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I agree with mnxmfan. This announcement is good news for anyone who primarily wants to rent discs by mail. I'm so glad that DVDs will be sticking around for a while.
The price increase for discs + streaming is a big jump. But I think this simply means that they're graduating streaming to be a full-fledged product, rather than a free add-on. It's not really that they're screwing anyone, it's just that the streaming sale is over.
Netflix Announces New DVD-Only Plans & Pricing for Combined Plans
On the Netflix blog Jessie Becker announced several important changes for subscribers and new customers: Official announcement of the DVD-only plans: $7.99 for one-out and $11.99 for 2-out, unlimited (dvd.netflix.com). The DVD & streaming unlimited plans are now separated into two $7.99 plans, ...
What a shock! Another baby step towards streaming and away from DVD rental. This is their number one focus. Less DVD selection, less DVD promotion, less Blu-Rays, less replenishment of old disc stock. It will keep happening until the day they finally announce that they are phasing out mail altogether.
Why am I still a customer? Well, where else am I going rent some obscure 10-year-old documentary? But soon I will give up on them. The great appeal of Netflix to me was that they had absolutely everything. They will lose this advantage as they move to an all-streaming model. How I wish they had a viable competitor!
What Do You Think of the New Netflix Website Changes That Focus on Streaming?
Michael Spiegelman, Netflix's director of product management, announced changes to the Netflix website that put more focus on streaming. Starting today, most members who watch instantly will see a new interface that provides more focus on the TV shows & movies streaming from Netflix. The title...
I signed up with Netflix to rent discs, and I'm tired of sending more and more money towards their streaming business. Streaming is the future, but I hope Netflix streaming is not. We need a more open model, where any company can offer any stream to any person, at whatever price each company decides.
All that is needed is a method for simplifying payments and for finding movies. Nobody should have to worry about whether they're on a PC, a PS3, an Xbox, or whatever device. And nobody should have to worry about whether Netflix (or some other company) brokered a big content deal for some movie they feel like watching.
I'm getting closer and closer to leaving Netflix. But where else can I rent some obscure documentary released five years ago? That is Netflix's unique strength, but they may abandon it.
How Would You Rate Netflix DVD & Blu-ray Availability?
With 98% of Netflix's management attention focused on streaming, are they still paying attention to the DVD and Blu-ray side of the business? Reader Chuck writes, "I am seeing many more things go to waits, short and long and then unavailable. These are not movies that are out of print. Do you ...
It's great to see this not just as a concept, but actually implemented. It really highlights just how silly the current laws are regarding content privileges.
Zediva Rents Movies & DVD Players Online
At first I thought this was an elaborate prank, but it's really an ingenious idea. Zediva rents new releases for $1.99 (or 10 for $10) by renting customers a DVD player and DVD and then then streaming the movie online. From the Zediva FAQ: How does it work? When you rent a movie on Zediva, yo...
This is so disappointing. Netflix has an agenda to move more and more to streaming. All I ever wanted was discs sent by mail.
Every month, a greater percentage of my subscription fee is directed towards a service I don't want. Not only am I getting less bang for my buck, now I will be getting a more limited selection as well.
If there were a viable competitor focused on discs by mail only, I would switch in a heartbeat.
Netflix New Releases for March 15th, 2011
Click here for the full list of new releases this week. Interesting titles include The Fighter, Unstoppable, The Switch, Hemingway's Garden of Eden, The Parking Lot Movie, The Wildest Dream, No One Knows About Persian Cats and Sharktopus. Many readers have pointed out that the number of new DVD ...
Officially it isn't a competitor. But in a few years, all the major studios will offer paid streaming of their movies online. Google TV will provide a way for users to both locate and pay for these streams. What, then, is the point of having Netflix as a middleman?
Google TV is Not a Netflix Competitor
When I first heard about the new Google TV service, I wondered if it would be a competitor to Netflix, but Google TV is a software platform for finding TV shows and movies to watch, surfing the web, playing games, and more. Despite YouTube's recent experiments with movie rentals, Netflix is prom...
It would be great to see Netflix supported on Linux. I'll believe it when I see it!
Netflix Selects Irdeto to Secure Streaming Content
Irdeto issued a press release to announce that Netflix has selected Irdeto's Cloakware Embedded Security software to protect streaming movies & TV shows. “We have always been committed to offering our members the greatest convenience, selection and value for instantly watching TV episodes and m...
I think there are far too many deals and special arrangements in this business. If the studios are taking features off the discs, then Netflix should simply buy retail copies, open them up, and rent those.
The ability to rent movies shouldn't be seen as a kindness of the movie studios. It is a right of consumers and of businesses to buy, sell, and rent products as we see fit.
More Studios Stripping Special Features From More DVDs?
Are more studios stripping special features from more rental discs to encourage customers to buy the disc? J from PA writes, "I just got The Box (distributed by Warner Home Video) in the mail from Netflix. The disc is gray and says "RENTAL" on it. This is nothing new -- I've seen similarly labe...
