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Netflix Personalized Profiles Roll Out to Apple TV

Netflix personalized profiles are reportedly rolling out to those who access the movie-streaming site on Apple TV.

By Chloe Albanesius
July 30, 2013
Netflix Personalized Profiles

Netflix personalized profiles are rolling out to those who access the movie-streaming site on Apple TV.

As noted by MacRumors, some people with the Apple set-top box are seeing individual profiles within an account. This allows for family members to manage their own queues and see recommendations based on their viewing history rather than that of their husband, sister, or significant other.

At this point, profiles can't be edited or added, MacRumors said, so it appears Netflix is still tinkering with the product ahead of a formal launch. This was a point of contention for some Twitter users, however. "Netflix added profiles to my Apple TV but there is no way for me to turn them off or edit. I have to answer 'Who's watching' EVERY time!" one person tweeted.

"We have been testing Profiles for a while. This is part of that test. We hope to roll out broadly and in final version soon," a Netflix spokesman said in a statement.

He noted that not all Apple TV customers will see profiles at this point. "This is a small part of our overall membership. We hope to roll out the feature to all members later this summer," he said.

In a letter to shareholders last week, Netflix said it would be rolling out its profile feature in the third quarter, "which will allow households to have distinct 'profiles' for different members or viewing tastes within their home, enabling us to provide a much more personalized experience for our members."

PCMag first got a look at personalized profiles at CES in January. At the time, the feature was being tested in beta on the iPad, PlayStation 3, and the Web, and Netflix was not sure it would even launch to all customers. By April, however, Netflix said the test had been a success and announced plans to roll it out in the coming months.

For a look at personalized profiles from CES, check out the slideshow above.

Netflix recently extended its reach to Google's $35 Chromecast dongle. Members with the device - which plugs into an HDTV via the HDMI slot - can stream content from their iOS or Android device or PC to the TV. That includes Netflix, as well as YouTube videos. To entice users, Google initially offered three months of free Netflix with the purchase of a Chromecast, but Google hit its limit within in one day, and quickly ended the promotion.

For more, check out PCMag's review of the Chromecast, as well as the Apple TV.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 12:50 p.m. Eastern with comment from Netflix.

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About Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor for News

I started out covering tech policy in Washington, D.C. for The National Journal's Technology Daily, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. After a move to New York City, I covered Wall Street trading tech at Incisive Media before switching gears to consumer tech and PCMag. I now lead PCMag's news coverage and manage our how-to content.

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