Netflix calls its own HD streaming service 'underwhelming'

Well, shucks. First Netflix makes a mistake about whether or not we're getting 1080p streaming this year, and now Steve Swasey, VP of Corporate Communications for the company, is telling the world what Netflix does have to offer in the way of HD streaming isn't all that great.

His remarks come ahead of Netflix launching its service on the Wii, which can't handle HD streams. In fact, more than not being able to handle it, the Wii fanbase doesn't want it, according to Nintendo of America head honcho Reggie Fils-Aimé.

Both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 currently enjoy HD offerings from Netflix's streaming services, entirely free for anyone who is already a Netflix subscriber. (Update: As Isolder pointed out in the comments below, Xbox 360 users can only stream movies through Netflix if they are Xbox Live Gold subscribers, which has an annual fee.) If you were a Netflix exec, how would you decide to sum that service up in one word? "Underwhelming," says Swasey in an interview with The Wiire.

"PS3 and Xbox users have 1 in 17 titles available in HD, and it's streamed in 720... it's not in 1080, and it's not in 5.1 surround sound or anything," Swasey told The Wiire. "So, the HD experience at Netflix Instant Watching isn't that overwhelming. It's a little bit underwhelming. So the Wii folks aren't going to miss that much."

Wow! Where do I sign up?

Check out The Wiire's audio interview with Swasey here.

The Wiire, via Joystiq