Starz to introduce 90 Day Netflix Delay

[Batman1980]

The new policy starts next month, with exclusive first-run movies following suit later.

NEW YORK - Another premium network has decided to keep Netflix subscribers from immediately accessing its original series online.
Starz said Thursday it is introducing, as of next month, a 90-day delay on the availability of new episodes of original series for users of its Starz Play broadband service, which it offers in arrangements with Netflix and telecom giants Verizon and Qwest.

Starz said that exclusive first-run movies will follow suit at a time that wasn't immediately disclosed. Starz has movie deals with Disney and Sony.

The news comes after another premium network, CBS Corp.'s Showtime, said earlier this week that it will keep original series that are currently airing on Showtime off Netflix starting this summer. Netflix is increasingly seen as a fast-growing rival to premium networks.

"Beginning with the April 1 premiere of the new original drama Camelot, new episodes of Starz originals will now be available on the Starz Play services 90 days after they debut on the network, with exclusive first-run movies later following suit," a Starz spokesperson said Thursday. "Past seasons of Starz series, including Spartacus, and previously aired movies will continue to be available for streaming. Authenticated Starz subscribers will still have full access to all current network programming through Starz Online."

Source - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...netflix-171231

[SpaceDog]

They are paying a lot for the new content. I can see why they'd want the delay in place. If I were Starz I'd keep the first episode of any season available and delay the rest.

[iam1bearcat]

can't say i know i single show that airs or ever did air on Starz. i thought Starz was just a movie company?

[xXI GaMe IXx]

Spartacus!!!

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

can't say i know i single show that airs or ever did air on Starz. i thought Starz was just a movie company?

Crash, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Camelot, and several other pilots ordered set to debut over this year. They have been very quickly gaining ground in original cable programming over the past 2 years.

[STARSCREAM]

Netflix is gonna be in trouble when all the companies start doing this to them. I'm already pissed at the streaming selection they have now and it's just gonna get worse.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

Netflix is gonna be in trouble when all the companies start doing this to them. I'm already pissed at the streaming selection they have now and it's just gonna get worse.

I haven't seen a single show currently airing that they stream. Looks like I made a big mistake in renewing my netflix this week since there is nothing in my queue I even have interest in getting in the mail or streaming lol.

[Drew664]

The news of the delay comes after another premium network, CBS Corp.'s Showtime, said earlier this week that it will keep original series that are currently airing on Showtime off Netflix starting this summer. Netflix is increasingly seen as a fast-growing rival to premium networks.

Ah, I didn't even know that happened. I'm gonna miss Dexter!

Thanks for the heads up.

[The_Donster]

I'm honestly not seeing the big deal. Right now both my instant and BD que are filled to the gill. As long as they don't prematurely pull items already up for streaming I don't have a problem. Of course once Torchwood starts it might be a different story

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

Netflix is gonna be in trouble when all the companies start doing this to them. I'm already pissed at the streaming selection they have now and it's just gonna get worse.

Between this and what it looks like the ISP's are going to do it will definitely be interesting to see what they do. Somehow I think their plan to spend millions on their own original programming is not the smartest move.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Rob71

Between this and what it looks like the ISP's are going to do it will definitely be interesting to see what they do. Somehow I think their plan to spend millions on their own original programming is not the smartest move.

They may need their own original programming if they don't have anything else new.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Rob71

Between this and what it looks like the ISP's are going to do it will definitely be interesting to see what they do. Somehow I think their plan to spend millions on their own original programming is not the smartest move.

Verizon actually put a statement out last week that it has no plans to start caping people which makes sense as they spent a ton upgrading their networks. Everyone who seems to know the situation at At&t says the cap is simply to gouge people even more and not about true bandwidth limitations.

[SleeperAgent]

To rephrase the title with some truth "Starz to alienate a big chunk of their fan base in order to try to screw more money out of them"

Seriously, I intend to watch Gods of the Arena, but other than that Starz doesn't have much going on that interests me. Delaying things 90 days to try and force you into subscribing with them just pisses people off.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by SleeperAgent

To rephrase the title with some truth "Starz to alienate a big chunk of their fan base in order to try to screw more money out of them"

Seriously, I intend to watch Gods of the Arena, but other than that Starz doesn't have much going on that interests me. Delaying things 90 days to try and force you into subscribing with them just pisses people off.

