Netflix 'crackdown' on simultaneous streaming really a glitch

Netflix has denied accusations that it has cracked down on simultaneous video streaming, saying the issue is just a glitch. Earlier, a blog post from the site "Stop the Cap!" said Netflix had made changes that enforced a previously known policy that formerly was ignored.

It's been known for some time that Netflix allowed the same number of streams per user as the number of DVDs he could have out at one time. For example, if you had the plan that allowed two DVDs out at once, you could stream to two devices concurrently.

These limits were never really enforced, however. They also didn't make any sense once the company split its DVD and online subscriptions in July.

The report said that a number of users were getting error messages, telling them

"There are x movies being watched, which is the limit of your membership. Please stop playing at least one movie and try again later." However, this was a glitch and not a policy change, according to Netflix VP of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey, who said:

"No Netflix member is limited to less than two concurrent streams. A few Netflix members have heard differently from us, which is an error that we are correcting."

In fact, it appears that by early afternoon PST on Wednesday, concurrent streaming had returned.

Netflix has been hammered of late, over the subscription split between DVDs and streaming, and its stock took a dive when it was revealed the company would lose Starz content at the end of next February, after Starz walked away from negotiations.

The company certainly didn't need the additional negative PR this "glitch" generated.