Netflix ISP Speed Index for April

We just added April data to the “Netflix ISP Speed Index,” providing an updated look at which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide the best Netflix streaming experience.

A few data points from the new Netflix ISP Speed Index, reflecting data for April:

• In the U.S.: Cablevision Optimum continues to provide the best Netflix experience of any large ISP, with average speeds increasing slightly in April to 2.41 Mbps, meanwhile Verizon FiOS and Comcast dropped a notch in the ranking, being passed by Charter and Mediacom, respectively. 
• In the U.K.: the top four was unchanged while TalkTalk was left in last place after EverythingEverywhere showed increased performance.
• In Ireland: Magnet maintains its No. 1 slot and continues to be the ISP with the best Netflix performance, thought runners up UPC and Digiweb showed slight speed increases. 
• The Nordics continue to show off high quality broadband with top speeds across the board, led by Sweden’s Ownit. In Denmark: ComX challenges the dominance of Waoo. 
• Speeds in Mexico increased for all providers, giving Netflix members a better experience, but the overall ranking did not change.

Located at http://ISPSpeedIndex.Netflix.com/ the Netflix ISP Speed Index provides an easy overview of the performance of ISPs in several of the countries Netflix is available in. Updated on a monthly basis, the site allows for easy comparison of ISPs in a country as well as international comparisons.

The Netflix ISP Speed Index is based on data from the more than 36 million Netflix members who view over 1 billion hours of TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix per month. The listed speeds reflect the average performance of all Netflix streams on each ISP's network and are an indicator of the performance typically experienced across all users on an ISP network.

Note: the average performance is below the peak performance due to many factors including the variety of encodes Netflix uses to deliver the TV shows and movies as well as the variety of devices members use and home network conditions. These factors cancel out when comparing across ISPs.

Joris
Joris Evers is director of corporate communications at Netflix

Updated Netflix Player on PlayStation 3

PlayStation 3 is one of the most popular ways to enjoy TV shows and movies from Netflix. Today we released an updated version of the Netflix player on PS3.

The first thing you will notice an updated design that is more consistent with the Netflix player on the Web as well as our mobile and tablet applications.

The key feature in this update is the ability to easily manage your audio and subtitles selections. You can now do that directly in the player on the PS3, without having to return to the browse experience.

Here’s how it works: Select “Audio & Subtitles” and all options for that title are presented. Members who use the accessory Sony PS3 Blu-ray remote control can access “Audio & Subtitles” directly from the remote control by pressing “Subtitles.”

For users of our social features, the ability to not share the current title is also easily available in the player.

Lastly, we have improved the design and performance of our “trickplay” mode when scanning forward or reverse in play mode. The images load much faster, allowing you to quickly find what you are looking for. Also, you can easily go back 10 seconds in the title anytime by simply pressing the left arrow button once on your controller or remote control.

The updated Netflix player experience is available now on PS3 and will be coming soon to select Smart TVs and Blu-ray players.

And for more information about how to use the PS3 to stream Netflix...

Enjoy!

Chris

Chris Jaffe is Director of Product Innovation at Netflix

Now It’s Even Easier To Keep Watching On iPad

At Netflix we’re focused on letting you enjoy TV shows and movies. Today we added the “post-play” feature to our app for iPad, making it even easier to watch more.

If you use Netflix on PlayStation 3 or our Web site, you already know post-play. It makes sitting down for multiple episodes of a show a breeze. After an episode, we minimize the credits and tee-up the next episode. If you do nothing, the next episode starts to play in 10 seconds.

Post-play also works for movies. When finishing a feature, we offer three recommendations to try next. If those don’t suit you, you can always go back to browsing to find something else.

You won’t need to do anything to take advantage of this, just fire up the Netflix iPad app and enjoy!

Michael Spiegelman

Michael is director of product innovation at Netflix

Now Presenting More Rows On iPad

We’re happy to announce today that we have added many more rows of TV shows and movies to the main screen of our iPad app.

Most iPad users will now have access to 25 or more rows on the main screen of the Netflix App. (Because of platform limitations, users of the original iPad will see only small changes to the rows displayed.)

