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PS3 Is Most Popular Netflix Streaming Device

Chloe Albanesius
 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Netflix and Sony announced today that the PlayStation 3 is now the most popular Netflix streaming device.

"PS3 is our largest TV-connected platform in terms of Netflix viewing, and this year, at times, even surpassed the PC in hours of Netflix enjoyment to become our No. 1 platform overall," Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement.

Hastings touted the ability to update the Netflix app with new features on a daily basis, as well as the ability for users to sign up for Netflix directly from the PS3.

Netflix started streaming content to the PS3 in late 2009. Initially, users had to insert a special disc into the console in order to access Netflix Watch Instantly, but Sony fixed that by Oct. 2010. Earlier this year, Netflix was added to the PlayStation Vita, allowing users to start watching something on the handheld and pick up on the PS3.

Sony and Netflix did not elaborate on exactly how many hours streaming customers are consuming versus other devices. Netflix is also available on the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360, as well as a variety of Blu-ray players, HDTVs, streaming media players, home theater systems, phones, and tablets.

Earlier this year, Netflix said that users streamed more than one billion hours of content in June, the most in a single month. According to November stats from Sandvine, Netflix dominates Internet video streaming in North America, making up 33 percent of downstream traffic.

In other Netflix news, the company today announced a multi-year licensing deal with The Walt Disney Company that makes Netflix the exclusive U.S. subscription TV service for first-run live-action and animated feature films from Walt Disney Studios.

The deal will start with Disney's 2016 theatrically released films. That covers movies from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, and Disneynature, but no word if it will include the new Star Wars movies. Disney's direct-to-video new releases will start streaming on Netflix next year.

Netflix and Disney also inked a deal for older Disney movies, like Dumbo, Pocahontas, and Alice in Wonderland.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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