Ok, I love Netflix and have used them a very long time. But they have just raised their prices by a lot if you get both DVD's and do streaming too. I'm not too happy about this and probably will go to only streaming, which might be their goal by doing all this. Anyway, story below:
Netflix on Tuesday announced significant changes to its pricing plans that include a 60% price bump on combination DVD and streaming plans. The new changes go into effect September 1 for existing members.
Netflix customers, if you couldn't already guess, are not pleased with the changes. More than 4100 comments, most of them glaringly negative, have been left on Netflix's official blog that announced the changes.
"You've decided to raise customer rates during a period of economic downturn, when people are struggling to pay for basic necessities and when cable TV is just too damned expensive," Darrin Wright of Zimmer Radio Group wrote on Netflix's blog. "You're forcing me to pay more for products and services I've paid for loyally for quite a while now. You're really, REALLY making me reconsider this business relationship."
Some comments were less cordial.
"This is a horrible deal for current customers," Todd Hayward of Old Dominion wrote. "You're going to be losing a lot of business with this decision."
The new plans separate DVD-only subscriptions and streaming-only subscriptions, with each basic plan costing $7.99 a month. Before, the company offered customers a combo plan that made it cheaper to get both DVDs in the mail and streaming content.
The basic plan for one DVD at a time and unlimited steaming used to cost $9.99 and now will cost $15.98 a month. To further illustrate pricing, one DVD out at a time now costs $7.99 while 2 DVDs at a time costs $11.99 and so on. To add streaming content, it's another $7.99 on top of that.
It's understandable that the price of Netflix's services would increase over time due to new licensing agreements and the expansion of movie and TV content. But as a current Netflix member with a combination DVD and streaming plan, I'm also upset about this abrupt price change. I understand slow, gradual price inceases to match inflation and to deliver a stronger catalog of movies, but a 60% bump is simply too much.
What do you think about the price bump?
http://venturebeat.com/2011/07/12/netflix-raises-plan-prices-by-60-with-4100-negative-comments-and-counting/ (http://venturebeat.com/2011/07/12/netflix-raises-plan-prices-by-60-with-4100-negative-comments-and-counting/)
I saw this coming a mile away. The Content providers HATE what Netflix did to them and wanted payback, THIS is what happens when people get greedy, WE get screwed. You want to rage at someone? Rage at the content providers and their endless greed.
King
Now that my venom is out of the way...I will continue to stick with Netflix for the time being because the streaming service they provide is quite nice. I saw this price charge coming because the cable/TV/hollywood hated what Netflix "screwed" them out of, which is why I switched to Streaming-only content, to hopefully encourage more streaming content and the same price. At least for us who went this route we aren't too badly off, I pity those who have both plans...
Its a sad day for all us Netflix users. I really hope this is the last price raise for a while, otherwise I will leave Netflix. Which saddens me...
King
They had to do it, they were charging too little for the DVD and streaming. It's a smart move, they want to transition business to streaming. The problem is the content is still behind but that will change over time. For now I'm just going to do both.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 12, 2011, 04:26:02 PM
They had to do it, they were charging too little for the DVD and streaming. It's a smart move, they want to transition business to streaming. The problem is the content is still behind but that will change over time. For now I'm just going to do both.
Unless I'm mistaken, its been expanding at a great rate here lately. Heck, Star Trek the entire series was nice, that right there is worth $7.99 a month. So unless I've missed something, it will definitely continue to improve. But your right, DVDs have fallen in demand, but not as much as Netflix had hoped so they had to change it.
King
The problem is you can't get new releases streaming.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 12, 2011, 04:31:13 PM
The problem is you can't get new releases streaming.
And Hollywood will never ever let that happen. It would destroy their DVD/Blu-ray sales. Or at least, that is their justification.
King
i was thinking of joining netflix because of the star trek streaming. now i am not so sure.
Doesn't affect me at all. I only stream and when I want to see something sooner, I grab it from Zune Marketplace on Xbox or from Redbox.
While netflix might have killed the video chains, Redbox and blockbuster express is turning the tide. 1 buck for dvds, one fifty for bluray, and 2 bucks for games. They really can't compete with that and lose money when they try. Every movie sent and sent back costs netflix almost a buck in postage .
Quote from: Bryancd on July 12, 2011, 04:31:13 PM
The problem is you can't get new releases streaming.
Yeah you can, but it cost rental prices. I can stream movies from Zune for like 5 bucks for HD. The Source Code is showing now and hasn't even hit DVD yet.
Quote from: turtlesrock on July 12, 2011, 04:33:29 PM
i was thinking of joining netflix because of the star trek streaming. now i am not so sure.
This doesn't affect streaming
Still a lot of content that isn't up for streaming on Netflix. And as far as other services, no one has Netflix beat in terms of selection.
Yeah Redbox and Blockbuster are so far behind Netflix both domestically and International expansion. That's why I own the stock for clients.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 12, 2011, 04:43:46 PM
Yeah Redbox and Blockbuster are so far behind Netflix both domestically and International expansion. That's why I own the stock for clients.
Wait. I'm not clear on this. Which stocks do you own? Netflix or the other two? If it's the other two is it because of the low in cost of buy now?
Why Netflix changed its pricing plans
By Ryan Lawler Jul. 12, 2011, 11:47am PT
Netflix updated its pricing Tuesday, removing the ability to combine DVD-by-mail and streaming plans and effectively forcing subscribers to choose one or the other. For those that wish to continue using both services, the change effectively raises the price of a combined plan by 60 percent, which has already caused some subscriber unrest on the blog post announcing the change and around the Internet. But why did Netflix make the change?
Ultimately it comes down to money, as Netflix VP of Marketing Jessie Becker acknowledged in the company's blog post. "Given the long life we think DVDs by mail will have, treating DVDs as a $2 add on to our unlimited streaming plan neither makes great financial sense nor satisfies people who just want DVDs," she wrote.
The cost of its DVD-by-mail operations isn't supported by the $2 per month in additional revenues that Netflix gets from the previous add-on plan. While much of the infrastructure investment is a sunk cost and has been amortized over the years, supporting ongoing DVD operations isn't a winning strategy for a company that is betting big on streaming. The cost of postage alone argues against such a heavy discount for a continued DVD-by-mail plus streaming offering.
But there's another reason why Netflix is making this change: By forcing subscribers to choose, it's likely betting that most will go streaming-only, thereby lowering the infrastructure costs of supporting them. As we wrote last year, the real cost of its streaming service isn't defined by video storage, delivery or other infrastructure, but in the acquisition costs that come with it. That gives Netflix the ability to better manage its costs as it decides which content to invest in.
From an investor standpoint, splitting up Netflix's operations more clearly into streaming and DVD-by-mail services could also give further transparency into its business. Doing so would enable it to break out operational costs from its DVD and streaming units, something that it has been unable (or at least unwilling) to do so thus far. With a management and organizational structure that clearly defines operations into separate units — streaming, DVD and international — financial analysts and investors will get a better idea of what's driving revenues and costs. This could happen as soon as the fourth quarter of this year, once subscribers have been moved into one plan or another.
And finally, while Netflix weens subscribers off the combined plan and onto either a DVD- or streaming-only plan, there's a side benefit to breaking up its plans and effectively raising rates for those who subscribe to both: In the short term, at least, we're likely to see those who subscribe to both plans effectively subsidizing content acquisition costs for its streaming-only plan — except they'll be doing so at a higher rate ($7.99 versus $2 a month) and with more transparency.
If Netflix does break out financial operations in the coming quarters, as we suspect it will, we could see whatever profits might come from a combined plan or DVD-only being shuffled to support content acquisition, as Netflix invests ahead to support more aggressive subscriber growth, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription
Netflix is still the best deal out there. I'll dump the one-at-a-time dvd thing, but the streaming is so satisfying.
The library is still steadily improving.
I am just really satisfied with Netflix. That with Hulu+ pretty much takes care of my needs, I dumped DirecTV a few months ago and I don't miss it at all.
Quote from: X on July 12, 2011, 04:47:56 PM
Quote from: Bryancd on July 12, 2011, 04:43:46 PM
Yeah Redbox and Blockbuster are so far behind Netflix both domestically and International expansion. That's why I own the stock for clients.
Wait. I'm not clear on this. Which stocks do you own? Netflix or the other two? If it's the other two is it because of the low in cost of buy now?
I own Netflix. The other two don't have the growth model that Netflix does. As I said and that article you posted confirms, this is a good move for them financially and for their growth strategy. I said a while back this would be the direction they would head, so this was anticipated.
Oh, I can understand all the reasons behind the cost change. But, it doesn't mean I have to like it. And I think a lot of people will feel the same way about it too.
Yep, and that evaluation was part of the decision. They understand they will loose some but also they will gain new streaming customers to offset. As they grow outside the USit would be untenable to keep mailing DVD's economically.
I am upset with the fact that Netflix will not allow you to have different profiles for streaming. I love their streaming and my wife and I can take advantage of it on our iPads and our TVs at home.