These new rows will include many more of your favorite genres. All of these were previously available on the iPad, but you had to browse more deeply to find them. With today’s change, more movies and TV shows should be easily accessible without digging around to find them.

This is just one of many things we're doing to make Netflix on iPad better. In case you missed it, last week we added the ability to select episodes of a TV show during playback, making it very easy to switch from one episode to another. We also redesigned the audio and subtitle selector on iPad and iPhone.

We hope you enjoy the new experience!

Michael

Michael Spiegelman is director of product innovation at Netflix

Introducing Netflix Social

Movies and TV shows are better with friends.

We get suggestions from our friends for new things to watch and we connect with our friends through the shared enjoyment of a great movie or TV show.

Starting today, Netflix members in the U.S. can share their favorite shows and movies on Netflix with friends by connecting to Facebook and agreeing to share.

By default, sharing will only happen on Netflix. You'll see what titles your friends have watched in a new “Watched by your friends” row and what they have rated four or five stars in a new “Friends’ Favorites” row. Your friends will also be able to see what you watch and rate highly.

Watch this video for a full demonstration.



You are in control of what gets shared. You can choose not to share a specific title by clicking the “Don't Share This” button in the player. You can also visit your “Social Settings” in “Your Account” on Netflix.com to turn on additional sharing to Facebook or stop sharing altogether.

We will be adding the ability to turn on these features for our US members over the coming days, so keep an eye out for them. All U.S. Netflix members will have access to the social features by the end of this week.

Sharing movies and TV with friends online is still a new experience and we will continue to experiment and improve our social features over the coming months and years.

Cameron

Cameron Johnson is director of product innovation at Netflix

New Netflix ISP Speed Index

Today we launched the “Netflix ISP Speed Index,” a new Web site that gives consumers insight into which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide the best Netflix streaming experience.

Located at http://ISPSpeedIndex.Netflix.com/ the new Web site provides an easy overview of the performance of ISPs in several of the countries Netflix is available in. Updated on a monthly basis, the site allows for easy comparison of ISPs in a country as well as international comparisons. At launch the Netflix ISP Speed Index includes data for the U.S., Mexico, Ireland, U.K., Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

A few data points from the new Netflix ISP Speed Index, reflecting data for February:

• At 3.35Mbps, Google Fiber in the U.S. provides the highest average Netflix streaming bitrate anywhere Netflix is available
• After Google Fiber, Sweden’s Ownit delivers the highest average Netflix bitrate at 2.99 Mbps
• Netflix members in Finland receive, on average, the highest bitrates, while members in Mexico have the slowest connections, on average
• Scandinavia proves its reputation as a great broadband region, all ISPs in Denmark, Sweden and Finland delivered averages above 2Mbps

The launch coincides with the release of our February ISP Rankings, which are on the ISP Speed Index and also below for just the U.S.

The Netflix ISP Speed Index is based on data from the more than 33 million Netflix members who view over 1 billion hours of TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix per month. The listed speeds reflect the average performance of all Netflix streams on each ISP's network and are an indicator of the performance typically experienced across all users on an ISP network.

Note: the average performance is below the peak performance due to many factors including the variety of encodes Netflix uses to deliver the TV shows and movies as well as the variety of devices members use and home network conditions. These factors cancel out when comparing across ISPs.

Joris
Joris Evers is director of corporate communications at Netflix

Netflix January ISP Rankings

Below are the January Netflix rankings for US Internet service providers (ISPs).

Our more than 33 million members view over 1 billion hours of TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix per month. We use the data associated with the streaming experience of our members to compare ISPs and give you insight into which ISPs deliver the best Netflix experience.

Note: These ratings reflect the average performance of all Netflix streams on each ISP's network. The average is well below the peak performance due to many factors including home Wi-Fi, the variety of devices our members use, and the variety of encodes we use to deliver the TV shows and movies we carry. Those factors cancel out when comparing across ISPs, so these relative rankings are a good indicator of the consistent performance typically experienced across all users on an ISP network.

