Netflix Turns Focus Back to Disc

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Well...in a few years we'll know whether I'm correct in my analysis or whether those who think physical will continue to dominate are correct.

Well, by default your analysis isn't correct, because you are not consistent in your claims. On one hand you talk about "in a few years", on the other hand you finalize your observations as "in the end". As I mentioned earlier, no one here is disputing that the studios will explore various alternatives. But the key point here is that because of a number of factors that we are witnessing now - such as the content owners' willingness to restricts content, the alternative market fragmentation, and the fact that there are no trends indicating that streaming/downloading will generate better sales in a near future - your insistence that you are reading the market correctly and pointing that there is some massive change underway does not agree with the facts. And the most important ones are that the economic crisis affected many people's habits not only in regard to home entertainment but just about any social activities which they might have been engaged in during the last 10-15 years, as well as the fact that Blu-ray continues to outgrow the hyped alternatives.

To sum it all up, I don't think that in a foreseeable future we would witness an all-virtual market. I also feel very confident stating that "the end" you refer to, which would be the end of physical media, won't happen during my lifetime.

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Certainly far less than some of you, but enough to demonstrate that I enjoy and support the format. Some of you seem to take my prediction that streaming/cloud services will dominate as a personal insult.

Well, I certainly do not. I really enjoy reading your observations. But I do believe that you are misinterpreting the various developments we are wtinessing on the market, especially in regard to content delivery and content devaluation.

I agree with you. We will see in a couple of years who was right and who was wrong. And when the time is right, I am also going to comment in detail why.

Pro-B

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

To sum it all up, I don't think that in a foreseeable future we would witness an all-virtual market. I also feel very confident stating that "the end" you refer to, which would be the end of physical media, won't happen during my lifetime.

The "All-virtual" model is championed by those who...don't really use the technology themselves and love to THEORIZE about it--

Here's the Bitter Truth, from an unapologetic Instant Netflix fan AND Blu-ray collector who sees the place for both:
- Studios are too stingy to release "real" movies on open download markets like Hulu and StreamingNF, and will mostly use it for C-catalog castoffs that need a little license exposure.
- When studios DO release one, they will likely try to find a sales model that will have you watching 24-hour rental-only's, in an avenue where they can sock the viewer for more money than he would likely be able to buy the disk used on Amazon.
- Any new technology will bring out the golddiggers, who think they can be just as popular and/or rescue their exposure avenues with just as little work--And already, Instant Netflix has been nearly taken over by a locust invasion of cheap micro-indies from Magnolia, and micro-horror from After Dark, bringing down the property values and believing they have the right to "stay".
- No one wants to be the person who actually CONVERTS the movie into digitized format, so an imagined plethora of download options, like iTunes, StreamingNF, and Hulu, will ilkely be showing the same thing, just sold on a different streetcorner.

...Or what, did you think someone in a secret backroom lab at Netflix converts them all for free? If you do...see above.

So why do I watch Streamng Netflix anyway, if the programming "stinks"?--Because it fills a specific need.
Not the wide-eyed, world-encompassing, gosh-golly-neato technology-replacing universal need they envisioned when they smelled the money and jumped on--But the specific need that even though I don't watch network TV anymore (who does? ), I can still find something random when I sit down for the evening, without digging out my 1080p epic of Dark Knight off my shelf for the Nth time.
Streaming Netflix has not, nor ever will, replace hard-disk Blu-ray, but it has already replaced broadcast television. That's not as much as they may have envisioned, but it's good enuf fer me.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by EricJ

So why do I watch Streamng Netflix anyway, if the programming "stinks"?--Because it fills a specific need.
Not the wide-eyed, world-encompassing, gosh-golly-neato technology-replacing universal need they envisioned when they smelled the money and jumped on--But the specific need that even though I don't watch network TV anymore (who does? ), I can still find something random when I sit down for the evening, without digging out my 1080p epic of Dark Knight off my shelf for the Nth time.
Streaming Netflix has not, nor ever will, replace hard-disk Blu-ray, but it has already replaced broadcast television. That's not as much as they may have envisioned, but it's good enuf fer me.

not directly a reply to you, but a general question to all the people that agree Netflix stinks but why not watch it anyways.