However, my son cannot use the streaming service on his iPod Touch or his Wii System because he would have to know the master account password and I have no way to restrict his viewing options (he is 13). I do not want him watching movies or TV rated "R" or above and since streaming does not follow profiles, I have no way to give him separate rules than what my wife and I have.
The only way to do this is to pay for a second NetFlix account just for him. I refuse to pay for that. Why can't they support the profiles for streaming so you can log in using the email/password for the profile and get the appropriate restrictions? Seems easy enough to do, right?
Oh, and my son is a big Babylon 5 fan and they do not stream those shows -- only available via DVD. So I have to keep the combo plan to meet everyone's needs!
Well, it looks like the pricing for me -- unlimited streaming plus 3-DVDs at a time -- will increase from $19.99 to $23.98. I guess I can live with the $4 increase...
I don't get the DVD part but I don't think $16 is to much for what you will be getting. I wouldn't want to pay anymore than the next guy but doesn't seem to bad to me. Of course I might feel different if I was currently doing both. Now as far as the streaming goes I find something new about everytime I look on Netflix. I don't think they put all new content in the New realese area. I really like that they put alot of UK shows on it.
I was actually paying for the DVD + Streaming even after they raised the price for that by a buck or two recently, even though I haven't gotten a DVD from them for more than a year now. I can't even remember the last time I put a physical disc in a machine to watch a movie (that wasn't for my kids). I changed to streaming only when this was announced. All I do these days is stream, either via Netflix, the Xfinity App, or HBO Go.
I have the 4 DVD at-a-time plan (and 3 profiles - it's complicated). But my cost is going from $27.99 to $29.98. $1.99 is not terrible. My bigger gripe, when I changed plans, was the big jump in price between 3 and 4 DVDs. I haven't looked at the cost for all of the DVD plans, but I would hope that the increase in cost/DVD has standardized a bit.
Although, since I've been watching more and more on streaming, I might change back to 3 DVDs at a time come September - depending on what I'm currently watching.
A lot of unhappy customers out there:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2011/07/netflix-subscription-changes-anger-customers/1 (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2011/07/netflix-subscription-changes-anger-customers/1)
..and a lot of happy shareholders, NFLX hit a 52 week high today.
I've had a Netflix account since 2004, and I don't recall pricing increasing when streaming content was introduced (I could be wrong). Maybe it would have made more sense for them to have made streaming an additional at that time? It would probably save the griping that they're dealing with now.
Like I said, I don't really have a problem with it, but my plan isn't affected that much. But, I can understand why those subscribers currently at $9.99 are upset about $15.98.
That's I think my price jump. I was at the one-DVD out at a time plus streaming plan. I'd probably average one DVD a week per month for a total of four DVD's. I frankly haven't streamed much at all over the years but have started to do it a bit more since I got my iPad. The truth of things for me is I see a lot of movies when they get released and I tend to stay up on TV shows too. I use Netflix for movies I didn't make it to the theater for, things like comedies, a few drama's etc. Anyway, one thing I think this price change is going to do is make people look at the competition a little more once again. We'll see how it all plays out.
We also are on the one DVD/streaming plan and currently watch mostly on DVD. I would like to start streaming more and have been looking at ways we can stream to our TV (we talked about that last week, Rico). I'm still working on it. I would say we average 4 DVD's per month as well. So it's averaging $4 per rental plus having streaming.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 13, 2011, 09:12:33 AM
We also are on the one DVD/streaming plan and currently watch mostly on DVD. I would like to start streaming more and have been looking at ways we can stream to our TV (we talked about that last week, Rico). I'm still working on it. I would say we average 4 DVD's per month as well. So it's averaging $4 per rental plus having streaming.
When I ran the number for myself, I found that even when I was on the DVD plan, I only got one or two per month on the 2 dvd plan. If I wanted to see something quicker, I'd have to run and pay a buck at redbox.
However, with the new streaming only and redbox for new releases, I actually save money. They are constantly giving away free rentals and It has worked in my favor.
At this point, I'm waiting for Amazon and Redbox to announce their new price changes.
Just saying...
King
$7.99 to watch a film is that right? May as just buy the DVD and keep it. Or am i missing something?
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on July 13, 2011, 01:41:31 PM
$7.99 to watch a film is that right? May as just buy the DVD and keep it. Or am i missing something?
No, its $7.99 a month for "unlimited" DvDs (that you can only get 1 at a time or more if you pay more)
King
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on July 13, 2011, 01:41:31 PM
$7.99 to watch a film is that right? May as just buy the DVD and keep it. Or am i missing something?
unlimited streaming or unlimited rental of 1dvd at a time each month for 7.99
Quote from: X on July 13, 2011, 03:01:27 PM
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on July 13, 2011, 01:41:31 PM
$7.99 to watch a film is that right? May as just buy the DVD and keep it. Or am i missing something?
unlimited streaming or unlimited rental of 1dvd at a time each month for 7.99
Right, so you can get DVD's as fast as you can watch them, mail them back, and get the next. And the delivery is pretty fast.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 13, 2011, 05:13:50 PM
Quote from: X on July 13, 2011, 03:01:27 PM
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on July 13, 2011, 01:41:31 PM
$7.99 to watch a film is that right? May as just buy the DVD and keep it. Or am i missing something?
unlimited streaming or unlimited rental of 1dvd at a time each month for 7.99
Right, so you can get DVD's as fast as you can watch them, mail them back, and get the next. And the delivery is pretty fast.
how fast?
3-4 days for us.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 13, 2011, 07:38:03 PM
3-4 days for us.
Both ways? I live right by a distribution point and it's a 4 -6 day turnaround meaning I could get a max of 4-6 movies a month on the one disc plan if I keep them for only one day. That's why I switched to the redbox for my disc rentals. For the same basic cost and view time, I can do 7 movies.
Quote from: X on July 13, 2011, 07:46:02 PM
Quote from: Bryancd on July 13, 2011, 07:38:03 PM
3-4 days for us.
Both ways? I live right by a distribution point and it's a 4 -6 day turnaround meaning I could get a max of 4-6 movies a month on the one disc plan if I keep them for only one day. That's why I switched to the redbox for my disc rentals. For the same basic cost and view time, I can do 7 movies.
Yeah, I dropped one in the mail on Monday and received a new one yesterday. We must have a distribution center here in Phoenix. Same with Amazon, they have a massive warehouse here.
Quote from: X on July 13, 2011, 07:46:02 PM
Quote from: Bryancd on July 13, 2011, 07:38:03 PM
3-4 days for us.
Both ways? I live right by a distribution point and it's a 4 -6 day turnaround meaning I could get a max of 4-6 movies a month on the one disc plan if I keep them for only one day. That's why I switched to the redbox for my disc rentals. For the same basic cost and view time, I can do 7 movies.
That's a long time! If I drop a DVD in the mail in the Morning (before the 9am pickup), I have a new disc on Tuesday afternoon!
If you're not already, make sure that the barcode on the DVD sleeve is showing through that little window in the back of the return envelope. Some USPS locations have a scanner from Netflix, and run Netflix mail through that scanner, send a report of to your distribution center, and they send a new disc before they receive the physical one back in the warehouse (as USPS has assured them it's on the way.)
It looks like they've realised the true costs of what they're doing and are trying to correct in a single jump. Sounds painful.
(The corporate greed complaints don't wash with me I'm afraid.)
Quote from: JeffM on July 12, 2011, 04:56:51 PM
Netflix is still the best deal out there. I'll dump the one-at-a-time dvd thing, but the streaming is so satisfying.
The library is still steadily improving.
I am just really satisfied with Netflix. That with Hulu+ pretty much takes care of my needs, I dumped DirecTV a few months ago and I don't miss it at all.
we just got netflix ourselfs for the on-line streaming movies, we canceled he DVD service in favor of the streaming service. The streaming service is very good and we watched a few movies on line. we got netflex in place of blockbuster.
Another good article here on this rate hike:
Netflix customers are making perhaps the most damning comparison a day after the rental service announced it was raising its prices: They're saying Netflix is just like the cable guys.
Seething blog posts and comments are piling up across the Web in reaction to a price hike that means customers who want access to DVDs as well as streaming video must now pay $15.98, up from the $9.99 they used to pay for both.
Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings may feel a little shell-shocked by the testy reaction. Hastings and his staff have enjoyed nearly unprecedented customer loyalty and popularity as the Web's most popular movie-rental service. Hastings is the guy who championed consumers against Hollywood and helped take a digital baseball bat to the much-loathed late fees from Blockbuster and traditional video-rental services. He is the guy who mailed movies to users' front door when they used to have to drive to rent. Netflix is regularly at the top of consumer-satisfaction polls. Would we have a term like cord-cutting without Netflix?
And that's why the backlash has been so extreme. Many of the company's 23 million subscribers are outraged over the money issue and they're just plain disappointed in the way Netflix is behaving. Dumping a 60-percent price increase on customers and casually announcing the move in a blog post without warning isn't what Netflix is supposed to be about. There's no doubt that Netflix's brand is suffering. Good will and trust is being drained, and quickly.
