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Netflix, you used to cool man, what happened to you?Follow

#1 Jul 12 2011 at 6:35 PM Rating: Decent
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If like just about everyone with both a current gen console and a Netflix account, you've been enjoying your free streaming movies and TV shows. Well, come September that's coming to an end. From then on steaming and discs in the mail will be broken up into two separate plans, both of which will have a base cost of $7.99. That means if you want both, you have to sign up for both and pay a minimum of $15.98.

Personally, I dumped Netflix after the ****** around for over three months instead of sending me the two movies I wanted (not obscure stuff either, both were fairly popular new releases), so it has little effect on me. If I were still a subscriber I'd be pretty damn annoyed right now though.

Edited, Jul 12th 2011 8:36pm by Turin
#2 Jul 12 2011 at 6:38 PM Rating: Excellent
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I recently read an article that said, in effect, Netflix is going to get screwed within the next year or two because all their contracts for streaming content from the big boys expire. Back when streaming was new and not yet all that popular, Netflix signed contracts at great prices to stream content from these providers. Now that they're up, their expenses will go from something like $200 million to almost $2 billion if they want to renew. Looks to me like they're trying to prepare for the worst early.
#3 Jul 12 2011 at 6:40 PM Rating: Excellent
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Here's the article, from CNN Money: http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/08/technology/netflix_starz_contract/index.htm

Quote:
"Netflix has another year or two on most of these contracts, and then the game completely changes," says Michael Pachter, analyst at Wedbush Securities.

Pachter predicts Netflix's streaming content licensing costs will rise from $180 million in 2010 to a whopping $1.98 billion in 2012.

When streaming video was new, Netflix was able to secure contracts with the likes of Warner Bros. Studios and MTV to license big TV and film catalogues for about $5 million to $10 million per year. This time around, Pachter says, those costs could increase more than tenfold.

"The content owners realize they can't give Netflix all the leverage," he says. "Netflix had the power when they were the only bidder. But you don't have as much leverage when you suddenly have competition."
#4 Jul 12 2011 at 6:47 PM Rating: Good
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Looks like I'm dropping the instant watch stuff. I'm not really willing to pay double the cost for Netflix and nothing is instant-only.
#5 Jul 12 2011 at 7:25 PM Rating: Good
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That really sucks, because I only signed up for streaming. I don't give a crap about the dvd service.
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#6 Jul 12 2011 at 8:41 PM Rating: Good
idiggory wrote:
That really sucks, because I only signed up for streaming. I don't give a crap about the dvd service.


Same.
If i want to watch something new, I still support the only Movie Rental business in town..and go there.
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#7 Jul 12 2011 at 9:17 PM Rating: Good
idiggory wrote:
That really sucks, because I only signed up for streaming. I don't give a crap about the dvd service.


Uh, yah. We received the email today, too. Just downsized to streaming only because we'll keep two DVDs for a few months before we bother watching and sending them back, but we'll stream all the time.

This sucks.
#8 Jul 13 2011 at 9:02 AM Rating: Good
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We stopped doing DVDs by mail several months ago because we'd go through 1 DVD a month most of the time >_<.

So while the price drop is fine by me... the licensing issues are disheartening :(.
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#9 Jul 13 2011 at 9:07 AM Rating: Good
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Very disappointing. I'll probably be changing to a 1 DVD plan only, if not dropping the service entirely. I'm not even remotely impressed with their streaming lineup. It's 99% junk.

I thought they were on their way up, but it looks like they've really stagnated.

Between this and Verizon's impending data plan change, ugh. Smiley: disappointed
#10 Jul 13 2011 at 9:22 AM Rating: Good
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Eske Esquire wrote:
Very disappointing. I'll probably be changing to a 1 DVD plan only, if not dropping the service entirely. I'm not even remotely impressed with their streaming lineup. It's 99% junk.

I thought they were on their way up, but it looks like they've really stagnated.

Between this and Verizon's impending data plan change, ugh. Smiley: disappointed


I was just about to ask if they had acquired better material. Awhile ago I signed up for the 2 week trial just to be able to check out their streaming stuff and really didn't find it appealing so I don't believe we really ended up watching anything and made sure to cancel early as to not forget and get charged.
#11 Jul 13 2011 at 9:38 AM Rating: Good
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Hyolith wrote:
Eske Esquire wrote:
Very disappointing. I'll probably be changing to a 1 DVD plan only, if not dropping the service entirely. I'm not even remotely impressed with their streaming lineup. It's 99% junk.

I thought they were on their way up, but it looks like they've really stagnated.

Between this and Verizon's impending data plan change, ugh. Smiley: disappointed


I was just about to ask if they had acquired better material. Awhile ago I signed up for the 2 week trial just to be able to check out their streaming stuff and really didn't find it appealing so I don't believe we really ended up watching anything and made sure to cancel early as to not forget and get charged.


It's improved, but only marginally. They have a couple new major releases every 2-4 weeks, but if you're an average movie-goer, you've typically already seen them. Those are accompanied by a slew of retro films and B-movies that you're probably familiar with if you've seen the service in the past. It's the epitome of quantity over quality. I should say that there has been better improvement in their indie and foreign selection, which is actually fairly solid. But many other genres, such as Comedy, are still woefully lacking.

I had been expecting to see a significant improvement in the streaming service by now, but it's just not there. It's surprising, because I gather that part of this price increase stems from their desire to "phase-out" their physical disc shipping. They aren't even offering the DVD service in new areas that they expand to. I don't see how that'll be viable unless they make dramatic improvements in their streaming offerings.