Why watch something if you know it stinks? I don't watch only the dark knoight though I always find something to watch when I feel like it. Do you use it only for movies, then why not rent BDs if you agree they look better why does it make sense that something looks so bad that if you buy it it needs to be better and be BD but if it is a rental then it does not matter. And if you mean TV shows then how is the same show broadcast in relatively good HD over the air for free, any worst then DLed from Netflix in much crappier quality?

I am not being facetious, I just don't get this stuff, my eyes are my eyes and my ears are my ears. I don't get this concept of "if it is rental what I watch should not matter."

PS if someone says "I don't care about quality, so I watch Netflix" I can understand that, but I don't understand how someone cares depending on if it is a rental or a buy, if it is live or not. And this is not just AV but also for content.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Well...in a few years we'll know whether I'm correct in my analysis or whether those who think physical will continue to dominate are correct.

And just in case some of you didn't notice, if you look to the left, you'll see that I own 63 BDs. Certainly far less than some of you, but enough to demonstrate that I enjoy and support the format. Some of you seem to take my prediction that streaming/cloud services will dominate as a personal insult.

the issue is there is usually no real analysis on your part but you tend to attack anyone that does not agree with you as a BD fanboy.

I don't know if you are a BD fan that is pessimist or a none-BD fan here to BS, but the issue is any actual analysis of the numbers (market share and growth) tend to demonstrate the opposite of what you say, any historical analysis ( how other formats did, how digital music is doing) tend to show that you are wrong.

[blurayjunkie]

I hope the DVD/Blu-Ray rentals come to Canada ASAP.

[kris26]

I wish they will focus more on discs on dvd and bluray especially 3D bluray

[psi]

I'm confused. First they say they are putting the focus back to disc and now they:

http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2011/0...streaming.html

change the website to focus on streaming. Which is it? Or are they doing both? Or are they focusing on disc later?

[blu2]

Originally Posted by blurayjunkie

I hope the DVD/Blu-Ray rentals come to Canada ASAP.

Why not support a canadian company and go with zip.ca?

[steve1971]

Its about time if you ask me. Streaming is great but it still dont beat Blu ra.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by steve1971

Its about time if you ask me. Streaming is great but it still dont beat Blu ra.

+infinity!!!!

I actually called Netflix over the weekend to inquire about this and what steps they've taken to act upon it. Shocker, I didn't get much info...but they did look at my queue at approx. 25 titles that are out on BD that Neflix doesn't have(yet).
The best example I gave them was BattleStar Galactica Season 4 & 4.5! Season 4.5(discs 5, 6, & 7) are available on BD, but Season 4(discs 1, 2, 3, 4)
are not?? Makes no sense.
I even went as far to suggest that they incorporate some way of having users "request" a title on BD that isn't availble at the time. This way they can actually gauge customer interest. Wow, what an idea!

[tama]

I'm new to Netflix...not currently a member but from what I read they don't have a big catalogue for blu-ray rentals i take it? Or am I incorrect?

[AintNoSin]

Originally Posted by tama

I'm new to Netflix...not currently a member but from what I read they don't have a big catalogue for blu-ray rentals i take it? Or am I incorrect?

If it's available on Blu-ray, they probably will have it for rent, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to what's on DVD.

Sometimes when a catalog title appears on Blu-ray, it seems like they don't always notice at first and it takes a while after it's available for sale before they have it for rent.

[tama]

Originally Posted by AintNoSin

If it's available on Blu-ray, they probably will have it for rent, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to what's on DVD.

Sometimes when a catalog title appears on Blu-ray, it seems like they don't always notice at first and it takes a while after it's available for sale before they have it for rent.

I've been thinking of going this route to cut back cost. I've always been given the impression they where an streaming company. But if they have a good selection of title available for rent in blu-ray I may just sign up.

