The long awaited Netflix Watch Instantly client for the iPhone and iPod Touch has finally arrived.
Netflix announced the availability of their free iPhone app in the iTunes App Store today. It requires iOS 3.13 or later.
The Watch Instantly service already allowed Netflix subscribers to stream video directly to devices including computers, Blu-ray players, HDTVs & game consoles. An iPad app has also been available since April of this year when the device launched.
A client for Android devices is also in development.
“We’re excited that our members can now carry Netflix around in their pockets and instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed from Netflix right to their iPhone or iPod touch” said Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings.
Result for: subscribers
It looks like Hulu, the streaming video service owned by NBC Universal, News Corp & Disney is preparing to become a publicly traded company. The New York Times is reporting unnamed sources indicated an IPO (Initial Public Offering) could happen as early as this fall.
Assuming they can convince potential investors their new subscription service, Hulu Plus, can be profitable, there’s still another hurdle to overcome. Hulu’s management, led by ex-Amazon.com executive Jason Kilar, have been proponents of getting Hulu playing on every screen possible. But some of Kilar’s better decisions have been undermined by Hulu’s owners.
It’s quite possible the insider information given to Times reporters was intended to see how potential investors respond. An IPO may wait if their reaction isn’t positive.
But assuming they do go public eventually, Kilar and his team will need less oversight from Hulu’s content providers. Those providers have been resistant to the idea of Hulu’s free (ad supported) content making its way to TV screens through devices like media center PCs and game consoles.
Looking at it strictly from Hulu’s point of view, this seems like a big barrier to attracting subscribers for Hulu Plus. The problem is Hulu’s content owners are trying to solve the wrong problem.
The question isn’t whether some type of free internet distribution will compete with traditional television services. The competition, both licensed and unauthorized, is already there and the market isn’t going away just because they don’t cater to it.
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Result for: subscribers
AT&T, the U.S.’ second largest wireless carrier, has announced the launch of their U-Verse Mobile App, now available through the iPhone/Touch App Store.
U-verse subscribers can now download and stream TV shows on their iPhone.
The app will also allow users to manage their DVR and download and watch the selected shows.
Additionally, U-verse subscribers can browse the full U-verse TV program guide, view descriptions of the content, and watch them in full screen mode on the iPhone.
AT&T says 100,000 U-verse subscribers already use the Web app and an early beta of the Mobile App, dubbed Mobile Remote Access.
“We’re making it possible for you to watch TV shows on your iPhone at no extra charge. It’s just one more valuable and innovative feature available on U-verse TV,” added David Christopher, CMO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Our U-verse multi-screen promise is now a reality for millions of U-verse TV customers, with content available on U-verse TV, U-verse Online, and today, U-verse Mobile. No cable provider comes close to matching the cross-platform experience we’re delivering today, and we’ll continue to add unique features that further integrate these screens.”
