Sony Blocks Netflix Movies On Xbox 360

Sony has thrown a petty little wrench into Microsoft's NXE gears: "Licensing issues" with Sony-owned Columbia Pictures has left a number of movies unavailable over the Netflix service on Xbox Live.

The news was originally broken by Joystiq, acting on a tip, which found that movies including Superbad, Bad Boys, Drunken Master and the Karate Kid trilogy - an interesting selection of movies, to be sure - were unavailable for viewing on the 360. All of the movies in question are distributed by Columbia Pictures, which is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Coincidence? Glitch? You might think so, except for the fact that the movies in question are still available on PC, Mac and other Netflix capable on-demand devices. The restriction applies only to the Xbox 360.

"In the case of Xbox 360, a few hundred titles are temporarily unavailable to be streamed via the Xbox game console. Those titles are still available to be watched on subscribers' computers and on TVs via other partner devices, and we hope they'll be licensed for Xbox 360 shortly," Netflix Vice President of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey said in a statement to MTV Multiplayer.

"As watching instantly becomes a more prominent part of the Netflix service, our goal is to have all of our streaming content licensed for all of our partner devices," he continued. "We're doing well in this area, but it will take some time before we fully achieve that goal. Today, titles regularly come in and out of license and there is a natural ebb and flow to what we have on license at any given point in time."

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Wooo time for the console war to get petty. I call Microsoft making Sony products incompatible with Windows as the next escalation :-D

I'm not really sure why this is suprising. I mean, I can't imagine Microsoft being all that happy to let Sony market their content, either.

Saw this elsewhere. My theory is that it is a simple matter of a device like the Xbox 360 not being covered under the Netflix contract for those movies in particular. I don't look at it as being something petty.

Of course, time will tell.

Gloves off. This is going to get nasty. I wouldn't be surprised if Sony finds it has licensing issues with their office PCs!

What a load of Bovine Scat. Sony should've thought of this idea first on their PS3. Too bad Microsoft has been ahead of Sony in almost every console innovation for a few years now.

Sony should not have made this move, it's extremely petty and VERY bad business behavior. They should be ashamed.

Dear Sony,

The Windows Operating system has undergone a recent update that will require corrective action on the part of some of our vendors. Sony DVD-RW, HD Monitors, and other peripheral devices will need to undergo a dedicated firmware update in order to interact with Windows based PCs. This issue cannot be corrected within Windows, so this will require a recall to be issued on all of your products.

In addition, we regret to inform you that we will not be renewing the license agreement to provide the OS for your Vaio line of PCs and Desktops.

Thank you very much, Microsoft Vendor Relations.

PS. Payback is a B****.

Theres only one reason I hate sony and thats the way they treat customers and other businesses. They make good hardware, but just happen to screw everything up by how they treat people. Another petty attempt by Sony. Surely this isn't the time to be doing this especially seeing all the commotion they are causing with LBP.

While this isn't surprising but Sony is gonna lose money one way or another, 1 in helping Xbox, or 2 in losing netflix money, which do you think is worse? obviously sony made the right choice even though i really wanted to see superbad i here its a great movie...

Jhereg42:
Dear Sony,

Thank you very much, Microsoft Vendor Relations.

PS. Payback is a B****.

Yeah, exactly. They're not playing with Sega or Nintendo. Microsoft can defend itself pretty capably!

Makes sense. But what wouldn't make any sense had been if Microsoft stopped making Windows compatible with Sony computers 'cause Microsoft would loose much money doing that. To add i hope that Sony stops their and at least doesn't make TVs that aren't compatible with xbox (I don't know how they could do that and I'm it won't happen

The Microsoft retaliation will be hilarious.

So Sony is deciding to keep it's content exclusive..... did I miss the time machine ride back to the 80s when this was new to consoles? Now that it's Sony's strongest asset (video entertainment) it's somehow different? Comparing entertainment to windows is a bit of a stretch..... this was wrote on a PS3 btw, think I'll go rent some netflix from my PS3 next.... or just get the movie instantly downloaded into HighDef on my HardDrive without waiting 3days, leaving my house, or watching via crappy streaming video.... yet still have these options, although since it's via the REAL WEB the option of FREE is there. Unlike a brainwash internet experience that even though you pay for it you are refused internet access..... who are you mad at again?

M$ can keep their Vista and Sony can keep their movies.... deal with it.

Hmmm, this in no way affects Europe, we pay MORE than you Americans, and we get LESS than you! How is that fair?

I happen to think it's brilliant. If I was Sony, I'd do the same thing to that loud, obnoxious jock down the road. Maybe if he was a little nicer, I'd let him play with my cool stuff, but he's not.

This is why I don't like media consolidation.

sirdanrhodes:
Hmmm, this in no way affects Europe, we pay MORE than you Americans, and we get LESS than you! How is that fair?

Exactly

All's fair in love and war. But there could be consequences for PS3 and 360 owners if this gets out of control.

It's a shame if things are going to start going this way.

I thought it was hilarious when I bought my original Xbox and hooked it up to my Sony TV. Even better was hooking up my PSP to my 360 to stream music off of it.

Brilliant! Buckets of free publicity for Xbox 360 to Netflicks customers.

Not only that, but these are the same people you want to be buying your movies, renting your blu-rays, whatever... Just because he's an Xbox owner, doesn't mean he's not your customer.

I can see how Sony doesn't really consider the implications that it's decisions have on its "community" reputation. The question is how long they can afford to do this?

Cousin_IT:
Wooo time for the console war to get petty. I call Microsoft making Sony products incompatible with Windows as the next escalation :-D

Pretty gutsy move, prevent windows working on sony pc's...in fact I'd love to see that happen just for the outcry that would occur :p

wonderful, sony and ms are gonna have a back and fourth battle, in which they will ultimately both cause eachother to lose money while nintendo sits up on its magic carpet, shoveling out garbage and laughing all the way to the bank.

I wish sony and MS would just merge...an end to having 2 very similar consoles, and making one better console with the exclusives of both. Thats a hell of a lot better than this petty battle that is going on.

i dont see why people think this is petty;sony just arent letting a rival company market their (sony's ) products for their own gain. as for retalliation, viao computers and general sony pc peripherals probably take up a large percntage of pc users, so why would microsoft wat to piss all them off? theyd probably jump ship to apple macs if this happened( they should, cos mac is waaaay better that shite windows)

SuperFriendBFG:
What a load of Bovine Scat. Sony should've thought of this idea first on their PS3. Too bad Microsoft has been ahead of Sony in almost every console innovation for a few years now.

are you on crack?
name me one thing microsoft has ever come up with that hasnt been previously done?

Wait wait wait...
So M$ paying off studios like Square Enix, and RockStar, so they can make Exclusive GAMES into Multi-Platform Titles isn't a 'petty move', but Sony making there 'movies' that they OWN the intelictual rights to, ISN'T?!

Serious, I can taste the Hypocracy in this and I tell ya, it don't taste good at all.

IF anything this is Sony's 'retaliation' for M$ trying to get on Sony's turf, (Movies/Media).
Need I remind all of you, that the
Xbox 360 is a Gaming Machine First, and a 'social hub' second.
Sony Playsation 3, is a Gaming And Media Machine First, and a social hub second?

I remember a few months ago people 'argueing' about how much the ps3 sucked, becuase it
ZOMG, LET you watch HD Movies on it!
Then when the 360 let you watch HD movies on it, everyone totally 'forgot' about that arguement.

On a side note, To the person who said 'Microsoft' has beaten Sony at every turn, well M$ has has X360 out a year prior to the ps3, Thats a year more of development its got on the ps3, Thats a year more to make 'mistakes'.
If anything the '360' is behind, its 1 year older than the ps3, and the 360 is just 'now' barely getting the stuff the ps3 has, or promises to have in the near future.

(Escentially it would be like a Ford saying there new car is going to release with cieling air-bags, then another company, which has already been developing a car, and is close to actually putting it up for sale, decides to throw it in, beating 'ford' to the punch. Does that mean the other company is now 'magically' more inovative? Nope...)

IS the 360 better than the ps3?
No.
Is the PS3 better than the 360?
No.

Each have there strong suits, and quite simply, Its kinda sad that Sony didn't take up the netflix deal, Hopefully in the near future they will. It would contribute NICELY with Sony's Movie Rental & Download service (Which I have to say, is a REALLY large collection IMO, its already larger than Netflix's instant watch feature... Well maybe not in Quantity but in Quality. ;))

y8c616:

SuperFriendBFG:
What a load of Bovine Scat. Sony should've thought of this idea first on their PS3. Too bad Microsoft has been ahead of Sony in almost every console innovation for a few years now.

are you on crack?
name me one thing microsoft has ever come up with that hasnt been previously done?

XBox Live.

y8c616:

SuperFriendBFG:
What a load of Bovine Scat. Sony should've thought of this idea first on their PS3. Too bad Microsoft has been ahead of Sony in almost every console innovation for a few years now.

are you on crack?
name me one thing microsoft has ever come up with that hasnt been previously done?

XBox Live.

thebobmaster:

y8c616:

SuperFriendBFG:
What a load of Bovine Scat. Sony should've thought of this idea first on their PS3. Too bad Microsoft has been ahead of Sony in almost every console innovation for a few years now.

are you on crack?
name me one thing microsoft has ever come up with that hasnt been previously done?

XBox Live.

So paying for a service that was free from Sony? Big improvement there

smallharmlesskitten:

thebobmaster:

y8c616:

SuperFriendBFG:
What a load of Bovine Scat. Sony should've thought of this idea first on their PS3. Too bad Microsoft has been ahead of Sony in almost every console innovation for a few years now.

are you on crack?
name me one thing microsoft has ever come up with that hasnt been previously done?

XBox Live.

So paying for a service that was free from Sony? Big improvement there

You do realize that Microsoft came up with the idea first, right?

thebobmaster:

smallharmlesskitten:

thebobmaster:

y8c616:

SuperFriendBFG:
What a load of Bovine Scat. Sony should've thought of this idea first on their PS3. Too bad Microsoft has been ahead of Sony in almost every console innovation for a few years now.

are you on crack?
name me one thing microsoft has ever come up with that hasnt been previously done?

XBox Live.

So paying for a service that was free from Sony? Big improvement there

You do realize that Microsoft came up with the idea first, right?

PS2.... Internet connection into said PS2 = Online gaming. I believe it occured before Xbox live. I may have my dates mixed up

Oh. Sony did do it first. I concede the point.

smallharmlesskitten:
PS2.... Internet connection into said PS2 = Online gaming. I believe it occured before Xbox live. I may have my dates mixed up

Dreamcast beat em both to it, but who cares? Xbox Live matured the concept into something marketable.

As far as Sony quickly blocking access to their movies: I think it's a petty thing to do, but understandable, coming from a big coorporation that suddenly finds itself outplayed one step. Press panic button, PR it down and then make the very same move.

sirdanrhodes:
Hmmm, this in no way affects Europe, we pay MORE than you Americans, and we get LESS than you! How is that fair?

I don't know, but that sucks for you, now excuse me while I go to McDonalds in my SUV and do other american things /sarcasm.