Joris

Joris Evers is director of corporate communications at Netflix 

Netflix US ISP Rankings for January 2013

Netflix on Wii U - How We Built It

Netflix on Wii U launched at the same time as the console in November, that's probably not news to you. What you may not know is that this was the first time we built a Netflix experience for a brand new game console. It was also the first time we worked on a second screen experience, for the Wii U GamePad.

The story of how we built Netflix for Wii U gives some fun insight on how we do things at Netflix. We recently provided a look behind the scenes to EP Daily (clip below) and Time Technologizer's Harry McCracken. We also shot our own video explaining how Netflix on Wii U works (also below). Finally, UI Engineer Joubert Nel has written about building Netflix on Wii U on our Tech Blog. 

Joris

Joris Evers is director of corporate communications at Netflix

December ISP Rankings for the USA

Below are the December Netflix ISP rankings for US ISPs. As we announced last month, we will publish these on a monthly basis going forward. Our 30 million members view over 1 billion hours of Netflix per month and we use all of the data associated with their experiences to compare ISPs in terms of real world performance.

These ratings reflect the average performance of all Netflix streams on each ISP. The average is well below the peak performance due to many factors including home Wi-Fi, the variety of devices our members use, and the variety of encodes we use to deliver the TV shows and movies we carry.  Those factors cancel out when comparing across ISPs, so these relative rankings are a good indicator of the consistent performance typically experienced across all users on an ISP network and a great way to see which ISPs offer the best Netflix experience.

Greg

Greg Peters is vice president of product development at Netflix

12 Days of Documentaries on Netflix

Last year, I published a list of notable documentaries that many readers found helpful. In these next few weeks, between eating and unwrapping, I get a chance to catch up on the documentaries that everyone is buzzing about. Netflix has always been a proud home to some of the world’s great docs, and if you’re a fan too, here are 12 great ones that will give you plenty to talk about at those big family dinners.

1. The Invisible War - Director Kirby Dick (This Film Not Yet Rated, Outrage) takes on the sexual abuse of women in the U.S. military in this hard hitting and rage-inducing documentary. The doc is on the short list for a Best Documentary Feature nomination at this year's Oscars, and has already racked up honors around the world since its debut at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

2. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is another shortlisted 2013 Oscar favorite. Director Alison Klayman explores the complex world of Chinese artist and political activist Ai Weiwei. As the power of social media and art challenge the old guard in China, this film explains the limitations of art and the politics of suppression. Amazing archival footage and Klayman's unparalleled access make this one of the great films of the year.

3. The Queen of Versailles is equal parts “Honey Boo Boo” and “Too Big To Fail.” You will laugh and cry as you look at American consumerism and the complexities of the banking system through the eyes of one family, who happened to be trying to build the largest private home in the world. Lauren Greenfield (Thin) directs this riches to rags story that became an audience favorite at Sundance last year.

4. Marley - Perhaps the finest music documentary ever made, this intimate and fascinating look at the far-too-short life and career of reggae superstar Bob Marley was directed by Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void, The Last King of Scotland) and studies the influence Marley has had on music and global politics. If you don’t like music docs, don’t worry, this is so much more than just a music doc. Even big fans of Marley will learn something new about this artist and the mark he has left on the world.

5. Into The Abyss - Famed director Werner Herzog follows up last year’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams with a look into the equally cavernous topic of the human soul. He explores why we kill and why the state kills in this perfectly balanced look at the death penalty. We see crime and punishment from all angles in the style you have come to expect from Herzog.

6. Art of Flight - Red Bull Media does for documentaries what it does for soft drinks…adds a kick. The images in this extreme sports doc are drop dead gorgeous and the soundtrack rocks. This is a great one to just relax and watch. It is also a great way to show off that new HDTV to visiting family members. Enjoy!

7. Kevin - Jay Duplass directs this film portrait of his Austin music hero Kevin Gant, who seemingly disappeared from the world he was rocking in 1995. Jay makes no bones about his subjectivity here, he is a Kevin worshiper and wears it on his sleeve. The intimate look at the private life of this nearly unknown artist is artful and direct. Jay and his brother Mark are fine directors who emerged from Austin’s film scene, so he has a pretty interesting view of this near miss/near hit tale.

