Net-Flix might wind op costing more if HBO has it's way.

[Canada]

Time Warner wants netflix to raise it's rates.

Net-Flix costs about $ 8 plus tax but Shaw our internet provider is raising the rates over a certain GB level used per month. That means you can only stream about 10 movies a month and the package for more bandwidth costs about $ 60 a more. So your cheap Net-Filx subscription just went from $ 8 a month to $ 68. Even at the place that has the most expensive rentals in town I could get about 14 new release, at the place I rent from the most I can get 20 new releases for that price.

I am still going to want physical media and lossless. I may be in the minority, but not here.

[Flatnate]

Oy... add to that how Netflix hopes to move away from physical discs over time and it seems to me like they are moving further and further away from their original core business. The U.S ranks 28thth in the world on internet speed and I can only stream low quality feeds with whats available from any ISP at my home. I realize how Netflix wants to get ahead of the curve but until their CEO starts sleeping with the chairman of the FCC in a effort to mandate ISP's upgrade their networks it would seem that this could alienate a huge group of Americans like myself. A price increase on top of less support for physical media and I'm out. Happy to keep Blockbuster by mail alive.

[Splinter20]

If that ever happens Bye-Bye Netflix and coming back from the dead will be blockbuster. I will be happy to revive them if netflix gives in. I aint to wirry about them as long as i get some movies that are out to watch. Plus I mostly buy my movies so it dont hurt me if they decide to move up the price i just wont have best of both worlds. I wish Vudu was monthy

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Splinter20

If that ever happens Bye-Bye Netflix and coming back from the dead will be blockbuster. I will be happy to revive them if netflix gives in. I aint to wirry about them as long as i get some movies that are out to watch. Plus I mostly buy my movies so it dont hurt me if they decide to move up the price i just wont have best of both worlds. I wish Vudu was monthy

Well, they seem to be fascinated with the idea that they are the market, not part of it. So switching to Blockbuster at this point does sound like a very logical move to make.

Pro-B

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Well, they seem to be fascinated with the idea that they are the market, not part of it. So switching to Blockbuster at this point does sound like a very logical move to make.

Pro-B

This whole move to streaming doesn't surprise me. And if(big if) they find a way to get more content at higher quality than is available now(no 4:3 Starz feeds) and keep the price reasonable, it doesn't really bother me. What I find surprising and annoying is the antagonistic attitude coming from everyone at the company. Businesses change with the times, good businesses innovate. But how is pissing off your core clientele even considered a viable business model by these guys? Despite what their CEO thinks, their customers are not "self absorbed", or not to the extent they had hoped.

[SpaceDog]

I'm mostly annoyed that their blu-ray support isn't 100%. If you are going to charge me extra each month for blu-ray access, all titles that are available on blu-ray should have the blu-ray option. It is ridiculous that some are DVD-only.

[synergy]

Originally Posted by Canada

Time Warner wants netflix to raise it's rates.

Net-Flix costs about $ 8 plus tax but Shaw our internet provider is raising the rates over a certain GB level used per month. That means you can only stream about 10 movies a month and the package for more bandwidth costs about $ 60 a more. So your cheap Net-Filx subscription just went from $ 8 a month to $ 68. Even at the place that has the most expensive rentals in town I could get about 14 new release, at the place I rent from the most I can get 20 new releases for that price.

I am still going to want physical media and lossless. I may be in the minority, but not here.

If you are adding the cost of the higher speed broadband connection to Netflix add the cost of gas for driving to the place you can get the 20 new releases from. My guess is you won't be getting all 20 at once and watching them all in one sitting. Your bandwidth can be used for more than just netflix as well. Not sure I would opt for the higher bandwidth costs as I don't think I watch 20 movies a month. Game more, mostly offline but some online.

Broadband in North America does really suck.

[fatediesel]

Time Warner has been anti-Netflix for years. Netflix is not going to raise it's rates just to appease Time Warner, they just won't stream Time Warner content. Just yesterday Netflix released their fourth quarter numbers and announced they had surpassed 20 million customers, and they are expected to surpass 27 million by the end of 2011. This caused their stock to hit a 52-week high. Netflix isn't going to jeopardize their growth just to get one studio's business, they'll just do without Time Warner streaming content.

[bhampton]

Netflix sux.

I hope more people realize this simple fact and the sooner the better.

-Brian

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

I quit using Netflix a loooooonnnnnng time ago because they stopped shipping me new releases and some discs came in the mail cracked or extremely scratched up. Blockbuster has been my best friend since I quit Netflix because they've been faithful to me most of the time.

[john_1958]

won't bother me none i perfer blu-ray

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by synergy

If you are adding the cost of the higher speed broadband connection to Netflix add the cost of gas for driving to the place you can get the 20 new releases from. My guess is you won't be getting all 20 at once and watching them all in one sitting. Your bandwidth can be used for more than just netflix as well. Not sure I would opt for the higher bandwidth costs as I don't think I watch 20 movies a month. Game more, mostly offline but some online.

Broadband in North America does really suck.

It costs me 0$ in gas. I either buy on line and then there is free shipping, go during my lunch brake at work (feet), go after work on the way to the bus terminal (feet) or I am at the store for other stuff and browsing the videosection while I am there.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Time Warner has been anti-Netflix for years. Netflix is not going to raise it's rates just to appease Time Warner, they just won't stream Time Warner content. Just yesterday Netflix released their fourth quarter numbers and announced they had surpassed 20 million customers, and they are expected to surpass 27 million by the end of 2011. This caused their stock to hit a 52-week high. Netflix isn't going to jeopardize their growth just to get one studio's business, they'll just do without Time Warner streaming content.

well that makes sense, PO the biggest studio that has to itself roughly 1/5 of the market and have no content from them. People go to Netflix because they like Netflix, not to actually watch movies.

