Microsoft this week announced that over one million Xbox 360 owners have downloaded and activated the Netflix application for Xbox Live since the service launched in November. In that time, these users have watched over 1.5 billion minutes of movies and TV shows. More impressive, perhaps: Over one in ten Netflix subscribers are now accessing Netflix content online via the Xbox 360.
"Adding Netflix to our ever-growing library of 30,000 movies and TV shows makes Xbox 360 the best value in home entertainment," said Microsoft corporate John Schappert. "Netflix is a great win for Xbox living rooms nationwide. These families are getting more entertainment from Xbox 360 than from any other device connected to their TVs."
Netflix is rapidly expanding the number of ways in which its subscribers can access content from its Watch Instantly Internet streaming service. The company offers the service via an inexpensive Roku set-top box and has deals with various TV makers in the works as well. But the Xbox 360 usage is interesting because Xbox 360 users must pay for Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold service (at a cost of $50 a year) as well as subscribe to Netflix (at a cost of at least $15 a month). The other Netflix-compatible devices do not come with additional fees.
Netflix is also expanding the capabilities of its service as well. This past month, they began offering some content in HD.