Edited, Jul 13th 2011 11:39am by Eske
#12 Jul 13 2011 at 10:32 AM Rating: Excellent
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idiggory wrote:
That really sucks, because I only signed up for streaming. I don't give a crap about the dvd service.

You can still get the streaming only service for $7.99 a month (I think?). The issue is that streaming used to come "free" with any DVD subscription and now is unbundled and charged separately. So the $9.99 "One DVD at a Time" deal came with streaming but will now cost $9.99/DVD + $7.99/Streaming = $17.99. Give or take a buck in case I got a number wrong. (Edit: Reading the OP, I did).

I canceled the DVD subscription and will just do streaming and get the occasional disc from Redbox or the local Family Video when we want a movie unavailable. Netflix's streaming isn't super-awesome (and they just lost Sony, hopefully temporarily) but we can usually find something on these to waste time with. If anything, Netflix will lose a little money off me since I was terrible about watching/returning discs so they were really get a free $2/mth from me.

Edited, Jul 13th 2011 11:33am by Jophiel
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#13 Jul 13 2011 at 11:07 AM Rating: Excellent
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Since Netflix streaming was so successful, I'd be worried about other companies trying to start their own services to compete with Netflix. HBO already has something similar set up (I think?) and then there's Hulu Plus. A company like Sony might try to produce their own streaming service then charge a monthly fee. Rather than having an aggregate service like Netflix, we'll eventually be required to pick our streaming providers much like we do with TV channels already. Netflix will probably continue to stand strong when it comes to movies, but their stock will probably become even more focused on B-movies and indie films.

At least that's how I see the future... that and pricier internet, lower bandwidth caps.
#14 Jul 13 2011 at 11:30 AM Rating: Excellent
Jophiel wrote:
Netflix's streaming isn't super-awesome (and they just lost Sony, hopefully temporarily) but we can usually find something on these to waste time with.


Yeah. My husband and I have wasted many an hour watching old Dr. Who episodes and David Attenbourough shows. We can usually find something on their streaming service.

ETA: Also, they still have the Starz contract thingy, and my mother is addicted to the Spartacus series.

Edited, Jul 13th 2011 12:31pm by Belkira
#15 Jul 13 2011 at 7:41 PM Rating: Good
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Quote:
HBO already has something similar set up (I think?)

HBO has HBO GO (I think). Not sure if that is a pay as you watch or just meant to be a perk for subscribing to HBO already.
Quote:
At least that's how I see the future... that and pricier internet, lower bandwidth caps.

I have Comcast so it already feels like I am "taking it up the tail pipe." FIOS is available in my area. I know a couple people who have it and are fairly pleased.

I really do worry about how much costs will go up where internet provided media is concerned. Companies are seeing it really is the future and it won't be long until they start to squeeze every freaking penny they can out of us through that.

Edited, Jul 13th 2011 9:49pm by MrTalos
#16 Jul 13 2011 at 7:48 PM Rating: Good
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I'm generally pleased with FiOS internet. Don't have cable.
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#17 Jul 14 2011 at 8:33 AM Rating: Good
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We've been debating getting Hulu+. We end up watching more TV shows than movies and Hulu+ would be amazing for that. They have pretty much all the latest episodes of all the popular shows playing now (on regular hulu) as well as offering all the older seasons/past shows on Hulu+.

#18 Jul 14 2011 at 9:32 PM Rating: Good
idiggory wrote:
I'm generally pleased with FiOS internet. Don't have cable.
Does FiOS have any spooky usage limit warnings like comcast? I haven't been contacted yet, but I guess I'm not supposed to go over 250 gb per month.
#19 Jul 14 2011 at 9:37 PM Rating: Good
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You go over their 250gb/month limit three times and they ban you for a year.
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#20 Jul 14 2011 at 10:24 PM Rating: Good
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I have no clue. But I don't have any external hard drives, so I wouldn't have to worry about that.

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#21 Jul 16 2011 at 11:41 PM Rating: Good
Hmm, that's good to know. I haven't gotten any notification on this yet, but it's nice to know. I'll probably just stick with the live streaming service. We've had Dinner for Schmucks for about 2 or 3 months now... we've watched it a few times, just never gotten around to mailing it back yet.
#22 Jul 19 2011 at 8:26 AM Rating: Excellent
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Heh... I got an email this morning apologizing for disruption of the streaming service yesterday and offering me a 3% credit for the month. Which is 24 cents. And that's fine, since one day is roughly 3% of the month. But, this was what made me laugh, you have to click a link and opt-in to receive your credit or else they won't give it to you. Smiley: dubious

Smiley: laugh
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#23 Jul 19 2011 at 8:34 AM Rating: Excellent
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That's because they hope that only those who were actually affected (i.e. those who noticed an interruption of service) will accept the 3% credit... or that many of these people don't check their email that often. :P

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#24 Jul 19 2011 at 10:43 AM Rating: Good
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We had dumped Netflix awhile ago. I haven't missed it. The few movies that come out that I really, really want to see, I'll hope to the cinema for.

Then I can utilize my Dish+HBO to watch one of the kajillions of already released movies that I'm still getting around to.

Maybe this will provide a teeny bit of relief to the walk-in video stores.
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#25 Jul 19 2011 at 8:25 PM Rating: Good
So I'm lazy, and have not called them about my account.
Any of you know how many systems an be going at the same time on the streaming plan? I was paying $30 for the 4-DVD out plan, that way I could have 4 (2 ps3s, a 360, and either a Blu-Ray/Wii) systems watching movies.
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#26 Jul 19 2011 at 8:50 PM Rating: Good
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I think it's 5 system total, not counting PC streaming.
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