Sage, Sage HD Extender and NETFLIX INSTANT

[SoonerLater]

I asked in another thread whether SageTV Server and SageTV HD Media Extender could display a Netflix "Instant Watching" (video-on-demand) movie. The answer I got was essentially "no, never." Other threads suggest it may be possible. Still other threads (example) show Neflix built into the menu system, but it's unclear what function they've enabled in doing so.

My question is, if it's not possible, why is it not possible?

I have read elsewhere that NeilM's dynamic menus can let a Sage HD Extender control the Rhapsody subscription music service running on a SageTV server and cause the music from it to be piped through the Extender to play on a stereo.

If this can play Rhapsody, why can't it play a Netflix instant movie? I'm not suggesting I got the wrong answer. I just want to learn why (and I'm hopeful someone else knows a trick which will make it work).

[sleonard]

1) The current Netflix plug-in is only for browsing available DVD's and adding them to your mailing queue.

2) Theoretically it is possible for Sage to add the Watch-It-Now feature to Sage extenders with a partnership between SageTV and Netflix. Especially since Netflix is actively seeking 3rd party support in devices like the HD-100.

3) There may be technical reasons making it impossible but the only people who could know that are Sage and Netflix employees.

4) We won't learn anything more that the above unless and until SageTV makes the necessary enquiries to Netflix.

S

[stanger89]

I suspect it's techincally possible. The inherent trouble with playing Netflix Watch Now content is the fact that it's protected with WM-RM, it's not like you can just tune any WM9 player to the URL and watch the content, you have to use the special netflix player with the copy protection embedded.

I don't know how rhapsody works, but it sounds like it's kind of like the slimserver, that outputs an "clear" MP3 stream which can be tuned by any mp3 player, and is controlled by a web interface.

Netflix isn't like that, SageTV would most likely have to do some work to support playback of WMRM content on the extender (which I don't think it can do as is).

[Morgan111]

I am updating the NetFlix import for SageMC and at least hope to get trailers playing on extenders as a start. I can grab the flash video files that play fine in other players but not with the Sage player. I submitted a sample file to support to look at. For the Watch It Now I may have to hold off on swapping out my PC client on the main TV.

[reggie14]

I'm no expert, but I doubt you can play Rhapsody files with the extender. The only places I see Rhapsody mentioned on these forums indicate that you could use dynamic menus to launch an external program that can play the DRMed music files. This would work fine on a PC client, but it wouldn't work with an extender.

I suppose theoretically someone could write a plug-in that plays the music file back on the server, captures it, and sends it to the extender. Maybe someone has even done it, but I don't see anything that indicates that on the forums.

But, I think its pretty unlikely that netflix instant viewing will be supported over the extenders. I wouldn't think the powers that be would let you add DRM-media playback to a device that wasn't originally designed for it. It seems like a bad idea from a security perspective. Maybe you could do something with analog capture after the netflix set top boxes come out, but I doubt it would be worth the trouble.