8. Jiro Dreams of Sushi - This film chronicles the comings and goings of a $300 per meal, 10 seat restaurant in Tokyo that has become a bucket list destination for foodies worldwide. More importantly, it is the tale of a father and son, the pursuit of excellence, and legacy. It is as small as the restaurant itself, but packed with passion and perfection. David Gelb directs.

9. 30 for 30: Jordan Rides the Bus - The 30 for 30 series is packed with great films, most of which are available to stream. Filmmaker Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, Tin Cup, White Men Can’t Jump) directs this film that captures one of the oddest moves in sports history, when NBA superstar Michael Jordan’s came out of retirement to play minor league baseball. It is a deeply human look at an icon from a feature director with style.

10. 30 for 30: The Two Escobars - International soccer star Andres Escobar and drug lord Pablo Escobar might seem as different as two men could be, but this amazing installment of the award winning ESPN documentary series explores the many similarities of these two high profile figures. Michael and Jeff Zimbaslist (Favela Rising) direct this great film.

11. Indie Game: The Movie - We have all heard about indie film and indie music, but this doc is a rare exploration of the world of Indie video games. We meet the people behind games like FEZ, Braid and Super Meat Boy, as well as the people who play them. It is a surprisingly engaging peek at the place where art and technology meet.

12. 6 Days to Air: The Making of SouthPark - This is no bonus feature. Director Arthur Bradford takes you behind the scenes for a week in the life of Trey Parker and Matt Stone as they put together an episode of the long running Comedy Central series “South Park.” It is great fun to look at the unique creative process of these crazy, dirty geniuses and experience first hand how they lampoon pop culture.

Well, there you have it, 12 great docs for the year. You keep watching and we’ll keep bringing them to you.

Happy Holidays!

Ted Sarandos

Chief Content Officer

2012 Golden Globes Nominees and Winners on Netflix

The glitz! The glamour! The drunken celebs! The Golden Globe nominations come out tomorrow, so we thought we’d share a list of this year’s winners and nominees streaming on Netflix right now! From 2012’s big winners like The Artist and Hugo, to lesser known gems like Machine Gun Preacher and Luther, there are tons of great new movies and TV shows ready to play instantly. So pop some champagne, put on that beaded gown (and slippers) and enjoy some of the year’s best.

2012 Golden Globe Winners on Netflix:

• The Artist – Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Music
• Jean Dujardin, The Artist – Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
• The Adventures of Tintin – Best Animated Feature Film
• Martin Scorcese, Hugo – Best Director, Motion Picture
• Ludovic Bource, The Artist – Best Original Score, Motion Picture
• W.E. – Best Original Song, Motion Picture
• Downton Abbey – Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Idris Elba, Luther – Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Jessica Lange, American Horror Story – Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

2012 Golden Globe Nominees on Netflix:

• Hugo -  Best Motion Picture, Drama
• Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs – Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
• Charlize Theron, Young Adult – Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
• Berenice Bejo, The Artist – Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
• Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs – Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
• Albert Brooks, Drive – Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
• Rango – Best Animated Feature Film
• The Flowers of War – Best Foreign Language Film
• In the Land of Blood and Honey – Best Foreign Language Film
• Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist – Best Director, Motion Picture
• The Artist – Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
• Abel Korzeniowski, W.E. – Best Original Score, Motion Picture
• Howard Shore, Hugo – Best Original Score, Motion Picture
• The Keeper, Machine Gun Preacher – Best Original Song, Motion Picture
• Lay Your Head Down, Albert Nobbs – Best Original Sony, Motion Picture
• American Horror Story – Best Television Series, Drama
• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad – Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama
• Mireille Enos, The Killing – Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama
• Madeleine Stowe, Revenge – Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama
• Glee – Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical
• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock – Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock – Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation – Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical
• Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey – Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey – Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey – Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

November ISP Rankings for the USA

Our 30 million members view over 1 billion hours of Netflix per month, so we have very reliable data for consumers to compare ISPs in terms of real world performance.