[AintNoSin]

Originally Posted by tama

I've been thinking of going this route to cut back cost. I've always been given the impression they where an streaming company. But if they have a good selection of title available for rent in blu-ray I may just sign up.

Be aware that you pay a "Blu-ray" tax on your membership fee. My membership is $17.99/month for two films at time plus $3.00 for Blu-ray access.

[tama]

Originally Posted by AintNoSin

Be aware that you pay a "Blu-ray" tax on your membership fee. My membership is $17.99/month for two films at time plus $3.00 for Blu-ray access.

When you say two at a time I'm assuming you mean you can order rentals a pair at a time or is it limited to only 2 movies per month?

[AintNoSin]

Originally Posted by tama

When you say two at a time I'm assuming you mean you can order rentals a pair at a time or is it limited to only 2 movies per month?

It means you can have two discs at home at one time.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by tama

When you say two at a time I'm assuming you mean you can order rentals a pair at a time or is it limited to only 2 movies per month?

I have been a Netflix subscriber w/BD for over 3yrs now. They have gotten much better in their BD catalog selection. Even the smaller independent films they are getting on release day. Now this doesn't mean they get everything.
A great example is Battlestar Galactica Season 4/4.5! They have Season 4.5 on BD, but season 4(the first ½ of the season) only on DVD.
I have 78 movies in my queue. 42(+3 BSG as mentioned) are availble on BD, the rest are all DVD.
I have called Netflix several times, just to get in their ear about increasing their BD output. I also suggested they add an option to "request (title) on blu-ray" so that way they actually know what their customers want.
I would try it for a couple of months, see how you like it. I do the 3-disc w/BD and my wife and I love it. We probably go through about 10-12 discs per month. Both movies and TV seasons. We used to do about 20-25 per month, but with a 7 month old...it really cuts the movie watching time down
Good luck!

[tama]

Originally Posted by rickah88

I have been a Netflix subscriber w/BD for over 3yrs now. They have gotten much better in their BD catalog selection. Even the smaller independent films they are getting on release day. Now this doesn't mean they get everything.
A great example is Battlestar Galactica Season 4/4.5! They have Season 4.5 on BD, but season 4(the first ½ of the season) only on DVD.
I have 78 movies in my queue. 42(+3 BSG as mentioned) are availble on BD, the rest are all DVD.
I have called Netflix several times, just to get in their ear about increasing their BD output. I also suggested they add an option to "request (title) on blu-ray" so that way they actually know what their customers want.
I would try it for a couple of months, see how you like it. I do the 3-disc w/BD and my wife and I love it. We probably go through about 10-12 discs per month. Both movies and TV seasons. We used to do about 20-25 per month, but with a 7 month old...it really cuts the movie watching time down
Good luck!

Thanks. It seems easy enough also It looks like I can cancel at anytime. So I'll give it a try. I'm starting to personally believe it's just not worth owning so many films seeing how I don't always have the time to repeat view many of them. This may be a better alternative for me.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by tama

Thanks. It seems easy enough also It looks like I can cancel at anytime. So I'll give it a try. I'm starting to personally believe it's just not worth owning so many films seeing how I don't always have the time to repeat view many of them. This may be a better alternative for me.

I agree 100%! I've got over 500 blu's and that's with having Netflix!
There was one other thing I forgot to mention. Since the studios are all about saving Blockbuster(yeah like that is gonna happen) Netflix got the short end of the straw, in that they have a 30 day wait on some studios new releases.
For me, it's no big deal as my queue is loaded with titles so I'll always have discs coming in. You may already know about this, but I didn't want to leave it out in case it may be a deal-breaker for you.
Hopefully Blockbuster finally goes under and that should lift the 30 delay...then Netflix gets even better!

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Hopefully Blockbuster finally goes under and that should lift the 30 delay...then Netflix gets even better!

Blockbuster has nothing to do with the delay. And Blockbuster's vitality has nothing to do with the restrictions imposed on Netflix. Content devaluation does.

Pro-B