I wrote in an earlier piece that Netflix is still the best deal available, but plenty of people don't want to hear that. Fair enough. The increase is too much for some and they will bolt. But for those on the fence, I say start up a petition if one hasn't been circulated already, complain on the company's blog, make yourself heard before giving up on the company.
Hastings just might listen. In 2008, Netflix reversed a decision to eliminate user profiles, the account feature that enabled users to split movie rentals among separate queues for a household, after receiving a torrent of complaints and after an online petition was circulated.
The way for Netflix to unwind this is to offer consumers a break on the $15.98 or let keep two discs out for that price. Forcing subscribers to pay as much to rent DVDs as they do for streaming when many of them use the discs only to supplement the streaming library just doesn't seem fair.
Here's another hint, at minimum, Hastings needs to make a statement and own up to this and explain the need for it to customers. The announcement was mishandled and the company right now appears arrogant. Sure, Netflix has a good track record with consumers, but the company's customers have helped spread the word about the service for years and Netflix needs to continue to treat them as a partner.
Even if Netflix is a better deal than competitors, there's another option: going without streaming video. In this era of belt tightening, it would be easy just to pitch it all.
There's no denying that Netflix is facing skyrocketing costs for films and television shows. The truth is that a price increase was inevitable. Hollywood execs have told me that they are still learning how to price Internet-distributed content and they believe they have undervalued their content in initial dealings with Netflix. In addition, more competitors are entering the market. More competitors means content creators can hope for a bidding war.
Don't believe it? Take a look at Wall Street's mute reaction to the pricing move. The company's share price went up after Netflix announced the increase yesterday and in afternoon trading today the stock was up 2 percent and just under $300 a share. Analysts who cover Netflix have predicted price hikes for a long time because there were few other ways the company could afford to expand its library--which customers are discovering is lacking in some important content areas.
When confronted by the argument that Netflix must raise prices to pay for content, one of my CNET colleagues, Maggie Reardon, may have succinctly sized up what many Netflix users are saying: "Who cares? That's their problem. Paying for content is the excuse that cable companies have used for years to justify price hikes."
The longer Netflix waits to respond to customer outrage, the more likely it is that negative attitude will be set in stone.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20079257-261/for-netflix-theres-a-way-out-of-pricing-mess/#ixzz1SBoAdthb (http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20079257-261/for-netflix-theres-a-way-out-of-pricing-mess/#ixzz1SBoAdthb)
I look at it like this: HBO and Showtime both cost approximately the same as Netflix is now charging for their service (if you pay for streaming and one DVD out at a time). It seems to me that based on options for viewing (portable devices, computer, TV through a streaming device or the traditional DVD player) and vastly larger content library that Netflix has, Netflix is clearly a much better value. I'm certainly not happy about the price increase, but it also doesn't surprise me in any way.
Quote from: Redshirt97 on July 14, 2011, 03:19:55 PM
Quote from: JeffM on July 12, 2011, 04:56:51 PM
Netflix is still the best deal out there. I'll dump the one-at-a-time dvd thing, but the streaming is so satisfying.
The library is still steadily improving.
I am just really satisfied with Netflix. That with Hulu+ pretty much takes care of my needs, I dumped DirecTV a few months ago and I don't miss it at all.
we just got netflix ourselfs for the on-line streaming movies, we canceled he DVD service in favor of the streaming service. The streaming service is very good and we watched a few movies on line. we got netflex in place of blockbuster.
Yeah, that's a great idea. I think it's kind of rough, but they make it easier if you only want streaming...I'll keep the service and just have faith they will continue to grow the streaming library...
So, not sure if this has been mentioned here yet, but this morning I heard the Starz will no longer be partnering with NetFlix. Which means quite a bit of their library will go away....:(
"Is your Netflix queue in trouble?
By Wilson Rothman
People who are blissfully addicted to their Netflix Instant Queue may not realize where all that not-quite-premium-but-totally-watchable content comes from. A major source of it, in fact, the prime source of the top-shelf material, is Starz. And Starz, which carries Disney and Sony content, said today that it might not be providing any of that content to Netflix after February 28, 2012.
Companies fight all the time, and there may be a deal yet. It's a bunch of millionaires fighting over billions. The question is, how much are you affected? There's actually a very simple way to measure this:
Step 1: Take a look at your Instant Queue. If yours is like mine, it's packed with TV series and favorite movies. Maybe there are movies you watch and then remove, like on the DVD Queue, but in my mind, the Instant Queue is really misnamed, since it's more like your personal streaming library.
I have a ton of things that I will never remove, entire series of "X-Files" and "Star Trek: Next Generation" (also, I will admit, "ST: Voyager"). Of the 42 titles, the majority are TV shows, and of the movies there are lots of cult comedies and thrillers, and few if any "major motion pictures."
Step 2: Now look at your Saved Instant list. Another misnamed queue, this should be called "Stuff we don't currently have rights to." These were movies and shows you added that were available, but are no longer.
In a perfect world, that list should be empty, but mine currently contains 21 titles, from "Young Frankenstein" to "Young Victoria," from "Team America" to "The Breakfast Club." Where'd they go? On-demand movies come and go for a variety of reasons, often as exclusive commitments on network TV or premium cable, but a bunch of Sony-distributed movies were yanked in June in what Netflix called a "temporary removal."
Step 3: Do the math. Today, tomorrow, when the Starz deal does or doesn't go through, you will need to take the total number of titles in the Instant Queue and subtract the number of titles on the Saved Instant pile. If you come up with a negative number, or even come close to breaking even, you may not be getting what you think you're getting from your Netflix on-demand experience.
Step 4: Know your options. If you're feeling cheated, just remember, there's no two-year commitment, and you can cancel anytime you're truly not getting your $8 worth. There are actually a surprising number of Netflix competitors coming out of the woodwork, some you may already be paying for without knowing it. If you're already ticked about Netflix's price hike, it may be an especially good time to check your existing services.
I was a member of Hulu Plus, until I realized that, as a Comcast subscriber, I could just access all of that same content through the Xfinity website and apps. (Note: Comcast is the corporate parent of msnbc.com's joint owner NBC Universal, but I am speaking strictly as a paying subscriber here.)
You may also already have Amazon Prime, for the shipping benefits that the annual-fee program offers. It has many of the TV shows seen on Netflix, and getting more every day. And they have an on-demand section for new releases, something Netflix will probably never get.
Final pro tip: Make sure you finish your 20-episode "Party Down" marathon by February 28, 2012. It's a Starz Original series, and will likely vanish."
Source: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/01/7561166-is-your-netflix-queue-in-trouble?gt1=43001 (http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/01/7561166-is-your-netflix-queue-in-trouble?gt1=43001)
I dropped the disc portion of my Netflix account a couple weeks back. I'm only doing streaming now.
Thanks for reminding me. Just switched to streaming only. Will have to devise another plan by February. Watched "Tangled" with my daughter and girlfriend a few days ago. It would be a shame to see such content go away.
It's funny, I went to Netflix because I got offended by Hulu's pay program. Now, I may have to reconsider. At least I'll get to keep up with TV shows.
And Starz has pulled their content from Netflix over a pricing dispute.
On the brighter side, in Canada we had over 200 TV shows and movies added to streaming :)
Quote from: Darmok on September 02, 2011, 08:47:10 AM
Thanks for reminding me. Just switched to streaming only. Will have to devise another plan by February. Watched "Tangled" with my daughter and girlfriend a few days ago. It would be a shame to see such content go away.
It's funny, I went to Netflix because I got offended by Hulu's pay program. Now, I may have to reconsider. At least I'll get to keep up with TV shows.
Even Hulu+ though isn't worth it, most new content is unavailable, its filled with commercials and the mobile/TV devices can only view 1/3rd of their content. I'm starting to get really annoyed with both services and the content providers...
King
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 02, 2011, 09:33:25 AM
Quote from: Darmok on September 02, 2011, 08:47:10 AM
Thanks for reminding me. Just switched to streaming only. Will have to devise another plan by February. Watched "Tangled" with my daughter and girlfriend a few days ago. It would be a shame to see such content go away.
It's funny, I went to Netflix because I got offended by Hulu's pay program. Now, I may have to reconsider. At least I'll get to keep up with TV shows.
Even Hulu+ though isn't worth it, most new content is unavailable, its filled with commercials and the mobile/TV devices can only view 1/3rd of their content. I'm starting to get really annoyed with both services and the content providers...
King
What the market needs is a new option...how about it Tim? Launch a new streaming option!! :)
At least you have the option. UK streaming services are embryonic by comparison.
I am forced to use "less official" methods to keep up to date.
Quote from: Dangelus on September 02, 2011, 09:41:07 AM
At least you have the option. UK streaming services are embryonic by comparison.
I am forced to use "less official" methods to keep up to date.
But you have BBC iPlayer! :)
Quote from: QuadShot on September 02, 2011, 09:35:04 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 02, 2011, 09:33:25 AM
Quote from: Darmok on September 02, 2011, 08:47:10 AM
Thanks for reminding me. Just switched to streaming only. Will have to devise another plan by February. Watched "Tangled" with my daughter and girlfriend a few days ago. It would be a shame to see such content go away.