Starting today, we’ll publish monthly rankings of major ISPs based upon their actual performance across all Netflix streams. 

Google Fiber is now the most consistently fast ISP in America, according to actual user experience on Netflix streams in November.

Broadly, cable shows better than DSL. AT&T U-verse, which is a hybrid fiber-DSL service, shows quite poorly compared to Verizon Fios, which is pure fiber.  Charter moved down two positions since October.  Verizon mobile has 40% higher performance than AT&T mobile. 

The average performance is well below the peak performance due to a variety of factors including home Wi-Fi, a variety of devices, and a variety of encodes. The relative ranking, however, should be an accurate indicator of relative bandwidth typically experienced across all users, homes, and applications.

-Ken

Ken Florance is Vice President of Content Delivery at Netflix

The Vampire Diaries Arrive in Canada!

The Vampire Diaries Arrive in Canada!

Late November means Thanksgiving here in the US, a holiday which between the eating, shopping and mandatory in-law face time typically unleashes at least four of the Seven Deadly Sins in most folks (perhaps even more if your love of Thanksgiving Day football and/or Black Friday shopping borders on 'lust').  

'Pride' is technically considered to be one of those sins, but I must say it is with great pride that I bring you the news that now, for the first time, Seasons 1 and 2 of The Vampire Diaries are live in Canada, exclusively on Netflix!  We know this is exciting news for the show's many fans all around the country, but for the uninitiated, the critically-acclaimed series takes place in Mystic Falls, Virginia, a fictional small town haunted by supernatural beings. The series is driven by the love triangle that emerges between Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and vampire-brothers Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder).  Over time, the show begins to shed some light on Mystic Falls' mysterious past, including the family of Original Vampires, which have their own evil plans.

So while your American friends down south fight over the last turkey leg or slowly drift into tryptophan-induced food comas, sit back, relax and dig into The Vampire Diaries!

- Jerry Kowal, Director, Content Acquisition

Exciting New Relationship with Disney

I’m incredibly pleased and excited to tell you that Netflix will be bringing you exclusively, starting in 2016, theatrically released movies from The Walt Disney Company and its renowned studios, including Disney, Pixar and Marvel.  In the meantime, we’ll have an amazing selection of Disney movies including Disney classics, catalog movies, and popular non-theatrical movies for the whole family featuring beloved characters like Tinkerbell, Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, to name a few.

For us, this is a really big deal – for the first time in our largest market -  new Disney movies will be available when and where you want to watch them on Netflix rather than on a premium cable channel.  Our popular “Just for Kids” section, which is especially programmed for children under twelve, will now have such beloved Disney theatrical classics as “Dumbo,” “The Aristocats,” and “Pocahontas” and new favorites like “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” and the “Air Bud/Buddies” franchise on top of the incredible range of Disney Channel, ABC Family and Disney XD shows already available to stream on Netflix.  

For the older set, later today we'll have Tim Burton’s incredible holiday favorite “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and in the months and years to come, the epic “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl,” an array of M. Night Shayamalan movies, including the supernatural thriller “The Sixth Sense” and other really great Disney movies including “National Treasure,” “Phenomenon” and “Quiz Show.”

Through this new partnership with Disney, one of the best known global names in family entertainment, Netflix is giving our members even more high quality films to enjoy.  That’s on top of such great movies as “The Lorax,”  “Paranorman,” and our first new releases from Dreamworks Animation, “The Croods” and “Turbo,” all coming to Netflix.

We’re so proud to be teaming up with Disney and to be offering you even more fantastic entertainment in the months and years to come.  Let the fun begin!

Pauline Fischer - Vice President, Content Acquisition

PlayStation 3 Leads Living Room Netflix Viewing

We’re proud to stream TV shows and movies from Netflix onto nearly every Internet connected screen, from pocket-sized screens on phones to very large HDTVs. We’re also passionate about product innovation and continually investing in making the Netflix viewing experience better for our users.

Historically, gaming consoles have been a popular way for consumers to enjoy Netflix. Today we wanted to recognize the PlayStation 3 in particular as a leader in Netflix streaming. In the US and globally, PS3 is the largest TV-connected platform in terms of Netflix viewing. This year, at times, PS3 even surpassed the PC in hours of Netflix enjoyment to become our No. 1 platform overall.

Every PS3 owner can access Netflix directly via the free PlayStation Network and sign-up for Netflix directly from their PS3. The engagement enabled by this easy access combined with the powerful PS3 system capabilities makes PS3 a natural fit for Netflix to develop and deploy our most advanced features first on PS3.

PS3 was the first computer entertainment system to offer Netflix in full 1080p video resolution with 5.1-channel Dolby Digital Plus™ surround sound and to offer post-play, second screen controls, on device sign-up, alternate audio options including subtitles. PS3 is currently the only platform to experience a new voice user interface called “Max” that’s currently being tested.  We’ve been able to easily update these features to existing users of the application and continue to update and test new features on a continual basis.

Our sentiment for delivering great living room viewing experiences is shared by Sony:

Jack Tretton, CEO and President of Sony Computer Entertainment America had this to say: “The PlayStation and Netflix communities both share a strong passion for high quality entertainment. Netflix provides a fantastic experience for watching TV shows and movies on PS3, and our joint development will continue to produce innovations for our customers that further demonstrate PS3 as the true home for entertainment in the living room.”

We now have more than 30 million members globally who stream more than a billion hours a month, making us the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying TV shows and movies. We come to work each day dedicated to improving the streaming experience of each member and helping you find and view more great content from Netflix.

Enjoy,

Bill

Netflix on the New Wii U

Millions of Netflix members use Nintendo’s Wii system to watch movies and TV shows. Nintendo products are popular with our members and today we are happy to announce that Netflix is available on Wii U!

The Netflix experience on the Wii U system was designed to take advantage of the console’s unique two-screen experience with up to 1080p HDTV and the Wii U GamePad for the best browsing and viewing experience.



When browsing, movies and TV shows and detailed information are shown on both the TV and GamePad so everyone in the room can see all of the TV shows and movies available.

Scrolling or browsing is shown both on the TV and GamePad. All traditional controls are accessible on the GamePad such as play, episode selection, rating capability, and add to queue. Key functions like Play are accessible by both touching the screen or using the buttons on the GamePad.  At the bottom of the screen is the primary navigation which provides access to Search and Netflix Just for Kids.

The Netflix playback experience is unique on the Wii U as the TV show or movie is presented in high-definition (when playing an HD title on an HDTV with appropriate connections) while play controls (play/pause/stop, episode selection, play scrubber) and title information are available on the GamePad.

Exploring the show is very easy with GamePad and is reflected on the TV as you move across the timeline.

Another unique feature is the ability to play video on the GamePad for a personal viewing experience. In the main playback experience simply tap the play on GamePad button and playback switches to the GamePad with sound through the speakers on the GamePad or the headphone jack. You can easily switch back to playing on TV.

Accessible from the main navigation, Netflix search on Wii U has a full keyboard on the GamePad for easy text entry. All search interactions and results are presented on the TV in real-time. Results for TV shows, movies, actors, and directors are available.

Netflix Just for Kids is available from the main navigation. This enters the Just for Kids section with our character-based navigation and Kids “safe” search experience. The Kids experience is also presented in a coordinated way between the GamePad and the TV.

Netflix is available today on the Wii U home screen with the Wii U launch in the US and Canada. Netflix members can sign-in for full access. If you are not yet a Netflix member, you can learn more and sign-up for a free trial right on the Wii U.

Enjoy!

Chris

Chris Jaffe is Director of Product Innovation at Netflix where he leads our work on game consoles and mobile phones.

The Wild Ride Continues… Sons of Anarchy: Season 4 available in the US

You’ve asked us, “When will the next season of Sons of Anarchy be available?”  The answer, TODAY!  We’re revved to offer Season 4 to our US subscribers.

