin America launches. Collectively, their upcoming offerings account for 20% of UK box office year to date, compared to competitor LOVEFiLM, whose deals they estimate account for around 6%.