It's funny, I went to Netflix because I got offended by Hulu's pay program. Now, I may have to reconsider. At least I'll get to keep up with TV shows.
Even Hulu+ though isn't worth it, most new content is unavailable, its filled with commercials and the mobile/TV devices can only view 1/3rd of their content. I'm starting to get really annoyed with both services and the content providers...
King
What the market needs is a new option...how about it Tim? Launch a new streaming option!! :)
The problem is, I'd be telling the content providers what to do, and they'd hate that! :P
King
Quote from: billybob476 on September 02, 2011, 09:42:13 AM
Quote from: Dangelus on September 02, 2011, 09:41:07 AM
At least you have the option. UK streaming services are embryonic by comparison.
I am forced to use "less official" methods to keep up to date.
But you have BBC iPlayer! :)
Well that covers Dr. Who, that's it. :)
Quote from: Dangelus on September 02, 2011, 09:47:09 AM
Quote from: billybob476 on September 02, 2011, 09:42:13 AM
Quote from: Dangelus on September 02, 2011, 09:41:07 AM
At least you have the option. UK streaming services are embryonic by comparison.
I am forced to use "less official" methods to keep up to date.
But you have BBC iPlayer! :)
Well that covers Dr. Who, that's it. :)
Who?
Quote from: billybob476 on September 02, 2011, 09:26:35 AM
On the brighter side, in Canada we had over 200 TV shows and movies added to streaming :)
O.K., that's it. I'm moving back to Canada! :)
Good idea - we just came back from a visit to Quebec City - and I would love to move to Canada! ((although maybe to Anglophone Ontario or Nova Scotia....))
:)
Nah, Ontario is dull. Quebec all the way (says the Montrealer who moved to Toronto)
Quote from: billybob476 on September 02, 2011, 11:25:48 AM
Nah, Ontario is dull. Quebec all the way (says the Montrealer who moved to Toronto)
I agree. For me, Montreal has more culture. The food is great. I always have to visit Arahova, Montreal Bagel and Cafe Santropol when I'm there. Eat and take a walk up the mountain.
Quote from: Bromptonboy on September 02, 2011, 11:24:23 AM
Good idea - we just came back from a visit to Quebec City - and I would love to move to Canada! ((although maybe to Anglophone Ontario or Nova Scotia....))
:)
Doesn't everyone want to move to Canada? I know I would.
Quote from: Feathers on September 06, 2011, 03:06:00 AM
Quote from: Bromptonboy on September 02, 2011, 11:24:23 AM
Good idea - we just came back from a visit to Quebec City - and I would love to move to Canada! ((although maybe to Anglophone Ontario or Nova Scotia....))
:)
Doesn't everyone want to move to Canada? I know I would.
I'm more inclined towards New Zealand or Australia. :)
Quote from: Darmok on September 02, 2011, 05:26:31 PM
Quote from: billybob476 on September 02, 2011, 11:25:48 AM
Nah, Ontario is dull. Quebec all the way (says the Montrealer who moved to Toronto)
I agree. For me, Montreal has more culture. The food is great. I always have to visit Arahova, Montreal Bagel and Cafe Santropol when I'm there. Eat and take a walk up the mountain.
Arahova has gone down in the past few years, I like Marathon much better these days :)
Quote from: billybob476 on September 06, 2011, 05:39:35 AM
Arahova has gone down in the past few years, I like Marathon much better these days :)
Will have to check it out. Where is Marathon located?
I go to the Arahova on St. Viateur, walk across the street and buy a bag of bagels for later. Basha on Ste. Catherine is another favorite.
There's a Marathon near the hippodrome across from Namur Metro.
Anyways, as much as I love talking about Montreal, how about that Netflix?
Netflix has now begun their service in Latin America and the Carribean.
Ok, so, this morning on the news, they announced that beginning 9/1 NetFlix was limiting the number of streams you can have. So, you can have I think up to 50 or more separate devices on the same account, but you can't have more than one item in the same category streaming. For example, both Joyce and I can't watch movies on our devices, BUT, I can watch a TV show and she can watch a movie...STUPID! I think NetFlix is FUBAR'ing themselves here.
I was reading yesterday that they were not in fact enforcing that streaming. According to the update in the article below it was a glitch and some misscommunication from some of the support reps.
QuoteUpdate: Netflix is now saying, in an email to GigaOM, they are not enforcing this concurrent stream limitation. The error messages some users have been seeing are just a glitch, apparently, and some Netflix customer service reps may also have been supporting the crackdown rumor—"an error" that the company is correcting. However, this policy, albeit unenforced, of only allowing one stream at a time, depending on your plan, still exists.
QuoteQ:
Can I watch movies instantly on more than one PC or Netflix-ready device?
A:
Some membership plans allow you to watch simultaneously on more than one personal computer or Netflix-ready device. If you are on the Unlimited Streaming plan, the Unlimited Streaming + 1 DVD out-at-a-time plan or a limited streaming plan, you may watch only one device at a time.
If you are on the Unlimited Streaming + 2 DVDs out-at-a-time plan, you may watch on up to two devices at a time. Members on the Unlimited Streaming + 3 DVDs out-at-a-time plan may watch on up to three devices at a time. The maximum is four devices at a time - available for members on the Unlimited Streaming + 4-or greater DVDs out-at-a-time plan.
http://lifehacker.com/5837923/netflix-officially-limiting-simultaneous-movie-streaming (http://lifehacker.com/5837923/netflix-officially-limiting-simultaneous-movie-streaming)
Here's another article on the subject:
http://mashable.com/2011/09/07/netflix-not-limiting-streams/?WT.mc_id=obinsite (http://mashable.com/2011/09/07/netflix-not-limiting-streams/?WT.mc_id=obinsite)
Unless they've changed something, Netflix has never seemed to really enforce where or how you stream. Don't tell them, but I've let my kids use my account to stream up at college and never had an issue. I tend to stream mainly on the iPad these days, sometimes on my PS3 or TIVO.
Simultaneous streaming is the least Netflix can do after changing their price structure.
To me, that is nonsense. It's like they are saying you can but you can't. I have only the one DVD out at a time (Blu Ray) and unlimited streaming. I've always been able to have streaming on as many devices as I want, both playing movies or TV at the same time. So, is that now not a valid thing? In my opinion, NetFlix is taking their pretty good thing and crapping on it. I personally think that they did in fact state the enforcement then back peddled.
Don't worry about it yet Al. I think there was some bad info. Just keep streaming the way you have been. Should work just fine.
Yeah, it irritates me. I know that odds are if Joyce and I are both streaming, and it's a matter of "catching" it'll be ok. But the thing I'd be cheesed about is that if I want to watch a movie, and she's watching a movie on her iPad, one of us will get the error message. We're already considering dropping the Blu Ray part, because we really don't use it often enough to justify paying the extra. And Phil, I agree with you!
Rico, will do. I just hope Deep Space Nine gets loaded SOON!!! :)
Quote from: QuadShot on September 08, 2011, 08:41:40 AM
Rico, will do. I just hope Deep Space Nine gets loaded SOON!!! :)
October, from what's been reported. So, less than a month away.
If Netflix were to enforce the one-stream-only deal, I can't blame them because one could consider it an exploit. I mean, If you and five other friends (who do not live under one roof) can share the same Netflix account and only pay $7.99, isn't that cheating Netflix out of its $$?
Granted, IF Netflix was wanting to enforce this, they should allow for family options or something. But since it seems this is a bug and not an actual enforcement, then nothing to worry about. :)
King
Al, hang in there, pal. :)
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 08, 2011, 09:15:38 AM
If Netflix were to enforce the one-stream-only deal, I can't blame them because one could consider it an exploit. I mean, If you and five other friends (who do not live under one roof) can share the same Netflix account and only pay $7.99, isn't that cheating Netflix out of its $$?
Granted, IF Netflix was wanting to enforce this, they should allow for family options or something. But since it seems this is a bug and not an actual enforcement, then nothing to worry about. :)
King
Very true. Possibly they could do something similar to what iTunes does, allowing a unique user two or three devices on which to have the content.
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 08, 2011, 09:15:38 AM
If Netflix were to enforce the one-stream-only deal, I can't blame them because one could consider it an exploit. I mean, If you and five other friends (who do not live under one roof) can share the same Netflix account and only pay $7.99, isn't that cheating Netflix out of its $$?
Granted, IF Netflix was wanting to enforce this, they should allow for family options or something. But since it seems this is a bug and not an actual enforcement, then nothing to worry about. :)
King
What? TIM supporting "The Man"? No. Tim I thought you were against EVERYONE large company who wanted to profit off us? :)
Quote from: QuadShot on September 08, 2011, 09:39:12 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 08, 2011, 09:15:38 AM
If Netflix were to enforce the one-stream-only deal, I can't blame them because one could consider it an exploit. I mean, If you and five other friends (who do not live under one roof) can share the same Netflix account and only pay $7.99, isn't that cheating Netflix out of its $$?
