Something very dramatic is going on and so far I have seen no good detailed reporting about it.
Netflix is quietly becoming available on massive numbers of TV screens across the US and no one seems to be noticing.
The Netflix streaming service is now available on PS3, XBOX, and Wii, all gaming systems that are hooked up to the internet and to the TV. How many of these boxes are in the US marketplace? 20 Million, 30 million?
Sony, LG, Samsung, Vizio, all the major manufacturers of connected TVs and blu ray players in the US are now shipping these devices preloaded with internet access and Netflix. So by the end of the 2010, will this group of devices be in 15 to 20 million US homes?
Is it possible that by the end of 2010 Netflix will have a base of 50 million homes in the US able to get its streaming service on their TV? If so, this is astounding. It is even astounding at half that number.
A subscription platform with movies and TV shows in SD and HD is available for less than $10 per month. And, by the way, you can also get a DVD shipped to you in the mail, if the program is not available on the streaming service at no additional cost.
Forget HULU, forget Cable VOD-Netflix is becoming ubiquitous and no one seems to be noticing.
Talk about the success of an over the top service that is priced right for the consumer.
Pretty soon, people will be saying, “Why should I use HULU when I can get Netflix on my TV? or Why should I have cable TV if I have Netflix on my TV?
Netflix is TV Everywhere right now!
And no one is talking about it.