We first brought you Season 1 in 2011, introducing Jax and the rest of SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original) crew to Netflix in this Hamlet-influenced drama (yes, that’s Shakespeare’s Hamlet).  Since then, existing fans have been reliving the drama by watching their favorite episodes, while others are discovering the motorcycle-outlaw adventure for the first time, catching up on Season 1, Season 2, and Season 3.  Whichever group you fall into, we’re glad you’re enjoying the ride!

-Allie Goss, Director of Content Acquisition

Discover Netflix on Windows 8

Microsoft officially launched Windows 8 today. At Netflix we’re very proud of our new Windows 8 application, which delivers a great experience on the new operating system.

Windows 8 is different from previous versions of Windows, it works on both laptops and tablets and it brings the full screen application experience to the PC, so you can enjoy immersive apps like Netflix however you use your computer -- as a tablet, as a laptop, or even connected to your TV.

Netflix US on Windows 8 Screen Shot

We tailored the Netflix experience to take advantage of the new features that Microsoft created in Windows 8.

But first, here’s what hasn’t changed:

• The Netflix streaming application provides access to the same broad array of movies and TV shows that you can find on our website and Netflix applications on other devices
• You’ll still get the same features such as your Top 10, access to your Instant Queue and the ability to browse all the genres on Netflix

Now, here’s what’s new:

• You can access the Netflix app on your “Start” screen without needing to go to our Web site. Many new Windows 8 devices will come with Netflix pre-installed so it’s easy to access. If you don’t see Netflix on your start screen, you can download the Netflix app from the Windows Store at no cost.
• Once you’re in the Netflix application, you can browse for movies and TV shows by moving from left to right to move through the personalized genres and dive into any row by tapping (or clicking) on its name. Speaking of tapping or clicking, everything works whether you’re using your finger or a mouse & keyboard.
• Windows 8 also allows some other cool, standard actions that we’re taking advantage of. For example, we have enabled a feature called “Semantic Zoom” on the “Home” area of the app so you can pinch and zoom out to see an overview of your top recommendations.
• Windows 8 also lets you have two applications open at once, a feature called “Snap View.” This means that you can watch a movie or TV show on Netflix and be checking out Facebook or Twitter at the same time, for example.
• While you’re roaming around the app, we realize that you may want to get back to your favorite titles. We’ve created a navigation ribbon that’s accessible in key areas in the app that provides access to the Home area, Top 10, New Releases and our main genres.
• Video plays smoothly in full HD (when available). By bypassing browser plug-ins, we were able to make our video player more efficient. This results in smoother playback with less strain on your PC—and that means less fan noise and more movies on a single charge.

We hope you enjoy the new experience!

Michael Spiegelman & Matt Trunnell

Michael Spiegelman is director of product innovation at Netflix
Matt Trunnell is engineering manager at Netflix

Netflix “Just for Kids” Now on iPad

My boys are mad about iPad. My youngest will often take the family iPad into his makeshift fort to watch his favorite shows, streaming from Netflix.

I have some good news for my family and yours: Netflix “Just for Kids” is now available on iPad, the first mobile version of this special kid-friendly Netflix experience. Now parents, including myself, can be sure their kids find what they want and won't straggle into something that isn't appropriate.

Netflix “Just for Kids” is filled with movies and TV shows appropriate for kids12 and under, organized in a kid friendly way with large images of their favorite characters and genres such as superheroes, girl power and sing-alongs. Just click the new “Just for Kids” button in the upper left hand side of the Netflix App to enter the section.

Here’s a video introduction to Netflix “Just for Kids” on iPad.


Note: Netflix "Just for Kids" is initially available on iPad 2 and newer iPads, it will come to the original iPad and Android-powered tablets later.

David

David Watson is director of product innovation at Netflix and leads kids and family products

Netflix Optimized for iPhone 5

Good news! Today we updated the Netflix App for iOS to optimize for iPhone 5. Download the App and enjoy Netflix movies and TV shows on the taller iPhone 5 screen. Have fun!

Roma

Roma De is director of product management at Netflix