Tech Joy

Netflix and TiVo to Partner on Movies - NYTimes.com

How’s this for timing? Today, Netflix and TiVo announced a partnership to further both companies’ goals to deliver more movies and content over the Internet. An article published in The New York Time’s didn’t provide a reaction from cable companies or movie studios.

How newsworthy is this announcement? In class last night we mentioned that providing content on demand would be the next big thing for Netflix, and the TiVo partnership moves Netflex in the right direction for delivering on this. Now Netflix can deliver content directly to subscribers’ TVs over the Internet much more easily. Of course, customers have to be subscribers to both TiVo and Netflix to take advantage of the new benefits, but there are no added subscription fees. The content available is limited to the current library of Watch Instantly content on Netflix, so it’s not comprehensive. However, delivery through TiVo might provide movie studios with the added security they need to relax their positions on streaming their films over the internet.

I’m not all that impressed with being able to stream movies from the Netflix site to my laptop. Laptops remind me too much of work and I like to watch movies and shows on a bigger screen with better sound. But having a Netflix content library on tap for instant delivery to my home LCD would certainly have me training for a marathon on the couch. It’s a good thing I don’t have TiVo!