Netflix yanks DVD queue options to drive online

Netflix on Monday told viewers that it was dropping the "add to DVD queue" option from all streaming-capable devices. Blu-ray players, game consoles and likely the iPad and iPhone apps will now have to visit the regular website to add any DVDs. The company claimed it was necessary to "concentrate on offering you the titles that are available to watch instantly [online]," according to product management lead Jamie Odell.

Including the physical rental option purportedly "complicates the instant watching experience" and slows down the development of the Internet viewing feature.

It's unclear how leaving a button would create problems with the service. Netflix may instead be using the move to encourage more Internet streaming in what has been a concerted push for the past few months. It began offering its streaming-only plan in the US while simultaneously hiking the rates for DVD subscriptions. Several home theater equipment makers, including Boxee, have agreed to start implementing One-Click Netflix buttons that take users directly to the streaming option.

The shift has already provoked a large amount of mostly negative criticism from subscribers. Many have argued in the comments that they still subscribe to physical discs and that it makes the process unnecessarily difficult if a movie isn't available to stream but could otherwise be added to the DVD queue to fill in the gap.

"With the addition of other streaming apps and devices, competition is getting stiffer, and your move is to make it more expensive and offer fewer services?" one subscriber said. "At this rate, I will definitely have moved on before 2012."

By Electronista Staff