This week, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced the company’s Q3 financial results. Naturally, it sounds good to be the king of Netflix. However, one little nugget Hastings let fly was how Netflix is “primarily a streaming company that also offers DVD-by-mail.” Interesting.
Of course, streaming is what keeps the company growing—or at least they seem to think so. Aside from boasting a bump in subscribers that use the streaming option, the company just added a streaming-only option in Canada.
We’ve been waiting for the U.S. to get a streaming-only option. The announcement also indicates that could roll out on a limited basis by the end of this year. If that does happen, you’d basically have to pay to get discs, right?
So that got me thinking: How do you primarily use Netflix? I love having the disc come to my house, but it certainly overstays its welcome. In the time I have one disc, I probably watch numerous selections through my streaming subscription. I’ve watched through the Wii, Blu-ray players, and even the new Google TV. There are so many ways to get it… now if they’d only add more selections, I would be a happy happier customer.
For you Netflix subscribers out there, do you get more use out of the discs sent or your streaming option? What device(s) do you use to stream content? Also, do you pay extra for the privilege of Blu-ray? Let me know below in the comments.

I prefer the streaming method myself. Less hassle than with the DVD’s. I stream movies to our Samsung Internet TV and to a Sony Dash.
I love the fact that you can stream up to 6 different devices and that you can have different TV’s in the house stream different movies at the same time.
I use Netflix for Blu-ray. turnaround is only 2 days and they have every title. I also purchase a lot of Blu-ray movies and TV shows, i’m a collector. I’ve spent my entire adult life striving for the best audio and video experience and I finally have it with Blu-ray, until 4K comes out. streaming is a step backward for me.
Extreme Kahuna: There hasn’t been an official announcement. However, Canada has a streaming-only option right now (it’s the only option there). For $7.99, you can stream unlimited content—just like the $8.99 plan here. However, it’s the same selection of movies. I am guessing once they add a streaming plan here, it will be the same as it is now… just a little cheaper with no discs. They’re always adding new content to stream… I am hoping one day you will be able to stream EVERYTHING.
I guess I’m in the same boat as others. I love the sound quality on Blu-Ray (I pay for the BR plan) and really want it for the full effect. I like to get together with my friends on the weekends and watch “movies under the stars” on a 144” inflatable screen, 720p/1080i projector and 5.1 Yamaha sound system. I stream to it as well using a wireless Samsung BDP 1600(and the piture is great) but the sound just isn’t as good as Blu-Ray. Lately been using streaming a bit more than disks so when we have get togethers everyone has a vote in what they want to watch.
Alberta home is prepped with home automation and home theater to attract prospective buyers.
Alberta home is prepped with home automation and home theater to attract prospective buyers.
3M technology poised to boost the vibrancy and richness of colors on LCD screens.
We take a peek at some of the current options for outdoor audio.
We do have the blu-ray option, but only one disc at a time. Streaming is far less of a commitment, so we end up taking bigger risks on streaming content. We’ve seen some great movies that I would never have risked 3 days on for the actual disc. We only add discs that don’t have a streaming equivalent and that are fairly well known quantities, but since we don’t get out to a theater that much it’s good for recent big releases, which tend to benefit from Blu-Ray anyway.
We’d get much less out of our subscription omitting either streaming or discs.