3 are consoles (only one of which is wireless), 2 are BD players and both owners know they need to be updated. I have two wired TVs in my house, and I'm about to add a third. Those that do Netflix streaming will know how to turn on a console system and get their movies. My parents don't use their WII to stream Netflix (it's hooked to the wrong TV), they use their laptop that's hooked up to their TV for viewing Netflix streaming.
Point is, I don't think Netflix is alienating all that many users. I would bet that most people that have Netflix, use the streaming. And of those that use the streaming, most have the ability to turn on a console (or many other Netflix streaming capable devices) and watch their movies. Yes, they are alienating some. . . but I would bet the majority of Netflix subscribers are on board with them shifting to a stronger streaming model. I think the biggest problem people have with the idea is that the streaming content is still pretty weak. So, as long as Netflix strengthens their streaming library, then, I support the idea, and would still pay the $12 per month to be able to instantly get any movie I want, and give up the in mail disks.
Netflix
They'll lose rural users. They'll also lose a handful of low-tech folks, but then most of them are probably already using RedBox instead.
You have to have some sort of idea of how a computer works to be able to get DVDs from them anyway. Not much, but enough to push you into the realm of almost knowing enough to use the streaming in a useful way.
You have to have some sort of idea of how a computer works to be able to get DVDs from them anyway. Not much, but enough to push you into the realm of almost knowing enough to use the streaming in a useful way.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
I'd say the public backlash, including front page stories on the issue, show it's more than country folk who they'll lose. Don't forget, this news was broken on their Twitter page, and that's where they started getting slammed.
And again, we're ignoring multiple issues here in convenience, competition, and the units that will deliver the content, and what the content will be watched on.
Netflix is making some big assumptions that I don't think its thinking through.
The convenience and competition go hand in hand. If cable companies alter their VOD models to push out Netflix, Netflix would have zero chance of winning that battle. The cable companies already have THEIR box connected to your TV and that's all you need. With Netflix, you'd still need something else to deliver the content. If prices are similar, it's a no brainer.
Those units delivering Netflix's content are consoles (how many U.S. homes have them AND have them hooked up to their "movie watching TVs"? How many times will playing a game prevent a Netflix rental?)), desktops/laptops (not really family viewing devices), and TVs with internet...do they do Netflix?
I don't know. It just seems to be an odd choice to immediately limit your market AND move exclusively into someone else's backyard where they have just been authorized by the government to make whatever rules they want.
And again, we're ignoring multiple issues here in convenience, competition, and the units that will deliver the content, and what the content will be watched on.
Netflix is making some big assumptions that I don't think its thinking through.
The convenience and competition go hand in hand. If cable companies alter their VOD models to push out Netflix, Netflix would have zero chance of winning that battle. The cable companies already have THEIR box connected to your TV and that's all you need. With Netflix, you'd still need something else to deliver the content. If prices are similar, it's a no brainer.
Those units delivering Netflix's content are consoles (how many U.S. homes have them AND have them hooked up to their "movie watching TVs"? How many times will playing a game prevent a Netflix rental?)), desktops/laptops (not really family viewing devices), and TVs with internet...do they do Netflix?
I don't know. It just seems to be an odd choice to immediately limit your market AND move exclusively into someone else's backyard where they have just been authorized by the government to make whatever rules they want.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
I think you are underestimating Netflix's infiltration into/onto devices. Pretty much all BD players have it built in and some TVs do. So, a console is hardly needed. In fact, it was on my BD player before it was on the PS3.
Also, there's no 'rental' with Netflix. So, someone using the console to play a game isn't stopping revenue. It's just delaying the streaming of a movie that's already been paid for.
It's VERY easy to get Netflix to the TV now.
Again, I don't know much about the net neutrality stuff, so, can't speak about it. However, if cable companies can kill their competition simply by cutting off access to them. . . well, I think there will be some anti-monopoly lawsuits being kicked off. Because Netflix isn't the only company entering that market. You've got Hulu, Amazon, Vudu, and Cinema Now just to name the ones that come to mind.
And as far as their rural customers. . . I dunno. I can only assume they aren't that profitable. Also, the articles I've read say that Netflix is investing more in streaming than they are physical. Not stopping the physical trade all together. And if they were, it's over the next couple of years. And I predict that in 2 years (a very conservative estimate, in my opinion) every BD player and TV will have the Netflix app (among many others) built in. If not all of them, at least 90% of them. Hell, there are remotes coming out with Netflix buttons on them. Netflix is like the AOL of movie watching.
Also, there's no 'rental' with Netflix. So, someone using the console to play a game isn't stopping revenue. It's just delaying the streaming of a movie that's already been paid for.
It's VERY easy to get Netflix to the TV now.
Again, I don't know much about the net neutrality stuff, so, can't speak about it. However, if cable companies can kill their competition simply by cutting off access to them. . . well, I think there will be some anti-monopoly lawsuits being kicked off. Because Netflix isn't the only company entering that market. You've got Hulu, Amazon, Vudu, and Cinema Now just to name the ones that come to mind.
And as far as their rural customers. . . I dunno. I can only assume they aren't that profitable. Also, the articles I've read say that Netflix is investing more in streaming than they are physical. Not stopping the physical trade all together. And if they were, it's over the next couple of years. And I predict that in 2 years (a very conservative estimate, in my opinion) every BD player and TV will have the Netflix app (among many others) built in. If not all of them, at least 90% of them. Hell, there are remotes coming out with Netflix buttons on them. Netflix is like the AOL of movie watching.