Granted, IF Netflix was wanting to enforce this, they should allow for family options or something. But since it seems this is a bug and not an actual enforcement, then nothing to worry about. :)
King
What? TIM supporting "The Man"? No. Tim I thought you were against EVERYONE large company who wanted to profit off us? :)
LOL! It was mostly a logic question, not me supporting "the man". And if I were really against every large company trying to make $$ off of me, I wouldn't have an Apple device, PC computer, Ford Car, Steam account, etc etc etc etc. ;) I understand why they might do it. Which is in stark contrast to other companies right now where I don't understand their motives. ;)
King
I'm with Tim (or at least, what he said is the first thing I thought).
Ok, now Netflix is splitting off the DVD rental portion of their service even more and renaming it to Qwikster. This physical disc rental service will also begin to include video games. Read on:
Sept. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Netflix Inc. plans to separate its DVD-by-mail service from movie streaming, a move the company said will give both businesses a better chance to grow.
The DVD-only service will be called Qwikster and add video games to the current movies and television shows, Reed Hastings, chief executive officer of Los Gatos, California-based Netflix said yesterday in a blog post. The streaming service will keep the Netflix name.
The move grew out of the realization that the businesses had different cost structures and marketing needs, Hastings said in the post. Separating them will allow each to grow and operate independently, he said.
"It's hard for me to write this after over 10 years of mailing DVDs with pride, but we think it is necessary and best: We will rename our DVD by mail service 'Qwikster,'" Hastings said.
Andy Rendich, who has led the DVD operation for four years, will be Qwikster's CEO. The by-mail and streaming products will have separate websites and customers will receive unique credit- card charges from each.
Qwikster will start "in a few weeks," and will offer video games for Nintendo Co.'s Wii, Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 consoles, Hastings said.
There will be no new pricing changes, Hastings said. He said the company had "messed up" over the past two months in how it discussed with customers pricing changes, which raised fees on customers who pay for both DVD and streaming by as much as 60 percent.
"It is clear from the feedback over the past two months that many members felt we lacked respect and humility in the way we announced the separation of DVD and streaming, and the price changes," Hastings said.
Netflix fell 26 percent in two days last week after the company said it lost more customers than anticipated following the price changes. The shares closed at $155.19 on Sept. 16 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading, down $14.06, and have declined 12 percent so far this year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/netflix-to-separate-dvd-business-as-qwikster-offer-video-games/2011/09/19/gIQAxC7reK_story.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/netflix-to-separate-dvd-business-as-qwikster-offer-video-games/2011/09/19/gIQAxC7reK_story.html)
Initial impressions: Terrified by the huge losses in the value of their stock, the CEO has to do some major damage control. Quikster is an absolutely horrible name, what genius thought of that one? I agree that streaming and downloading is the future...they had better get some decent "netflixs" up for instant stream soon of they are going to lose a lot more customers. The loss of the whole Starz library is huge, I know I for one didn't subscribe to Starz because everything I wanted to see on that channel was on Netflix, and that was an awful lot.
I'm becoming concerned about Netflix. This move just seems...idiotic. What sense is it to make a completely second service when everyone liked the convenience of one service?
And Quickster? Really?...yeah...
King
I have a feeling they are lining up to sell off their DVD business, there aren't many other reasons (to my uneducated mind) to completely segregate them.
Hey -who here has used Red Box much? Do they carry Blu-Ray's too??
Quote from: Rico on September 19, 2011, 02:02:12 PM
Hey -who here has used Red Box much? Do they carry Blu-Ray's too??
They do carry Blu-Ray Rico. For $1 more I believe...
I use red box at least once a week. The blu rays are 1.50 per night. DVDs 1.00. I watched Thor the other night.
Definitely going to give Redbox a try since I dropped everything but the streaming on my Netflix account.
Quote from: Rico on September 19, 2011, 04:05:03 PM
Definitely going to give Redbox a try since I dropped everything but the streaming on my Netflix account.
That's really where Netflix is going. They don't want to be mired in the DVD mailing business, that's why they split off the other company, which at some point they can sell.
Now that they added games, I'm more keen to picking up the mailing service.
Quote from: X on September 19, 2011, 06:13:14 PM
Now that they added games, I'm more keen to picking up the mailing service.
I would much prefer Netflix having games over Gamefly. The shipping times are 3 - 4 times faster. Also, I've wanted Netflix to offer games for a long time now.
I echo the sentiment about the name,
This Qwikster thing makes me think of when Amway renbranded to Quickstar. I read the Reed Hastings email that came in this morning and rolled my eyes. :dry With all that spin, I'm reminded of the Blood Sweat & Tears song, "Spinning Wheel":
What goes up, must come down... ;D
Ok I may have to turn my Netflix back on for that. Anybody know if they are going to be releasing new games quickly or do we have to wait on those a little while?
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 19, 2011, 01:45:21 PM
I'm becoming concerned about Netflix. This move just seems...idiotic. What sense is it to make a completely second service when everyone liked the convenience of one service?
Because they're there to make a profit for their shareholders, not to be 'convenient' for everyone else. The sooner you realise this about companies, the less disappointment you'll have to cope with in life. :)
Quote from: Feathers on September 20, 2011, 02:22:08 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 19, 2011, 01:45:21 PM
I'm becoming concerned about Netflix. This move just seems...idiotic. What sense is it to make a completely second service when everyone liked the convenience of one service?
Because they're there to make a profit for their shareholders, not to be 'convenient' for everyone else. The sooner you realise this about companies, the less disappointment you'll have to cope with in life. :)
Well said, Mike. :)
Before people start saying poor Netflix, just trying to make a buck out there, take a look at their profits. They've been doing very well for quite awhile now. And yes, I know companies are starting to charge more for their content, but lets keep this in perspective. They have gotten a lot of money from me over the years. Been with them since near the start - over a decade. But, I'm down to just the streaming plan now. In any case, local distribution of physical media (like Redbox and the old Blockbuster days) might be the better model for disc rentals.
Quote from: Rico on September 20, 2011, 06:30:47 AM
Before people start saying poor Netflix, just trying to make a buck out there, take a look at their profits. They've been doing very well for quite awhile now. And yes, I know companies are starting to charge more for their content, but lets keep this in perspective. They have gotten a lot of money from me over the years. Been with them since near the start - over a decade. But, I'm down to just the streaming plan now. In any case, local distribution of physical media (like Redbox and the old Blockbuster days) might be the better model for disc rentals.
..and another good analysis! Yes, Netflix need to continue to focus and drive the streaming business, that's the crown jewel. That's where the global growth will come from. China, India, emerging markets all offer growing technology consumers where streamimng content will be king and Netflix needs to focus on that.
Quote from: Rico on September 20, 2011, 06:30:47 AM
Before people start saying poor Netflix, just trying to make a buck out there, take a look at their profits. They've been doing very well for quite awhile now. And yes, I know companies are starting to charge more for their content, but lets keep this in perspective. They have gotten a lot of money from me over the years. Been with them since near the start - over a decade. But, I'm down to just the streaming plan now. In any case, local distribution of physical media (like Redbox and the old Blockbuster days) might be the better model for disc rentals.
I'm not saying poor netflix. I actually like this new idea more than the current model. I know they got money from people over the years, but people also got services over the years. It wasn't like we were just loaning them money and borrowing movies over the years. They separated the two sides and are going to provide more content on the mail side.
I'm also going to go out on a limb and say that this is a necessity. By creating a streaming only service, you can create tiers that will meet the demands of STARZ. You can have your basic streaming package and then they are probably going to create one that's around 12 a month that will give you STARZ streaming as well. This way you can pick your poisons and they can meet the demands that STARZ has issued about not wanting their services in a 8 buck plan. Since I have STARZ, I don't need the addition, but I think it would work better for some people.
Quote from: Feathers on September 20, 2011, 02:22:08 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 19, 2011, 01:45:21 PM
I'm becoming concerned about Netflix. This move just seems...idiotic. What sense is it to make a completely second service when everyone liked the convenience of one service?
Because they're there to make a profit for their shareholders, not to be 'convenient' for everyone else. The sooner you realise this about companies, the less disappointment you'll have to cope with in life. :)
I'll bet the shareholders are real happy that their stock has taken a nosedive past several days...just saying.
King
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 20, 2011, 08:07:55 AM
Quote from: Feathers on September 20, 2011, 02:22:08 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 19, 2011, 01:45:21 PM
I'm becoming concerned about Netflix. This move just seems...idiotic. What sense is it to make a completely second service when everyone liked the convenience of one service?
Because they're there to make a profit for their shareholders, not to be 'convenient' for everyone else. The sooner you realise this about companies, the less disappointment you'll have to cope with in life. :)
I'll bet the shareholders are real happy that their stock has taken a nosedive past several days...just saying.
King
Short term loss for long term gain. With most investments you have to be ready to play the long game.
Quote from: billybob476 on September 20, 2011, 08:10:06 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 20, 2011, 08:07:55 AM
Quote from: Feathers on September 20, 2011, 02:22:08 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 19, 2011, 01:45:21 PM
I'm becoming concerned about Netflix. This move just seems...idiotic. What sense is it to make a completely second service when everyone liked the convenience of one service?
Because they're there to make a profit for their shareholders, not to be 'convenient' for everyone else. The sooner you realise this about companies, the less disappointment you'll have to cope with in life. :)
I'll bet the shareholders are real happy that their stock has taken a nosedive past several days...just saying.
King
Short term loss for long term gain. With most investments you have to be ready to play the long game.
But that's the question, has Netflix lost too many subscribers? They say a million, but the recent news might have created more people quitting the service. I have not, as streaming-only is all I've ever wanted (with better content), but some may not like 2 websites on top of the recent price hikes.
King
No, they haven't lost too many subscribers and there is a global market that is vast and yet to be accessed.
Quote from: billybob476 on September 20, 2011, 08:10:06 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 20, 2011, 08:07:55 AM
Quote from: Feathers on September 20, 2011, 02:22:08 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 19, 2011, 01:45:21 PM
I'm becoming concerned about Netflix. This move just seems...idiotic. What sense is it to make a completely second service when everyone liked the convenience of one service?
Because they're there to make a profit for their shareholders, not to be 'convenient' for everyone else. The sooner you realise this about companies, the less disappointment you'll have to cope with in life. :)
I'll bet the shareholders are real happy that their stock has taken a nosedive past several days...just saying.
King
Short term loss for long term gain. With most investments you have to be ready to play the long game.
Yes, who cares what the price does today... or tomorrow...
In the long term, it looks like they're trying to get rid of all of the annoying bits like having to post physical discs to people and wait for them to come back etc. The business isn't about 'subscriptions', it's about 'profitable subscriptions' and not just those that make a profit now but those that will do so going forward.
Their strategy may be miles wide of the mark but they obviously have some sort of plan that makes sense to them. Whatever they are, they're not stupid so you've got to assume that the risks of today appear to be worth it in light of the projected benefits in the future.
Quote from: Bryancd on September 20, 2011, 08:18:04 AM
No, they haven't lost too many subscribers and there is a global market that is vast and yet to be accessed.
Yes, like the one over here...
Quote from: Bryancd on September 20, 2011, 08:18:04 AM
No, they haven't lost too many subscribers and there is a global market that is vast and yet to be accessed.
Except the content providers are allergic to $$. Why else wouldn't they allow all content to be accessed in the UK and Canada?
(I know, I know, that's not the real reason but c'mon.....)
King
It will be a VERY long time before Netflix gets overseas. You think contracts are complicated for a single country - especially when it comes to media distribution? Anyway, in the meantime people continue to find "alternate" ways to view content. What I still see is they have lost some of my business and I've been using them and suggesting them for a very long time. No matter what the costs are, that's a problem for them as a business to lose long term members. We'll see what happens with all this.
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 20, 2011, 08:13:00 AM
Quote from: billybob476 on September 20, 2011, 08:10:06 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 20, 2011, 08:07:55 AM
Quote from: Feathers on September 20, 2011, 02:22:08 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on September 19, 2011, 01:45:21 PM
I'm becoming concerned about Netflix. This move just seems...idiotic. What sense is it to make a completely second service when everyone liked the convenience of one service?
Because they're there to make a profit for their shareholders, not to be 'convenient' for everyone else. The sooner you realise this about companies, the less disappointment you'll have to cope with in life. :)
I'll bet the shareholders are real happy that their stock has taken a nosedive past several days...just saying.
King
Short term loss for long term gain. With most investments you have to be ready to play the long game.
But that's the question, has Netflix lost too many subscribers? They say a million, but the recent news might have created more people quitting the service. I have not, as streaming-only is all I've ever wanted (with better content), but some may not like 2 websites on top of the recent price hikes.
King
Let's say they lost 1 million people ... so? Have you run the math on that? They lost 1 million but 12 million decided to take the dual plan and thus they increase revenue by far more than that. Looks like winning to me. 12 million people paying 8+ bucks more a month is winning and not the Charlie Sheen re-imagined meaning of the word.
Also, it's coming sooner than you think Rico...
http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-spain-uk/ (http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-spain-uk/)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-03/netflix-to-expand-in-europe-starting-with-spain-figaro-says.html (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-03/netflix-to-expand-in-europe-starting-with-spain-figaro-says.html)
Proprietary video content, TV and films, is in the process of going through the same painful but inevitable distribution model change that music went through in the late 90's, early 2000 when Napster gave way to legal content sales through iTunes. The television industry won't be able to hold out forever using the traditional advertiser based model and the film industry is already under attack in foreign markets where their content isn't protected at all and is being stolen. Give them a distribution method which they can monetize and they will have no choice but to migrate to it.
Just saw what Chris posted, yeah, like I said, this is the future of Netflix and it's coming fast.
Quote from: Bryancd on September 20, 2011, 08:45:45 AM
Proprietary video content, TV and films, is in the process of going through the same painful but inevitable distribution model change that music went through in the late 90's, early 2000 when Napster gave way to legal content sales through iTunes. The television industry won't be able to hold out forever using the traditional advertiser based model and the film industry is already under attack in foreign markets where their content isn't protected at all and is being stolen. Give them a distribution method which they can monetize and they will have no choice but to migrate to it.
Just saw what Chris posted, yeah, like I said, this is the future of Netflix and it's coming fast.
Especially places like Latin America where piracy is so huge. Whether Netflix can combat that or not is still up in the air, but the movie and TV industry have little choice if they want to make $$. Just like iTunes match, you've got to evolve or the next generation will leave you behind.
King
If it happens that soon, I'll be very curious what kind of catalog of films and TV shows they carry there. In Canada, just across the border, on the same continent, their content is not so great.
Yup, each country has to make its own distribution deals.
I keep my eye on this site to know what's been released here in Canada: http://app.whatsnewonnetflix.com/ (http://app.whatsnewonnetflix.com/)
This is a good article and I like a lot of his points about Amazon taking over while Netflix is stumbling.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/21/5-things-amazon-needs-to-do-to-kill-netflix.aspx (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/21/5-things-amazon-needs-to-do-to-kill-netflix.aspx)
Actually, I'm not so fussed about Netflix arriving per se but rather getting access to a good streaming service. LoveFilm (an Amazon company) does stream (6,000 films/episodes against 70,000 DVD titles) but the idea of tying up the laptop for the evening by plugging it into the TV doesn't appeal. If they rolled out support for something other than the PS3 (i.e. XBox) or I bought one of the TVs or Bluray players they're tied in to, then I guess I'd give it a go for a while.
*edit* scratch that. There are some of the streaming films I'd watch but the sci-fi TV is all either from the 60s or by Gerry Anderson. I couldn't cope with that TV diet for too long!
Looks like Netflix was a little hasty with their re-branding:
http://socialmediatoday.com/marketmesuite/360375/netflix-fail-qwikster-twitter-handle-owned-pot-smoking-elmo (http://socialmediatoday.com/marketmesuite/360375/netflix-fail-qwikster-twitter-handle-owned-pot-smoking-elmo)
Well, since the kid tweeted that he's going to try and sell the account, he'll probably be banned. Twitter doesn't allow accounts to be sold for $$, as stated in the terms of service or EULA or whatever it is we "signed" ;)
King
Looks like they aren't going through with it after all:
QuoteNetflix is now announcing that it will not go through with those plans after all, and that it will continue to have a combined streaming and DVD-by-mail service and offer those services both through Netflix.com. Users will continue to have one monthly bill, and their ratings and recommendations will carry over between the services as they always have.
http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-kills-qwikster/ (http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-kills-qwikster/)
Yeah I read that this morning. Unreal.
Quote from: Rico on September 21, 2011, 02:58:26 PM
This is a good article and I like a lot of his points about Amazon taking over while Netflix is stumbling.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/21/5-things-amazon-needs-to-do-to-kill-netflix.aspx (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/21/5-things-amazon-needs-to-do-to-kill-netflix.aspx)
This is the key takeaway from that article:
5. Get the tablet right
There are high hopes resting on the Amazon tablet, but I'm not among those predicting a market-beater. I believe what a tech analyst once quipped, which is that there probably isn't a tablet market, there's an iPad market. Luckily for Amazon, even on the iPad, the media consumption process is still pretty fragmented, requiring a variety of apps and subscriptions. Apple is no doubt working on removing these hurdles and unifying the media consumption experience (with iCloud an important component), and Microsoft is doing similar things with its centralization of Windows Live and Zune for the Windows Phone 7 update and upcoming hybrid OS, Windows 8.
If Amazon hopes that its tablet can be the razor that sells hundreds of millions of dollars worth of blades, it will need to make sure the hardware is hip and the experience is flawless. I'm not overly confident that will happen, given the dated looks and functionality of even the newest Kindle (and I'm a Kindle fan), but Amazon has shown that it gets constant, incremental improvement.
Quote from: billybob476 on October 10, 2011, 05:26:37 AM
Looks like they aren't going through with it after all:
QuoteNetflix is now announcing that it will not go through with those plans after all, and that it will continue to have a combined streaming and DVD-by-mail service and offer those services both through Netflix.com. Users will continue to have one monthly bill, and their ratings and recommendations will carry over between the services as they always have.
http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-kills-qwikster/ (http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-kills-qwikster/)
I have to say if they had done that I probably would have just cancelled my Netflix subscription. I've been Netflix free for almost 4 months and if I had to pick between the two I think I would have just said screw it. I'll probably be turning it back on soon, but not till I'm settled into a less busy, more income heavy schedule.
We have Dish Network and they now offer Blockbuster DVD's if we want to go that route via our current subscription.
So, no Quikster but still the price increase. I'll stick to streaming only still - for now.
This makes me so happy. I feel like we've won. lol.
A lot of what I want to see is not [yet] available for streaming, so I've always used the discs. And I only really starting using streaming a lot this past summer. With my plan, because we have multiple profiles and discs and people and so on, I get 4 DVDs at a time, plus streaming. I think the price increase for me was all of $2, so that didn't really bother me. But managing two accounts with no interface is what really set me off, especially with so many different profiles and queues.
Thank you, Netflix, for listening to the part of your clientele that hasn't yet abandoned you.
Yeah, I figured Netflix was pushing this way too hard. I wish companies would realize, not all of us are in an area that Instant Streaming ready. While I might be, I know plenty that aren't. Glad to see they finally listened, but I think if they want to win back more customers, they have to make some sort of savings for having both DVDs and Streaming. Not as good as last time obviously, but maybe a few dollars off. I'm not sure though, that is up to them.
For now, I have plenty of instant streaming content so I'm not looking to change my plans anytime soon. :)
King
We also just got Apple TV this weekend so now I can just stream to the home theater system, it's great!
Quote from: Bryancd on October 10, 2011, 08:45:30 AM
We also just got Apple TV this weekend so now I can just stream to the home theater system, it's great!
Yeah, that's the other thing too, all my devices can do instant streaming so that works for me :). No need to store a whole heck of a lot of stuff on my devices.
King
Netflix flip flopping..... that's not good it shows they have bad leadership, kinda embarrassing .
Mark
Quote from: Bryancd on October 10, 2011, 08:45:30 AM
We also just got Apple TV this weekend so now I can just stream to the home theater system, it's great!
Bryan, why couldn't you have used your iPad?
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on October 10, 2011, 08:46:53 AM
Quote from: Bryancd on October 10, 2011, 08:45:30 AM
We also just got Apple TV this weekend so now I can just stream to the home theater system, it's great!
Yeah, that's the other thing too, all my devices can do instant streaming so that works for me :). No need to store a whole heck of a lot of stuff on my devices.
King
I think you can AirPlay your netflix app now too Tim. ;)
Everybody else, for more info check out my AirPlay thread.
Quote from: Dangelus on October 10, 2011, 08:59:39 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on October 10, 2011, 08:46:53 AM
Quote from: Bryancd on October 10, 2011, 08:45:30 AM
We also just got Apple TV this weekend so now I can just stream to the home theater system, it's great!
Yeah, that's the other thing too, all my devices can do instant streaming so that works for me :). No need to store a whole heck of a lot of stuff on my devices.
King
I think you can AirPlay your netflix app now too Tim. ;)
Everybody else, for more info check out my AirPlay thread.
No, not quite, Netflix doesn't allow AirPlay because Netflix is already on Apple TV and lol I think your pulling my leg. Besides, that would be pointless ;).
King
Quote from: Rico on October 10, 2011, 08:56:36 AM
Quote from: Bryancd on October 10, 2011, 08:45:30 AM
We also just got Apple TV this weekend so now I can just stream to the home theater system, it's great!
Bryan, why couldn't you have used your iPad?
Oh, I have been but to be honest I didn't do it very often and Jamie almost never did. Now that's it's on the big TV in our family room, I think we wil use Netflix streaming a lot more.
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on October 10, 2011, 09:01:40 AM
Quote from: Dangelus on October 10, 2011, 08:59:39 AM
Quote from: KingIsaacLinksr on October 10, 2011, 08:46:53 AM
Quote from: Bryancd on October 10, 2011, 08:45:30 AM
We also just got Apple TV this weekend so now I can just stream to the home theater system, it's great!
Yeah, that's the other thing too, all my devices can do instant streaming so that works for me :). No need to store a whole heck of a lot of stuff on my devices.
King
I think you can AirPlay your netflix app now too Tim. ;)
Everybody else, for more info check out my AirPlay thread.
No, not quite, Netflix doesn't allow AirPlay because Netflix is already on Apple TV and lol I think your pulling my leg. Besides, that would be pointless ;).
King
Sorry you can stream the audio only to speakers, at least without jail breaking.
Well, I guess pot-smoking Elmo won't be getting any financial offers to sell his Twitter account. ;D
I enjoy the Netflix streaming which I do on our big screen mostly. The wife has done it on her itouch and I watched some animated Spiderman on the pc. I don't do the discs and probably never will.
We signed up for Hulu Plus but i don't know if its worth keeping.
This is EXCELLENT news, particulasrly excited about the entire series of Alias, which is my new obsession. Glad I don't have to spend hundreds on the DVDs or seek out other more dubious means of acquiring the ability to watch this show.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/disneyabc-now-streaming-all-over-both-netflix-and,64273/ (http://www.avclub.com/articles/disneyabc-now-streaming-all-over-both-netflix-and,64273/)
Disney-ABC now streaming all over both Netflix and Amazon
by Sean O'Neal October 31, 2011 Hoping to rebound from its recent troubles, Netflix is doubling down on giving customers more of what they've increasingly turned to the company for: long, rambling emails from Reed Hastings. Also, streaming television content, which Netflix has just significantly re-upped on, extending and even expanding its library of Disney-ABC titles. The revitalized deal allows it to hold onto episodes of shows like Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Brothers And Sisters, Felicity, Desperate Housewives, Private Practice, and Ugly Betty, plus ABC Family shows like The Secret Life Of The American Teenager and Disney Channel shows like Phineas And Ferb.
Of course, with the renewing of vows between Netflix and Disney-ABC comes the reminder that theirs is now an open relationship: The studio has also announced a deal with Amazon Prime to carry almost all of those exact same shows. The measure of which service it loves more probably comes down to the slight differences between their respective contracts, with Amazon getting Marvel animated shows like Spider-Man and X-Men Evolution, but Netflix getting Hannah Montana, Army Wives, and—in perhaps its biggest coup—all episodes of Alias, with Netflix now enjoying the rare experience of finding Jennifer Garner comforting. [via Deadline]
Glad to see it's on Amazon streaming too!
Too bad that doesn't include Disney's other stuff like movies, going to lose those forever in a few months. :(. But new content is good stuff.
King
Quote from: Rico on November 01, 2011, 08:29:21 AM
Glad to see it's on Amazon streaming too!
Alias won't be...they're splitting up some of the content...Amazon will be getting the Marvel movies exclusively, while Netflix will be getting Alias and some of the other stuff I guess.
Just as I said earlier in this thread, Netflix announced 4th Quarter earnings today and they are looking VERY good. Told you guys.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Netflix Inc reversed a customer slide by adding more than 600,000 new U.S. subscribers in the fourth quarter, and its revenue beat Wall Street expectations, pushing shares up 13 percent.
The video rental company, which revolutionized the home video industry but in 2011 outraged customers with a surprise price hike and a botched attempt to split off its DVD-mail service, posted a 47 percent leap in fourth-quarter revenue to $876 million.
That outpaced an average forecast for $857.9 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Earnings per share hit 73 cents, beating an average forecast of 55 cents.
B. Riley & Co analyst Eric Wold said Netflix reassured Wall Street it was winning new customers and wasn't hurt by its growing competition. Streaming subscribers were higher than expected and a projected first-quarter net loss amid an international expansion was smaller than many feared, he said.
"That's going to be comforting to people," Wold said.
Netflix lost more than 800,000 U.S. customers in the third quarter of 2011 after an uproar over a price hike and now-aborted plan to rent DVDs under the name Qwikster. The company's share price plummeted from $304 in July to $62 in November.
Shares rose 13 percent to trade above $107 in after-hours trading following the earnings report on Wednesday. They had ended at $95.04, up 2.6 percent, in the regular session on Nasdaq.
In a letter to shareholders, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, a Wall Street darling until the pricing and other missteps last year, stuck to previous forecasts of bumping up margins by about 1 percentage point every quarter as the company shifts customers from its DVD-by-mail service onto instant streaming.
To keep up that momentum, Netflix has been writing hefty checks to acquire more TV shows and movies for its streaming service. On Wednesday, Hastings predicted that while content acquisition costs will continue to increase quarter by quarter, that pace of growth will begin decelerating in 2012.
Netflix still faces a deluge of competition, a tarnished brand, and a costly expansion that will erode bottom lines, at least in the short term.
"They have kind of righted the ship in the near term," Morningstar analyst Michael Corty said. "The question investors need to ask is how are they really going to grow this domestic business, not just this quarter but over the next several years."
They are going to have to get new content and fast. Starting to hear rumblings of people leaving due to lack of new/good content.
As for myself, I'm content with what they are offering. It has what I want. JUST DON'T RAISE THE PRICE.
Thanks.
King
Yes, that's why they need to be very aggressive in expanding their streaming service globally quickly. If they can become the widely accepted streaming distribution source, they can force the content providers to have no choice but to play ball. Reminds me so much of Apple...
They are still getting less money from me per month now. And I've used them probably longer than anyone I know.
That was the inevitability of their growth plans. Less $ but more streaming customers. It's a sound plan and one that has begun to work, like I said.
Quote from: Rico on January 25, 2012, 06:15:34 PM
They are still getting less money from me per month now. And I've used them probably longer than anyone I know.
They are also probably getting less cost in overhead due to the whole need to buy and replace few DVDs.
What will happen when they lose their Starz contract next month? What will they do to provide all those streaming customers with content?
Kevin
Quote from: X on January 25, 2012, 07:27:12 PM
Quote from: Rico on January 25, 2012, 06:15:34 PM
They are still getting less money from me per month now. And I've used them probably longer than anyone I know.
They are also probably getting less cost in overhead due to the whole need to buy and replace few DVDs.
..and mail them and warehouse them, it was endless cost in a market they needed to move away from for their global expansion plans.
Quote from: Ktrek on January 25, 2012, 08:55:46 PM
What will happen when they lose their Starz contract next month? What will they do to provide all those streaming customers with content?
Kevin
Here's Netflix strategy. As digital contnet delivery expands, they will gain and lose some content. That's going to happen. What they need to do is fast track their growth around the world in the streaming business. They already have the broadest library of streaming content available and they have something none of the competitors have. NAME RECOGNITION. I know people here on the forum know of lots of ways to stream content, but to the average, non-techie consumer, Netflix is ubiquitous with streaming video. They achieved that in the home DVD delivery business and now need to basically do what Apple did with iTunes. They are looking to have their brand to be synonymous with streaming. If they can achieve that, the content providers will have no choice but to put their product on Netflix. Netflix wants to Steve Jobs them.
The only companys right now that could try and compete are HBO and Amazon as they can afford to make streaming a loss leader and pay up for content that Netflix may not want to at this point. But I really don't think Amazon wants to be a streaming video company beyond what they feel can help drive store sales. HBO is their main competition.
That's certainly a good US view. I'm not sure how it stacks up out here in the rest of the world though (since you said 'growth around the world').
We're it not for this forum, I doubt I'd have heard of them or their recent launch over here.
For streaming, Netflix is hard to beat. But not everyone has a fast internet connection, or the right gear to use it. Also believe it or not, some people still like physical discs - they might not even have the Net. A ways down the road this won't matter as much, but right now it does to a degree. They also need to streamline this content rights stuff. I still can't quite grasp why I can stream a movie 3 months old, but not some that are 10 years old. This is one of the reasons piracy exists.
Remember the days when there were five or six TV channels and the big event was the one time a year ABC would air Wizard of Oz? You couldn't see that film any other time/place/way. I'm sure the networks long for those days, but I don't think anyone else does.
I haven't had any issue with Netflix since I went just streaming, and lack of new content I really don't care all that much. I've got enough stuff in my queue it would probably take me a several years to watch it all. I'm pretty satisfied. I watch a little bit every few days and don't feel over charged at the current just streaming price.
Quote from: Sheppard on January 26, 2012, 05:04:38 PM
I haven't had any issue with Netflix since I went just streaming, and lack of new content I really don't care all that much. I've got enough stuff in my queue it would probably take me a several years to watch it all. I'm pretty satisfied. I watch a little bit every few days and don't feel over charged at the current just streaming price.
Yea but Starz is probably close to 50% of their streaming content. Will you still be satisfied?
Kevin
Quote from: Ktrek on January 26, 2012, 05:06:22 PM
Quote from: Sheppard on January 26, 2012, 05:04:38 PM
I haven't had any issue with Netflix since I went just streaming, and lack of new content I really don't care all that much. I've got enough stuff in my queue it would probably take me a several years to watch it all. I'm pretty satisfied. I watch a little bit every few days and don't feel over charged at the current just streaming price.
Yea but Starz is probably close to 50% of their streaming content. Will you still be satisfied?
Kevin
I just ran a quick look over the current offerings from Starz Play. The only thing I'll miss from Starz is some of the recent Disney movies. Most of their content is a little overblown tbh. Out of the 21 pages of movies/TV shows I haven't seen yet, there was very little content I wanted to see so my Netflix queue isn't going to shrink much, if at all.
I know I'm not Sheppard but, Starz leaving won't affect me any. If anyone else starts pulling out though, I might reconsider then.
King
Quote from: Ktrek on January 26, 2012, 05:06:22 PM
Quote from: Sheppard on January 26, 2012, 05:04:38 PM
I haven't had any issue with Netflix since I went just streaming, and lack of new content I really don't care all that much. I've got enough stuff in my queue it would probably take me a several years to watch it all. I'm pretty satisfied. I watch a little bit every few days and don't feel over charged at the current just streaming price.
Yea but Starz is probably close to 50% of their streaming content. Will you still be satisfied?
Kevin
Starz is nowhere near 50% of their streaming content. Every article I've read says that the Starz content only counts for about 8% of the domestic viewing. Meaning that regardless of what they are bringing to the party, only 8% of netflix viewing is exclusive to Starz offerings.
Quote from: Ktrek on January 26, 2012, 05:06:22 PM
Quote from: Sheppard on January 26, 2012, 05:04:38 PM
I haven't had any issue with Netflix since I went just streaming, and lack of new content I really don't care all that much. I've got enough stuff in my queue it would probably take me a several years to watch it all. I'm pretty satisfied. I watch a little bit every few days and don't feel over charged at the current just streaming price.
Yea but Starz is probably close to 50% of their streaming content. Will you still be satisfied?
Kevin
Yeah, the only Straz specific show I watched was "Spartacus-Blood and Sand". I can watch the new season of on Starz's web site. So I'm not really part of the 8%.
The other problem with the Starz material is that it plays in fullscreen, often pan/scan or just simply with the edges cut off. None of it is widescreen, if that matters...it does to me. The quality of the Starz stuff seems lower too, I don't know if I'm imagining it but whenever a Starz movie streams it seems fuzzier and out of focus.
I'm still working my way through all the Star Trek series at the moment. Considering it's taken me almost a year since I started watching through it all and I'm only just starting DS9 (plus a season and half of TNG left) I've got a while to go on that. I like the TV series they have and there's a bunch of great BBC series on instant watch. I'm looking at watching eventually Sherlock, Luther, Primeval, Classic Doctor Who, and continuing the seasons I haven't seen yet of Merlin and Being Human. That's just a few of the shows in my queue. There's lots of not BBC shows I hope to watch eventually. And I always love watching and rewatching Survivorman, The Colony, The Alaska Experiment, Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs...
Like I said I don't see myself ever running out of content unless they take down the whole library. I'm pretty happy with the selection and if they make it better awesome, I'm happy with that too. It just seems to me this is awesome being able to watch so much whenever I want, so what do I have to complain about?
I just watched the first few episodes of the IT Crowd on Netflix. Does it get funnier? Reminds me a little bit of Big Bang.
Quote from: Jobydrone on January 27, 2012, 04:03:26 PM
I just watched the first few episodes of the IT Crowd on Netflix. Does it get funnier? Reminds me a little bit of Big Bang.
I've tried a few episodes too and it doesn't do a lot for me either.
Oh I love the IT Crowd. I think it takes a certain taste for that kinda of humor, but also it reminds me so much of when I worked in IT departments. I just found out Season 4 is on Netflix now too!!! It's going in my Queue right now. Also discovered Spaced is in the instant watch. I think it's time for a rewatch of that show too!
Quote from: Rico on January 26, 2012, 09:28:31 AM
For streaming, Netflix is hard to beat. But not everyone has a fast internet connection, or the right gear to use it. Also believe it or not, some people still like physical discs - they might not even have the Net. A ways down the road this won't matter as much, but right now it does to a degree. They also need to streamline this content rights stuff. I still can't quite grasp why I can stream a movie 3 months old, but not some that are 10 years old. This is one of the reasons piracy exists.
Yeah, I agree. My wife loves Anime, and so much of it loses US lisence never to be seen again. Or the old Batman TV show. I had to buy it from a booth at a convention because it's forever to be tied up in legal limbo. Not only are some of these things not streaming, they're not on Netflix at all. Content and convenience is what I pay Netflix for.
Yeah my kids are really into the new Batman series right now, and there's no Batman at all on Netflix streaming. I'd love for them to see the old 60s tv series, they'd really dig it.
I'm really enjoying having access to the US Netflix catalogue with my UK account. :)
Godzilla vs Mothra is now on Netflix streaming!
Twin Peaks available on Netflix streaming. W00+!!!
Damn, when will I be able to cram that in to the viewing schedule?
On the flip side....The Red Dwarf distributors are in some kind of financial dispute with Netflix and have asked for all the shows to be removed from the service...and nobody knows if it will be returning...