Netflix now available in UK!

The Netflix site is now online and waiting for you to sign up for a 1 month free trial. As reported yesterday, the price (beyond the free trial) is £5.99 per month.

I've had no luck so far finding the related apps on my WDTV Live Player, or my Sammy TV, but I've signed up on my laptop and the content range isn't bad, especially for TV shows, for example, Seasons 1 to 4 for Prison Break and the first 4 days of 24 are available to watch.

£5.99 for unlimited Netflix streaming; News of latest streaming deals for Lovefilm & Netflix;

Lovefilm and Netflix continue to prepare for the forthcoming UK Streaming War:

• Lovefilm's latest deals (both non-exclusive) will bring content from ITV and BBC Worldwide.
• An Netflix app has appeared for Sony PlayStation 3. It doesn't do much.....yet.
• Netflix's advert campaign is reported as starting this week, with deals expected to be completed with Sony, Disney, Paramount, Channel 4 and ITV.
• Looks like its £5.99 per month for unlimited streaming from Netflix. Lovefilm's streaming package is currently £4.99 but that's a special offer according to their website.

Lovefilm and Netflix continue to buy content to stream

Lovefilm have continued their pre-Netflix content buying spree by completing an exclusive, second window deal with Sony Pictures Television.

This comes after Netflix completed their latest content deal with BBC WorldWide.

TechRadar compares UK streaming and VOD services

TechRadar have a great article online, comparing several streaming and VOD services from the likes of BBC iPlayer, YouTube, BT Vision, Sky and Virgin.

More streaming services coming to Xbox 360 from tomorrow

Tomorrow sees the latest software update for the Xbox 360 being released, and along with the new Metro user interface and Kinect Integration, comes the first in several UK streaming services for that console.

The ability to stream content from Lovefilm will be first, followed by access to 4oD, Demand 5, Blinkbox and Crackle. BBC iPlayer should follow next year as an app. Hopefully ITV Player will show up in due course.

More details can be located here.

Lovefilm dumps Flash and switches to Sliverlight for streaming

From next year, Lovefilm are switching from Flash to Sliverlight for their streaming service. Why? Because the Movie Studios demanded it:

We’ve been asked to make this change by the Studios who provide us with the films in the first place, because they’re insisting – understandably – that we use robust security to protect their films from piracy, and they see the Silverlight software as more secure than Flash.

Simply put: without meeting their requirements, we’d suddenly have next-to-no films to stream online.

While this news won't be greeted with applause by everyone (especially users Linux/UNIX systems, who are not happy with Lovefilm right now), there is one plus: The possiblity of quality improvements for Lovefilm's streams:

Silverlight contains a technology called Smooth Streaming, which automatically adjusts the quality of the video stream to the best level for your internet connection. This reduces buffering for customers on a low broadband speed, but then improves the streaming quality when broadband speed increases.

US Shows now available to stream on Sony's PlayStation Network

Got a Playstation 3? And £1.50? Then you can stream a US TV show this evening, as reported by Gizmodo. Add another quid and you can watch that content in High-Def. Available content on the PlayStation Network includes 24, Arrested Development, South Park and Two and a Half Men, but Gizmodo reports that all not seasons of those shows are available.

I have to say, those prices are a bit high, but if you're willing to pay and have Sony hardware near your telly, the choice is yours. Maybe a tenner a month for an 'all you can watch' package would be better, but then, I don't run Sony (for better or worse).