Netflix loses rights to stream nearly 2,000 titles

Netflix dropped nearly 2,000 titles from its streaming video service Tuesday night due to licensing issues. According to the tech website Mashable, the popular streaming movie and TV service has been unable to reach a licensing agreement with Warner Bros., MGM and Universal, meaning their right to offer some 1,794 on a streaming basis expired on May 1.

The disappearing films will now be behind a pay wall at the little-known Warner Archive Instant service. Mashable writer Christina Warren summed up the situation thusly, "For $10 a month you can get a selection of streaming films only slightly better than what Redbox Instant offers."

Joris Evers, a spokesperson for Netflix, sought to minimize the negative impact on the disappearing titles, framing it as a normal culling of content.

"Netflix is a dynamic service, we constantly update the TV shows and movies that are available to our members. We will add more than 500 titles May 1, but we also have titles expiring, this ebb and flow happens all the time," said Evers in a statement to Mashable.

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