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Microsoft and Netflix Unveil Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies and TV Episodes to the TV via Xbox LIVE: Exclusive agreement creates game-changing home entertainment experience; more than 10,000 movies and TV episodes will be available to watch instantly at no additional cost to paying subscribers.

Microsoft is out with an announcement today regarding a new alliance with Netflix where beginning in late Fall XBox 360 Gold Members will be able to stream "a growing library of more than 10,000 movies and TV episodes" to their XBox 360. In addition to an XBox 360 Gold Membership, users will also have to have a Netflix subscription.

Although I think that this offering might be interesting for people who don't have Media Center PCs, it is a bit discouraging for those who do have Media Center PCs. Personally I'm not interested in signing up for for an XBox 360 Gold Membership at $45 a year or so. I don't use XBox 360 live at all and don't have an interest in the service.

What's frustrating for me is that outside developers have already developed a free way to get Netflix "Watch Now" on your XBox 360 Media Center Extender here and now today without having to buy an XBox Live Gold Membership, but it's just been hamstrung by Microsoft DRM -- at least in my case.

I do think that Netflix Watch Now *should* be an offering on Media Center PCs. I just don't think people should be required to buy a Xbox 360 live gold subscription in order to get it.

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