Netflix to hold sequel to $1M contest for improving its movie recommendation system

Netflix to run second film-suggestion tech contest

SAN FRANCISCO — Netflix Inc. has not yet announced a winner for its first $1 million challenge to improve its system of recommending movies that subscribers may enjoy. Already it is indicating there will be a sequel, though.

Netflix Inc.’s chief product officer, Neil Hunt, said Web forum post that the company will give specific details of a second contest in late September. That’s when it will divulge the winner of the first one. Hunt did not specify when, exactly, the announcements occur.

The original contest was launched in 2006 to improve predictions on Netflix’s site by at least 10 percent. More than 51,000 people in 186 countries took part.

Two teams — BellKor’s Pragmatic Chaos and The Ensemble — are vying for that prize.