FROM: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6191882.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;1

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In March, Reuters reported that Netflix was surveying its customers about whether they were interested in streaming movies via the Xbox 360. The report came just weeks before the mail-based video-rental service unveiled its first set-top device to stream videos directly to subscribers' televisions. But while the device, manufactured by Bay Area consumer electronics manufacturer Roku, is garnering solid reviews, it still requires consumers to plunk down $99 in addition to their Netflix subscription service to watch videos.

Little wonder, then, that during a recent summit in San Francisco, Netflix executives were hyping up other delivery channels besides the Roku box to analysts. Analysts like Wedbush Morgan Securties' Michael Pachter, who left the event convinced that Netflix is on the verge of announcing a deal with a major console-maker.

"As we have speculated in the past, we believe that one of Netflix's partners is Microsoft," said Pachter in a note to investors. "We arrive at this conclusion based upon Netflix management repeatedly mentioning 'Internet-enabled video game consoles' [at the event]. While there are three such consoles, only one (Microsoft's Xbox 360) has a sufficiently large installed base to make sense from a streaming partnership with Netflix."

Pachter continued, "The competitive advantage of such an alliance is clear: Netflix customers who are Xbox Live members will have the ability to stream online content through their Xbox 360s directly to their televisions. The ability to do so is available without the Xbox 360, but requires a measure of technological sophistication and a high tolerance for failure."

When contacted by GameSpot, Microsoft reps repeated their favorite mantra, saying "We don't comment on rumors." A senior Netflix representative seconded the sentiment, saying only "We don't comment on speculation."

However, if a Microsoft-Netflix deal is announced in the weeks before the looming E3 Media & Business Summit, it will raise a host of questions. Would such a service require 360s equipped with hard drives? Would such a service replace Xbox Live's current film-rental service, or complement it?

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So what do you guys think about all this?

All I can say is that I don't currently subscribe to Netflix, but if they did this deal I would sign up immediately.

yeah, I mean, it would make starz and those other movie channels obsolete.

well this might be a good deal for 360 owners

is this going to work only in the United States??

Well Netflix wanted in Canada and UK a couple years back but then cancelled their expansion plans.. so this could be an easy way for them to enter the market.

It would have to go throught the CRTC first in Canada and get approval.. and well that could be a problem. Not sure if the UK has a similar agency that regulates all foreign media