Barely 24 hours after the Chromecast debuted, Google cuts the cord on the dongle's Netflix promo. July 25, 2013 2:33 PM PDT A look at Google's Chromecast (pictures) 1-2 of 21 Scroll Left Scroll Right Google wasn't sure how much of a hit the Chromecast would be, so to sweeten the deal the company included three months of Netflix for free. But the company has put a halt to the deal, only one day after the device debuted, because it was too popular. Google told the Los Angeles Times in a statement, "Due to overwhelming demand for Chromecast devices since launch, the three-month Netflix promotion (which was available in limited quantities) is no longer available." The Netflix deal was quite the sweetener. While the Chromecast retails for $35, three months of Netflix's streaming service normally costs $23.97, and Netflix made it available to both new and current subscribers. But less than an hour after the Chromecast was introduced, it was backordered by a week. And a day after Google unveiled the Web-to-TV streaming dongle, people were paying more than $100 for it on eBay. It's not clear that the Netflix deal was driving much demand for the Chromecast, but this looks like a small misstep for Mountain View. It's generally considered poor form to offer an incentive and then snatch it away, like Lucy and her football in the Peanuts comic.
Barely 24 hours after the Chromecast debuted, Google cuts the cord on the dongle's Netflix promo.
Google wasn't sure how much of a hit the Chromecast would be, so to sweeten the deal the company included three months of Netflix for free. But the company has put a halt to the deal, only one day after the device debuted, because it was too popular.
Google told the Los Angeles Times in a statement, "Due to overwhelming demand for Chromecast devices since launch, the three-month Netflix promotion (which was available in limited quantities) is no longer available."
The Netflix deal was quite the sweetener. While the Chromecast retails for $35, three months of Netflix's streaming service normally costs $23.97, and Netflix made it available to both new and current subscribers.
But less than an hour after the Chromecast was introduced, it was backordered by a week. And a day after Google unveiled the Web-to-TV streaming dongle, people were paying more than $100 for it on eBay.
It's not clear that the Netflix deal was driving much demand for the Chromecast, but this looks like a small misstep for Mountain View. It's generally considered poor form to offer an incentive and then snatch it away, like Lucy and her football in the Peanuts comic.
