Netflix and Blu-ray

[RebelJeeper]

LMAO...do you guys SERIOUSLY think Netflix is the culprit here? They have NOTHING to gain from this but a longer list of unhappy subscribers. I can't imagine that Netflix isn't at the mercy of the studios who make the decisions on what gets released when and to whom. Do you really think Netflix can tell the studios how to manage their releases? Wow....

[bhampton]

Quote "If this causes more of our subscribers to drive down to a store to buy a DVD, we think that will be good for the entertainment ecosystem," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer.

Ha, The chief content officer must be an idiot. I don't Netflix anything that I buy you lame brain.

The entertainment ecosystem? .... This isn't a good move it's a bad move. Once other studios line up to join in with this bad idea the whole rent a disc industry will be on it's way to history.

Sadly... this will move the crappy streaming concept forward but at the cost of quality home video.

-Brian

[bhampton]

Quote "Do you really think Netflix can tell the studios how to manage their releases? Wow...."

You have really missed the point. The studio decides when to release and Netflix has agreed to not distribute for a month after that. Netflix is agreeing to shoot itself in the foot and maybe hoping people just won't notice or care.

I agree that it will take a while for the average person to realize anything has changed but a drastic change in the quality of the service will not go by without people eventually figuring it out.

-Brian

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Quote "Do you really think Netflix can tell the studios how to manage their releases? Wow...."

You have really missed the point. The studio decides when to release and Netflix has agreed to not distribute for a month after that. Netflix is agreeing to shoot itself in the foot and maybe hoping people just won't notice or care.

I agree that it will take a while for the average person to realize anything has changed but a drastic change in the quality of the service will not go by without people eventually figuring it out.

-Brian

I think you may have missed the point. Netflix has no choice. They use the word "Agree" for the press release to make it sound less harsh. Netflix is being FORCED into this and any spin you read is just so it all appears pleasant.

[SilverFireshot]

Originally Posted by Blove23

Well that is nice, but maybe you may want to give me the money I invested in my 7.1 surround sound system. Remember if you stream movies they are not at full 1080p, second they do not stream the same AQ as blu-ray disc.

If you streamed "Terminator Salvation" then you would have missed home theater experience PQ and AQ. Like I said, you can pay me for my system, plus I'm not buying a movie I did not see in the theater...

Maybe you can stream TrueHD and DTS-MA or maybe you can buy it for me when its released.

I never said streaming had great PQ or AQ. The fact is many people don't care about quality, they just want to watch the movie. I just said I know a lot of people who only have Netflix for the streaming because they can get their movies almost instantly. Most of those people don't even know what something like TrueHD is.

[Blove23]

Originally Posted by SilverFireshot

I never said streaming had great PQ or AQ. The fact is many people don't care about quality, they just want to watch the movie. I just said I know a lot of people who only have Netflix for the streaming because they can get their movies almost instantly. Most of those people don't even know what something like TrueHD is.

This site is called Blu-ray.com and when I think of blu-rays I think of Quality. The last thing I ever think about is streaming movies and streaming on my blu-ray!

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Blove23

Let's see how smart Netflix is when people stop using them or asking for refunds. This is a service we pay for and if I'm paying and not receiving what I want, then that next best this is to suspend my membership and cancel. If we stand up then those studios would back down. I'm not buying a movie if it isn't good or didn't see in theater.

May be a smart movie for the studio, but dumb over all. It going to make people go to the theaters now! Maybe Netflix can delay my bill 4 weeks when I rent a WB movie or any other studios that follow..

Oh by the way, I was going to buy "Terminator Salvation". I rented it first because I didn't see it the theater, but since they want to pull this stunt I just will not buy it.

Won't happen. Other than a few cranky people online, most people won't notice or care.

It's smart on WB's part, and you can expect more studios to follow their example soon.

Removing the rental factor is going to cause more people to buy rather than rent.

So they win in that area, because they're making more money from the sales arm.

And yeah, more people might go to the theater instead as well. Which is just another studio win.

As for the discussion of Blu-Ray renting over DVD renting or Streaming.... I never rent Blu-Ray, because my Dad watches the movies as well... and he doesn't have a Blu-Ray player. If I like a movie enough on DVD after renting it, then I buy the BLU-Ray. And I really have been enjoying the streaming ability as well. I've been streaming a ton of films via my PS3 since joining. Well worth the subscription fees for NetFlix. So I'm happy.