Plus, this isn't just about losing some revenue. It's about what happens to profits. If they lose less in revenue then they gain in shutting down the several physical media storage and shipping centers they have around the country, then it's a net gain, not a loss.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
I don't think you're seeing my points, and I'm sure vice versa. No worries as none of us have a horse in this race, and time will tell if Netflix is making a good move or not.
All I know is that as a company, I wouldn't put all my eggs into one basket, particularly when that basket is owned and controlled by my competitors. Sure, they're saving a ton in shipping and inventory (one of my first points TPR), but will it be at the cost of the company being run out of business? We'll see.
Personally, I'd like them to survive. I don't have an account currently, but have pondered getting one for quite some time now as there is a growing list of films I want to see that I can't find elsewhere...ok, elsewhere legally...
All I know is that as a company, I wouldn't put all my eggs into one basket, particularly when that basket is owned and controlled by my competitors. Sure, they're saving a ton in shipping and inventory (one of my first points TPR), but will it be at the cost of the company being run out of business? We'll see.
Personally, I'd like them to survive. I don't have an account currently, but have pondered getting one for quite some time now as there is a growing list of films I want to see that I can't find elsewhere...ok, elsewhere legally...
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
No idea, but I've heard they're really going to push their own Redbox-like kiosks.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
Inception - Not available for streamingGORDON wrote:Things I wanted to see:
[REC] - Not available for streaming
Cloverfield - Not available for streaming
Quarantine - Not available for streaming
Sigh
And a couple other things I looked up.
And the great majority of this stuff is not in HD... another bummer.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Wife and I watched a Kevin Smith Q&A last night called, "Too Fat for 40," and she liked it and I was telling her, "An Evening with Kevin Smith" was even better. So I searched, and
An Evening with Kevin Smith - Not available for streaming.
An Evening with Kevin Smith 2 - Not available for streaming.
When I search for random things, I get a big list of search results, and invariably only 20% of the search results are available for streaming.
I'm not sure what they are accomplishing with that practice. I assume they will be fixing that if they are trying to steer people away from the physical DVD service.
An Evening with Kevin Smith - Not available for streaming.
An Evening with Kevin Smith 2 - Not available for streaming.
When I search for random things, I get a big list of search results, and invariably only 20% of the search results are available for streaming.
I'm not sure what they are accomplishing with that practice. I assume they will be fixing that if they are trying to steer people away from the physical DVD service.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
No, I get you, and you are making some good points. But the fight over net neutrality and prioritized traffic is still just getting started. Is it risky to pin a business model to that fight? Absolutely. But on the other hand I think Netflix may be what ends up being the tipping point that causes the fight to really get going. And in the end I think the consumers are going to trash any company that tries to limit their access to Netflix.Leisher wrote:I don't think you're seeing my points, and I'm sure vice versa. No worries as none of us have a horse in this race, and time will tell if Netflix is making a good move or not.
I expect in the next few years some big name cable companies will start to have some serious fights with their customers, who will start to leave in droves for any alternatives they can get their hands on. And all these customers up for grabs will drive the broadband market into further development of better choices for those consumers.
So, good business decision by Netflix? Probably not. Good for the rest of us in the long run? Probably.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Netflix would love to have everything up for streaming, but it's up to the rights holders. Some will let them stream and some won't. And most have a third option of letting them sometimes stream and sometimes not depending on how long the movie has been out. It's all weird, because it's up to the traditional movie guys that don't have any idea what they are doing in a digital world, and most of them think streaming = stealing.GORDON wrote:I'm not sure what they are accomplishing with that practice. I assume they will be fixing that if they are trying to steer people away from the physical DVD service.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
...it's up to the rights holders...
The U.S. has a long, proud history of bending over backwards to protect intellectual property rights holders, even if the holder is a complete and utter fuckwit so frightened of change that he locks away his ideas in a legal closet so they remain untouched by the scary future.
...it's up to the rights holders...
The U.S. has a long, proud history of bending over backwards to protect intellectual property rights holders, even if the holder is a complete and utter fuckwit so frightened of change that he locks away his ideas in a legal closet so they remain untouched by the scary future. Fortunately, such pratts get shown up eventually.
To take an absurd example:
If someone patented a medicine that cured cancer, does the creator get the right to shelve it for two decades instead of producing and distributing it?
Edited By Malcolm on 1295895073
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
"Why Netflix Avoids New Movies."
Short answer: New stuff is more expensive, and Netflix is not really in the new release business.
http://money.cnn.com/video....fortune
Short answer: New stuff is more expensive, and Netflix is not really in the new release business.
http://money.cnn.com/video....fortune
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I never did think of it as being about new releases. I used it more as my own personal library of DVDs. Like having shelves of good old movies somewhere else where people were taking care of them for me.
For new releases I went to Redbox.
For new releases I went to Redbox.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Got to say, I have been using the shit out of Netflix. I actually feel bad... ordinarily I would be buying all these TV-DVD collections, and give money to the people who make good shows, but now I'm just paying $8 a month to Netflix and the peeps who make the good shows can't be seeing much of that.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Questions (I apologize if they were answered elsewhere, I haven't read this chain):
If I sign up for it, can I then access it from my X-Box, PS3, iPad, laptops, and PCs or do I need to pay for each? Only one person at a time? Or can I watch a movie on my PC while the wife watches one on the iPad?
If I sign up for it, can I then access it from my X-Box, PS3, iPad, laptops, and PCs or do I need to pay for each? Only one person at a time? Or can I watch a movie on my PC while the wife watches one on the iPad?
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”