[42041]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Time Warner has been anti-Netflix for years. Netflix is not going to raise it's rates just to appease Time Warner

Since Netflix doesn't produce content, they don't have a choice. If they want to offer a selection, they are at the mercy of the content providers, and the providers are increasingly of the opinion that Netflix isn't paying enough for the content (not just Time-Warner... trust me, no one's oblivious to the fact that the middleman is becoming filthy rich). Anyone who thinks the current streaming pricing or policy will last is very short-sighted.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Rob71

This whole move to streaming doesn't surprise me. And if(big if) they find a way to get more content at higher quality than is available now(no 4:3 Starz feeds) and keep the price reasonable, it doesn't really bother me. What I find surprising and annoying is the antagonistic attitude coming from everyone at the company. Businesses change with the times, good businesses innovate. But how is pissing off your core clientele even considered a viable business model by these guys? Despite what their CEO thinks, their customers are not "self absorbed", or not to the extent they had hoped.

Time will tell whether they were right or wrong to bet on streaming, as well as ignore their core base of customers who still rent more discs. And as it was the case with the HD war, I will comment when the time is right

However, there are a couple of things I would like to mention:

1. Anyone who believes that the future of home entertainment will revolve around streaming is very seriously misinterpreting the market. Physical media will be a key part of it for many, many years to come.

2. Anyone who believes that the content producers will foster another (streaming) giant, as they did with Blockbuster, which will dictate the market - and this is exactly what Netflix is trying desperately to evolve into - are seriously underestimating the people who run them. What the physical media market offers to the content producers is far stronger business, which is something streaming will never be able to secure for them.

3. Lastly, a strong market needs unity (which is one of the many reason why Blu-ray won against HDDVD). With other words, anyone who believes that Netflix can be the platform upon which unity is achieved simply has no clue how the market functions -- hence why Blu-ray will be around for many years to come.

Some of the former HDDVD supporters now turned streaming evangelists are already in a celebratory mood, but I will be commenting later on, when the market stabilizes and the effects of the economic crisis we endured are all but gone.

In the meantime, let's continue enjoying the growing number of great films, and especially classic catalog titles, arriving on Blu-ray

Pro-B

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Some of the former HDDVD supporters now turned streaming evangelists are already in a celebratory mood

Don't forget that except for the bandwagon there where many reasons people where HD-DVD fanboys at the time. The whole war was more about slowing BD growth then actual belief in the alternative.

[Jlennerth]

I have Time Warner and they don't do metered billing and this week the cable guy is coming to hook up the new equiptment to allow me to get Docsis 3.0 speeds. I just need to buy my own modem that is Docsis 3.0 certified instead of the cheapo one they provide. I'll be blazing through Netflix HD movies streamed to my 360.

[SleeperAgent]

I would pay $15 a month for Netflix streaming assuming they keep up with the library they have. I canceled my satellite in lieu of Netflix because it offers way more entertainment for less money. Satellite (where I live, cable is the same price) offers crap in their basic plan. Local channels, extra. Movie channels, extra. GSN, Bravo, Travel Channel, Food Network EXTRA! It's at the point where an unlimited internet connection (No GB limit) and Netflix is still cheaper than limited internet and Sat/Cable bill.

As far as I'm concerned, cable and satellite companies did this to themselves. They wanted to corner the market on entertainment and they did. Now that a new challenger is trying to tear down their MONOPOLY with an alternative all of a sudden they're best friends with the FCC and anyone else that will help them kill off Netflix. The fact that HBO wants them to raise their rate is ridiculous. HBO wont' ever allow anyone to stream their programming. Who's going to pay their ridiculous DVD/Blu-ray prices if they do?

My Roku XDS streams all my Netflix to my home theater (along with many other great FREE channels like Pandora, Chow, CrunchyRoll, Shoutcast radio etc) and I can get a digital antenna if I want local channels.

All the cable and satellite companies are doing by trying to get these internet caps put on is forcing people to hate them more. You force everyone to get an unlimited internet plan (which a lot of people have anyways myself included) is make them look at alternatives such as torrents and illegal downloads. (I do not condone or use those)

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

Don't forget that except for the bandwagon there where many reasons people where HD-DVD fanboys at the time. The whole war was more about slowing BD growth then actual belief in the alternative.

I have not, Anthony

I was just pointing out the latest trend, which is yet another excuse for them. As far as I am concerned, the more they bring up streaming as some sort of an alternative, the more I appreciate everything Blu-ray has to offer.

I want physical ownership. And always will. It is that simple.



Pro-B

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I have not, Anthony

I was just pointing out the latest trend, which is yet another excuse for them. As far as I am concerned, the more they bring up streaming as some sort of an alternative, the more I appreciate everything Blu-ray has to offer.

I want physical ownership. And always will. It is that simple.



Pro-B

I'm with that. But stuff that I don't fully intend to re-watch (Man Vs. Food, South Park, Farscape) I like having the access on Netflix. Plus all the movies I've watched and passed on the blu has saved me hundreds. So $15 MAYBE $20 (assuming we get HBO stuff) would be a fair price point. But if they raise the rate, all this "timed exclusive" "wait for streaming even longer" stuff has to stop.