I tried this out this morning. Brought up the TV app on my iPhone, searched for a show I know is on Netflix. Sure enough, the search revealed two options: Rent the show via iTunes, or open it via Netflix.
This is a solid step forward for Apple, Apple TV, and searchability.
Now if only Amazon would deliver their promised Prime Video Apple TV app. I suspect that ship has sailed.
UPDATE: Check this tweet from Tech Crunch Editor-in-chief Matt Panzarino:
Checked this out – looks like false alarm, this stuff has been in there from launch. No new integrations afaik.
Not sure which is correct. I don’t recall this level of integration with the TV app.
Maybe it’s just me, but Netflix’s streaming catalog seriously bites. Has for quite a while.
Stronger than expected subscriber numbers would suggest otherwise, thanks in part to Netflix’s original programming: House of Cards, OITNB, The Crown, Stranger Things, Narcos, Bloodline…
I’m glad to see Netflix is on board. It would be nice to see the TV app send notifications when new episodes of your favorite shows are posted.
Absolutely, on both counts. I should have made a distinction between NFLX’s original programming and its general catalog.
It’s just you. Well, you and some other people, because entertainment wants and needs are really subjective. I have over 400 items in my watch list on Netflix, and more new things I want to see are added all the time. I’ll never get to all of them.
If you want the new stuff right after it airs on broadcast TV, then get Hulu. If you don’t mind waiting a bit and binging, or catching some great original programming, or finding quite a few hidden gems (I’m watching a cool French 60s spy spoof show right now), then Netflix is just fine.