Will Netflix's Instant Viewing Kill Blockbuster Sales?

Shortly after I made the incredible and (long overdue) switch to a high-speed internet connection, it seems a world of opportunity has opened up for me---one of which is my capacity to view media files online.

As a faithful Netflix subscriber, I have been enjoying the massive collection of art house, independent, and exploitation films that I am infamous for renting. But I have observed over the years, a slight lag in the amount of time that it's been taking between DVD exchanges. So needless to say, I was more than ecstatic to discover that Netflix is now offering an option which allows its subscribers to view movies instantly on their computers instead of waiting for the postal service to get around to deliver films. This new phenomenon is dubbed, "Watch Now" on the Netflix website.

GETTING STARTED

I heard about this feature in a message board somewhere online. This is where I learned that this function is in the beta stages of release. Apparently this means that only a limited number of subscribers have access to the feature. Concurrently, all the movies that Netflix carries are not accessible with this highlight.

Essentially, the process is fairly simple. If one has access, there will be a Watch Now tab showing on the Netflix member's home page. Click this tab, and you'll be privy to the collection of movies available for viewing. There is a limit to how much viewing one can do. And Netflix has covered this aspect quite neatly. The number of hours allotted is based on the type of plan one is subscribed to. For instance, when I was subscribed to the plan which allowed two DVDs out at a time, I apparently was not eligible for the feature. But as soon as I bumped my account up to four films, I immediately had access. A plan which costs $17.99 will allow for 18 hours of viewing time per month. (The $17.99 is rounded up to 18.) A plan which costs $23.99 will allow for 24 hours of viewing time, and so on, and so forth. Suffice it to say, I will not reach my maximum number of hours before my next billing cycle.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Once you've clicked the Watch Now tab, you will come to a screen which contains four basic sections: