Technical problems knock out Netflix site, bog down distribution hubs

LOS GATOS, Calif. -- Online DVD rental leader Netflix Inc. suffered a technology breakdown Monday that knocked out its Web site for about 11 hours, inconveniencing many of its 7.5 million subscribers.

The outage could mean some customers will have to wait longer than usual for their next rentals.

The trouble blocked access to Netflix's Web site about from about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT Monday, company spokesman Steve Swasey said.

It marked the second-longest disruption since Netflix launched its service nine years ago. Netflix's Web site was down for more than 18 hours last July when the Los Gatos-based company lowered its prices.

Because the latest problem also hobbled some Netflix distribution centers, many DVDs that normally would have been mailed out Monday may not be shipped until Tuesday, Swasey said.