[RebelJeeper]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Quote "Do you really think Netflix can tell the studios how to manage their releases? Wow...."

You have really missed the point. The studio decides when to release and Netflix has agreed to not distribute for a month after that. Netflix is agreeing to shoot itself in the foot and maybe hoping people just won't notice or care.

I agree that it will take a while for the average person to realize anything has changed but a drastic change in the quality of the service will not go by without people eventually figuring it out.

-Brian

Who's to say that the studios will even make available the movies to Netflix for rental until four weeks later? It's not like Netflix can just run down to Wally World or Best Buy and buy up a bunch of movies so they can send them out to their customers. There's NO WAY corporate Netflix can see this as a win...they're hands are tied my friend. They didn't get to where they are by making boneheaded decisions like this. If you really think Netflix is pulling the strings here, you're kidding yourself

[Beast]

Originally Posted by RebelJeeper

Who's to say that the studios will even make available the movies to Netflix for rental until four weeks later? It's not like Netflix can just run down to Wally World or Best Buy and buy up a bunch of movies so they can send them out to their customers. There's NO WAY corporate Netflix can see this as a win...they're hands are tied my friend. They didn't get to where they are by making boneheaded decisions like this. If you really think Netflix is pulling the strings here, you're kidding yourself

Again, they probably see it as something of a win because WB is allowing them to stream more of their films. So they may lose out some on the new release rentals, but they get compensated this way. Plus.... it means they don't have to buy as many copies of the new release films, cause 4 weeks later... the number of people eager to rent those titles will be smaller. Netflix will hardly suffer from the deal.

[RebelJeeper]

Originally Posted by Beast

Won't happen. Other than a few cranky people online, most people won't notice or care.

It's smart on WB's part, and you can expect more studios to follow their example soon.

Removing the rental factor is going to cause more people to buy rather than rent.

So they win in that area, because they're making more money from the sales arm.

And yeah, more people might go to the theater instead as well. Which is just another studio win.

As for the discussion of Blu-Ray renting over DVD renting or Streaming.... I never rent Blu-Ray, because my Dad watches the movies as well... and he doesn't have a Blu-Ray player. If I like a movie enough on DVD after renting it, then I buy the BLU-Ray. And I really have been enjoying the streaming ability as well. I've been streaming a ton of films via my PS3 since joining. Well worth the subscription fees for NetFlix. So I'm happy.

Unfortunately, I have to agree, it sounds good on paper and here in the forums, but in practice I'm afraid the vast majority of people won't notice or care. It's smart for the studios, sucks for us. But I won't be canceling my subscription to Netflix over this as it will surely be pushed onto the other rental options out there and as mentioned before, other studios will most likely join in. I also preview on DVD (or stream when available) movies that I haven't seen before dropping my hard earned $ on a blu-ray.

[RebelJeeper]

Originally Posted by Beast

Again, they probably see it as something of a win because WB is allowing them to stream more of their films. So they may lose out some on the new release rentals, but they get compensated this way. Plus.... it means they don't have to buy as many copies of the new release films, cause 4 weeks later... the number of people eager to rent those titles will be smaller. Netflix will hardly suffer from the deal.

Eh...you might have a point there...but I'll still be waiting But the streaming films are catalog titles, right? I still think more folks would still rather have newer releases...but as I (and you also) said, most folks won't notice or if they do, they won't care enough to do anything about it aside from drop a couple of 4-letter words and shrug their shoulders in defeat.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by RebelJeeper

Eh...you might have a point there...but I'll still be waiting But the streaming films are catalog titles, right? I still think more folks would still rather have newer releases...but as I (and you also) said, most folks won't notice or if they do, they won't care enough to do anything about it aside from drop a couple of 4-letter words and shrug their shoulders in defeat.

They have some fairly recent films up for streaming. Nothing brand new, but quite a bit.

[SilverFireshot]

Originally Posted by Blove23

This site is called Blu-ray.com and when I think of blu-rays I think of Quality. The last thing I ever think about is streaming movies and streaming on my blu-ray!

Yeah, the people on here think of quality, not the average movie watcher. If they did, Blu-rays would have surpassed DVD's by now.

