Apple’s “hobby” is less of a hobby these days, with in excess of one million sales the Apple TV is now accounting for more Netflix viewing hours than the iPad, Netflix announced this week.

That’s noteworthy because while Apple has sold millions of iPads it has only shifted a million Netflix-happy Apple TVs, and with a substantial slice of those sold outside of the US of A, you can bet your dollar this represents tacit proof that people are making active use of the Apple TV.

What’s next? There had been hopes Apple will find suitable streaming media partners in other markets, and we contine to await the evolution of iTunes services in the cloud, but until then the rest of the Apple TV-owning world looks to the Netflix rental model with interest.

From the Netflix release: