Netflix TV

[X]

What consumer rights? You're not a consumer to them if you are renting. They lose money on that because it's not sales that they are getting. It's also in line with the previous rental agreements that they've had with other rental companies in the past. The rental company buys from them, but in a way that allows others to purchase the product with added features later.

It makes perfect business sense for all parties involved.

Ah, X...not accurate. Why AREN'T you a consumer if you merely rent? A consumer is simply one who consumes the goods and services produced. Doesn't matter if you buy or rent, you're still a consumer. What in the world would you call someone who rents, if not consumer? They still use currency to pay for the services. Are then, lessors of autos or houses not consumers either? Just wondering. Although, in the NetFlix issue, I seriously doubt they're bound by any law to allow the renters see the extras on a DVD, unless of course the originator of the DVD states they shall offer them for rent unaltered. And ah, I can't see anyont losing money off of DVD rentals. Honestly, the production company makes out like crazy on those rentals.

You aren't a consumer of the DVD studio. Having worked in video rentals and managed a store or two in my day, the studios have never really been happy when second hand parties renting out their products. To resolve that, they came up with some pretty exorbitant licensing agreements to cover what they felt was a loss in sales to people renting. They don't see any of the money from rental services and rental companies made a killing.

To fix this issue, they were charging upwards of hundreds of bucks per item to various rental stores. They figures that if they charged ten times the amount to the rental company, the company could make it up on rentals and they wouldn't be losing money over all.

A renter is a consumer for the rental company, but not for the manufacturer and production house. They don't see any of the money that you are paying to rent a product and thus aren't required to give you the bells and whistles. For the rental companies, it's a pretty cool business. They make their money and then well after the movie has more than paid for itself, they can sell it previously viewed for even more money.

I think that this is why companies are moving more to the digital rental. This is money that they get a piece of and that appeals to them.

It's also part of the reason why they are including extra features when you buy some digital copies.

To combat the rental and PV sales, this is why video game companies are packaging exclusive one use only codes in their products now. If you buy a used copy, you have to still pay them something for access to some of the major game features.

[X]

Rico .. question for you. My Tivos are blocked from transferring premium channel programming. Is that the same with yours?

[KingIsaacLinksr]

So basically they have the same problem that the major gaming companies have with Gamestop and Steam.  Interesting.

King

[Ronzo]

The reason I like the DVD rental through Netflix are for the extras. You cannot get those through streaming. I hope it does happen in the future. I am currently watching all the old Dr. who, and occasionaly if a dvd is on the wait list, I will stream it and then watch the extras when I receive the dvd.
My wife, doesn't care for the extras, uses the instant service quite often. She watches mainly martial art and action movies (it's a filipino thing), she watches scifi with me and I watch Jackie Chan and Jet Li with her. Both my daughters steam movies through their Wii and I am so glad they like Scifi as much as I do.

RONZO ;D

Well, don't get used to those extras.  Studios are now thinking (and some acting on this thinking) of locking out extras of DVD/Blue-Rays to non-rental discs only.  So if you get it from Netflix or Redbox, you won't get that access. 

I personally think that is BS and violates some sort of consumer right, but idk.  We're subject to their whims. 

King

Not only are they locking you out on the extras on the new DVDS, but on some you have to watch the previews and cannot skip to the menu. Now renting is one thing, but if you buy the DVD and still have to watch them again. This is especially bad when it is a series and you watch one or two episodes. Don't get me wrong I like watching the previews, it gives me ideas on what I might put on my queue, but not everytime I put the disc in.
Good business sense or not, are they going too far? Look, they make you wait 30 days days before you can get a new release. As a consumer, I take my family to the movies, not as much as I wish since we have very busy lives, and I buy several DVDS each year. What is next, the price of renting a new release is higher until it has been out for X number of months? Just my 3.14 cents worth.
RONZO ;D