Like it or not, social networks are here to stay. From Twitter to Facebook, it’s getting hard to get by in the world if you’re not with either of those two networks. Aside from all the pros and cons of social networks a recent development may make these sites even more addicting, the addition of streaming movies.
Currently, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are the home to millions of on-line streamers so why in the world would we ever need another streaming network? The answer is quite simple: combine the desire to stream movies with the already addictive nature of a social network like Facebook, and you could really have something that’ll skyrocket in popularity and profit. And this is exactly what Warner Brothers and Facebook are looking to do. The “testing-phase” began Tuesday, the 8th of March with The Dark Knight with more options to come in the future. Slash Film posted the press release as:
BURBANK, CALIF., March 8, 2011 – Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD), a market leader in video-on-demand and electronic sell-through, today announced it will begin testing an offering of selected movies for purchase or rental through Warner Bros. Entertainment’s Facebook movie Pages. Consumers will be able to use Facebook Credits to easily buy or rent a title, all while staying connected to Facebook.
Starting today, millions of fans who “Liked” Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film “The Dark Knight” can rent the title through its official Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/darkknight). Consumers simply click on the “rent” icon to apply their Facebook Credits, and within seconds they will begin enjoying the film. The cost per rental is 30 Facebook Credits or $3. This offering is presently available only to consumers in the United States. Additional titles will be made available for rental and purchase on a regular basis over the coming months . . .
Fans will have full control over the film while watching it through their Facebook account for up to 48 hours from purchase. They can choose to watch it in full screen, pause the movie, and resume playing it when they log back into Facebook. Consumers will also have full Facebook functionality including the ability to post comments on the movie, interact with friends and update their status.
One may doubt that this new way of viewing movies will stick, but when you consider the combined forces of these media juggernauts, this could be the way of the future. In fact, Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu may become a thing of the past and all we will have left when the dust settles is Facebook. Do you buy into this theory or do you think Warner Bros. is going to be left disappointed? Leave us your thoughts below!
— Aaron Faulkner
The Filmsmith 
I think this is the logical progression to what I have been convinced will happen–the almost total disappearance of physical ownership. Us old timers on our rocking chairs may nay say the possibility, but if history is any guide, the coming generations will rarely, if ever, physically own DVDs or CDs (and who knows what else).
I’m surprised Netflix or Amazon didn’t jump on this first, the Facebook monolith is such fertile soil.