I fully support the people using reviews to protest. It is a necessary step because Netflix is showing more and more that they do not listen to customers and that they are only interested in what they believe is good for Netflix.
I understand that they have to run as a business, but some businesses do a much better job than others of communicating with customers. Some businesses take the approach of pleasing their customers as much as possible, in order to win their business and their loyalty. This used to be true of Netflix, but now they are completely profit driven, callous, and short-sighted.
If you want help deciding if you should rent a movie, Rotten Tomatoes is a much better resource than the Netflix reviews.
Unhappy Netflix Customers are Polluting Reviews
The Blind Side was released on DVD last week, and due to the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal it won't be available until April 20th from Netflix. Reader Martin pointed out a number of unhappy readers that have given The Blind Side low ratings because of the delay, and by doing so might be messing up N...
The Maiden Heist looks promising. Christopher Walken, Morgan Freeman, and William H. Macy!
Netflix New Releases for October 27th, 2009
Click here for the full list of new releases this week (107). Interesting titles include Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, Whatever Works, The Maiden Heist, The Orphan, Monty Python Conquers America, Into Temptation, Nothing Like the Holidays, Scandal Sheet, Medicin...
Finally! I have been waiting for this to happen. I really don't understand the need for the disc. Surely the software itself can't be a very big download?
Netflix Streaming in November on Sony's PS3: Reserve Your Disc Now
Netflix Streaming will be available in November to 9 million PS3 users (Netflix subscription required). A streaming disc will be required, and is available free to Netflix customers. “The PlayStation 3 system has always been about more than just gaming, and it will soon be the only platform in ...
Sometimes it is convenient to be able to add a movie I have read about to my Queue, especially if I'm not likely to see it in theaters. I'm glad they add movies before they are released.
I think it's funny how many reviews get posted on Netflix. Why bother adding your own review when a movie already has 700+ reviews?
The Reason Netflix Posts Movies Before They Are Available on DVD
Reader @MCWHammer had an interesting exchange on Twitter with @Netflixhelps about the reviews and 932 ratings for Toy Story 3, a movie that is still in production and won't be shown in theaters until next year. @MCWHammer: Toy Story 3 is now on Netflix. But it doesn't come out for 1 year. Isn'...
It's great to see the original British series of Life on Mars available. It is one of the best shows I have ever seen. Hopefully the second half of the show will follow as well.
The entire show is just two short seasons. They don't drag it out longer than what it needed to be. (As compared to what usually happens with a popular show here in America.)
Netflix New Releases for July 28th, 2009
Click here for the full list of new releases this week (98). Interesting titles include Fast and Furious, Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5, Life on Mars: Season 1, Knight Rider: Season 1, Dollhouse: Season 1, Streets of Blood, Sita Sings the Blues, The Union: The Business Behind Getting High, Th...
For Netflix to succeed with their streaming service, they need to get support from as many hardware partners as possible. If one of the major media companies buys them, this could become much more difficult. If Microsoft buys Netflix, they would become a rival of Sony rather than a potential partner.
Netflix Takeover Rumors Again
Update: Kara Swisher from AllThingsD also says that Microsoft would be a better suitor, and notes that Amazon would face a sales tax problem due to Netflix's 58 shipping centers, located in most states. Barron's is reporting that the little lift Netflix stock got this morning was due to yet anot...
I think that if Netflix has a copy of the DVD not being used at the moment, they should be able to stream that content to a customer without paying any studio fees. It's not really different than allowing a person to borrow the physical disc, it's just a little more convenient. Of course, this is a pipe dream because it will never be legal.
TechCrunch Asks Netflix CEO Reed Hastings about Streaming
Eric Shonfeld from TechCrunch interviewed Netflix CEO Reed Hastings at the All Things D conference, and Hasting talked about the economics of streaming. As you can imagine, it costs much less to stream a movie over the Internet than it does to mail it as a DVD. But Netflix ends up paying twice ...
I perpetually have a full queue. I know I won't get to some of those discs for years, but anytime I come across something of interest, I tend to add it. I now have about 10 "Queue Overflow" lists broken down by category.
Should Netflix Remove the 500 Title Limit?
Davis Freeberg hit the 500 title limit for Netflix queues, and it made me wonder why Netflix imposed the limit in the first place. Do you think Netflix should increase the maximum queue size?
Banter, most of us don't feel that dropping $840 per year on cable is no big deal, especially when there are much cheaper options.
I dropped cable. I miss certain sporting events, but it's just not worth that kind of money to see a few games. I pick up what I can over the air, or go to a bar. I look forward to the day that all games are available online for cheap or free.
The Fools Interview Netflix CEO Reed Hastings
Rick Aristotle Munarriz and Mac Greer from Fool.com asked Netflix CEO Reed Hastings a few questions: Greer: I want to hit you with a few questions from our Motley Fool Twitter feed. The first question: With so many shows on DVD, why doesn't Netflix directly market the "dump your cable and save m...
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