Netflix to Offer Movie Downloads?

A technical glitch exposed what could possibly be a new download service from online DVD rental service Netflix. The glitch has appeared on some users' account information pages under a section for a "Netflix Player" with the option to register a player and name the "box."

TiVo, meanwhile, has begun to show off a beta version of a new movie download service at recent community gatherings, and it had signed a deal with Netflix in late September to bring movies on-demand to its subscribers.

Some have speculated the Netflix "box" may be a TiVo, as the registration page asks for similar information to what TiVo units ask for.

Further fueling speculation, another user discovered a new Netflix genre called "Downloadable," which has two sub-genres -- foreign and drama.

No additional information was available on the Netflix Web site.

Netflix is also hiring a director of product management, who will be tasked with developing a new Internet delivery model for movies. The responsibilities would include "coordination of internal design and development teams, outside vendors, manufacturers, and partners."

A request for comment from Netflix was still outstanding at press time.