[surfdude12]

the free market will take care of itself.

the question is: will a netflix subscriber who pays $20'ish/month to rent a new release, now be wiling to pay $40'ish/month for the $20 subscription and to buy the $20 movie?

i know i won't. there are "rental" movies i know i must rent before buying and there are "purchase" movies i know i want to buy without renting. the only way WB would get $20 from me on a purchase would be if a "rental" movie of mine became a "purchase" movie, simply because i had to wait a month to see it??? i'm not that impatient. ok maybe sometimes but not typically.

[kurtlingle]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Think so?

I'll be renting DVDs now, -Brian

I cannot (and will not) watch a DVD unless I'm forced to (not available yet on blu). I'd rather pay 4-5 buck (to Netflix) than ruin my viewing experience.

I mean, I spent $1600 on my TV, $260 for my PS3, $400 on my receiver, and then theirs my speakers....

Guess I'm a blu-snob.

[johnarnold101]

Dear blu-snob.

I recently went from 3 blu's at a time on Netflix to 1 blu at a time since I usually only get one new release a week anyway. With the Roku I'm thinking about buying I can stream anything else Netflix has for instant viewing to my TV and hook it up via wifi. I'll use it for TV shows and movies I really liked and have seen before. I guess I'm not a snob and I have more money in my pocket since I don't buy movies anymore.

[bhampton]

Wow Beast,

I have respect for you mad future seeing skilz. You seem to know what effect this will have for all concerned and also how people will react to it.

I for one have fully cancelled Netflix and will get what I need from other sources. I do believe that they want more people to stream and less people to get movies in the mailbox. Good for them if it works.

I don't mind when my wife wants to stream Law and Order or my kids want to stream The Parent Trap but the quality is low and it slows my network connection to a crawl.

I'll just buy more, simple as that. I prefer to buy anyway so Netflix just helped me figure out how to get more of what I want in the long run.

-Brian

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by RebelJeeper

Who's to say that the studios will even make available the movies to Netflix for rental until four weeks later? It's not like Netflix can just run down to Wally World or Best Buy and buy up a bunch of movies so they can send them out to their customers. There's NO WAY corporate Netflix can see this as a win...they're hands are tied my friend. They didn't get to where they are by making boneheaded decisions like this. If you really think Netflix is pulling the strings here, you're kidding yourself

100% acurate.

[connect42]

Originally Posted by Beast

Won't happen. Other than a few cranky people online, most people won't notice or care.

It's smart on WB's part, and you can expect more studios to follow their example soon.

Removing the rental factor is going to cause more people to buy rather than rent.

So they win in that area, because they're making more money from the sales arm.

And yeah, more people might go to the theater instead as well. Which is just another studio win.

As for the discussion of Blu-Ray renting over DVD renting or Streaming.... I never rent Blu-Ray, because my Dad watches the movies as well... and he doesn't have a Blu-Ray player. If I like a movie enough on DVD after renting it, then I buy the BLU-Ray. And I really have been enjoying the streaming ability as well. I've been streaming a ton of films via my PS3 since joining. Well worth the subscription fees for NetFlix. So I'm happy.

I sent this "news" to my friends and family last night and within 24 hours Netflix has lost out. 3 of the 7 have already cancelled Netflix. 2 signed up for Blockbuster Online (with my recommendation) and the other is happy to go with our locally own Video Warehouse. I am sure one or more of the others will make a move, as well. This is not an isolated incident and these people are not forum nerds like us.
As for me, I love Blockbuster, but if it is a movie I loved at the theater then I will buy it from Amazon or MovieStop. If I didn't see it in the theater then I have no problem waiting 4 more weeks to rent it to see if it is worth a purchase. So if Blockbuster goes this route I think I will live.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Beast

Won't happen. Other than a few cranky people online, most people won't notice or care.

.

I have to strongly disagree Beast. Look at any B&M rental place. The new releases are advertised weeks in advance and highly sought by renters.

People either want to revisit a movie they loved in the theater, or are very eager to see something that didnt get to their town/theater.

Renters are VERY eager for the new releases. They fly off the shelves in huge numbers for the first week or so.

Same with Netflix. People have all the new stuff at the top of their queue.

I wont quit Netflix, but a lot of people might after they find themselves waiting, and waiting, and waiting.