Or maybe Netflix instead of bragging to everyone who will listen and telling them how cheaply they got all their content, can now come off their wallets and secure the content. Why should Starz front the money for these shows and not receive a return on their investment? Of course by doing that they will have to raise rates on their disc customers yet again to subsidize the move. At least until those disc customers move elsewhere. At that point Netflix will need to decide if they want to be a cheap provider of older content, or if they want to be a true stream everything company. If that is their plan, you can expect to pay cable type rates for their content in the not too distant future. Especially if they plan to pay $100 million for any more original series.

[fatediesel]

This could just be the start for Netflix's problems with Starz. Their streaming contract expires early next year and Starz is going to want a massive increase in their fee. Right now Starz is getting $30 million per year, which is incredibly cheap considering that includes most Disney and Sony movies as well as Starz original programming, and the rumor is Starz is going to be looking for something like $300 million per year when they renew. I've read rumors that Netflix is looking into buying Starz' parent company just to keep it's content.

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

This could just be the start for Netflix's problems with Starz. Their streaming contract expires early next year and Starz is going to want a massive increase in their fee. Right now Starz is getting $30 million per year, which is incredibly cheap considering that includes most Disney and Sony movies as well as Starz original programming, and the rumor is Starz is going to be looking for something like $300 million per year when they renew. I've read rumors that Netflix is looking into buying Starz' parent company just to keep it's content.

If Netflix charged $20 a month for streaming and secured all the content I'd pay it. (But I'd also expect more like WB sooner and HBO/Showtime stuff)

More than $20 and we're back at cable rates and I'll just cancel.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by SleeperAgent

If Netflix charged $20 a month for streaming and secured all the content I'd pay it. (But I'd also expect more like WB sooner and HBO/Showtime stuff)

More than $20 and we're back at cable rates and I'll just cancel.

WB/HBO will not be streaming on Netflix anytime soon. Their president has been vocal about his opposition to Netflix and will instead focus on their own HBO streaming service. He believes HBO loses it's value if it lets Netflix stream it's content.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

WB/HBO will not be streaming on Netflix anytime soon. Their president has been vocal about his opposition to Netflix and will instead focus on their own HBO streaming service. He believes HBO loses it's value if it lets Netflix stream it's content.

And it's looking like the other providers are taking a similar, but not so severe, take as well. What looked like a one stop streaming experience a few months ago is looking to be more fractured as time goes on. It seems every week they lose more content. Didn't all this start with Criterion going to Hulu a few weeks ago? Now just to keep what was available last yeat they are going to have to pay almost ten times what they are now.

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by Rob71

And it's looking like the other providers are taking a similar, but not so severe, take as well. What looked like a one stop streaming experience a few months ago is looking to be more fractured as time goes on. It seems every week they lose more content. Didn't all this start with Criterion going to Hulu a few weeks ago? Now just to keep what was available last yeat they are going to have to pay almost ten times what they are now.

It's greed plain and simple. They all see how well Netflix was doing and want it for themselves. I can already see there being 30-40 channel exclusive streaming service all charging their own fee. It's going to get out of hand real fast. Paying 50+ a month for cable was bad enough, but now seeing every channel come up with their own streaming services for 5-10 a piece will make cable look like a good deal. Which it isn't.

I'm not condoning it, but this is mostly hat people download torrents for, as far as I can tell. They all want more money all the time and people get sick of it.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by SleeperAgent

It's greed plain and simple. They all see how well Netflix was doing and want it for themselves. I can already see there being 30-40 channel exclusive streaming service all charging their own fee. It's going to get out of hand real fast. Paying 50+ a month for cable was bad enough, but now seeing every channel come up with their own streaming services for 5-10 a piece will make cable look like a good deal. Which it isn't.

I'm not condoning it, but this is mostly hat people download torrents for, as far as I can tell. They all want more money all the time and people get sick of it.

You mean because it is their content? Especially after all the press Netflix put out about how slick they were for getting it so cheap. This is why I haven't, as yet, gotten excited about streaming. All it is now is lowest common denominator streams of low rent films, with a few A-listers thrown in to pad the service. The content providers were never going to keep giving their product. Netflix played the game(and still are) and now if they want to keep their new business model, they are going to have to pay a more realistic price for the content. All the last few years were is getting the service in as many homes as possible, now the real game begins. How much is the market willing to pay. I'm not saying I like it, or even agree with it. But I do accapt it as the way things work and pirating films, series or music is no justification for not wanting to pay "high" prices. Those "people" would take that content for free even if it were sold for a nickel.