Netflix Turns Focus Back to Disc

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

How much longer will Hastings survive at the helm?

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily...161015122.html

Netflix Stream will be sold to Verizon for 3 or 4 billion and they'll go back to their roots as a disc only business.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Netflix Stream will be sold to Verizon for 3 or 4 billion and they'll go back to their roots as a disc only business.

Oh and where is the bassonist when someone else makes wild baseless claims. You think NetFlix is going to let go of roughly 20 million streaming customers and keep the 3-4 million disc only customers?

[endy]

does anyone else think netflix's streaming business model is basically untenable? first of all, they got big because they had an unmatched infrastructure for delivering dvds to ppl's houses, something that walmart nor bb could not match. but in streaming, they really don't have anything special - they had to beg L3 for their CDN. companies like amazon, google, and a few others though know what it takes to run a large data intensive system, so netflix has no real advantage on the technical aspects.

also studios obviously do not like netflix, and NO WAY will all you can eat streaming EVER be common place with the latest releases. you will only see titles that studios don't care about. in fact, netflix is going to lose library entries (starz) as studios will just set up their own stream systems and knock off the middle man. disney for example already offers all their movies online, at fairly high prices though. netflix is going to continue getting killed in their streaming library selection. why would WB offer anything good to netflix when they can set up their own system?

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by endy

does anyone else think netflix's streaming business model is basically untenable? first of all, they got big because they had an unmatched infrastructure for delivering dvds to ppl's houses, something that walmart nor bb could not match. but in streaming, they really don't have anything special - they had to beg L3 for their CDN. companies like amazon, google, and a few others though know what it takes to run a large data intensive system, so netflix has no real advantage on the technical aspects.

also studios obviously do not like netflix, and NO WAY will all you can eat streaming EVER be common place with the latest releases. you will only see titles that studios don't care about. in fact, netflix is going to lose library entries (starz) as studios will just set up their own stream systems and knock off the middle man. disney for example already offers all their movies online, at fairly high prices though. netflix is going to continue getting killed in their streaming library selection. why would WB offer anything good to netflix when they can set up their own system?

And yet 20 million stream NetFlix. Their library has 55,000 titles. 55,000 is a huge number. In the 90s, a Blockbuster store had 1/5 of that number to rent. There is always something good, something that hasn't been seen on NetFlix. They are streaming movies that were never on DVD, long out of print on VHS. Nothing is stopping NetFlix from going to the studios for streaming rights. If NetFlix's business model is so horrible, I don't see what Amazon would not only follow it but use it to inspire them for their new Kindle 'borrowing' program.

[endy]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

And yet 20 million stream NetFlix. Their library has 55,000 titles. 55,000 is a huge number. In the 90s, a Blockbuster store had 1/5 of that number to rent. There is always something good, something that hasn't been seen on NetFlix. They are streaming movies that were never on DVD, long out of print on VHS. Nothing is stopping NetFlix from going to the studios for streaming rights. If NetFlix's business model is so horrible, I don't see what Amazon would not only follow it but use it to inspire them for their new Kindle 'borrowing' program.

That 20 million was a legacy of when people signed up for the disc rental service. They are shedding people now and that's partly what's killing their stock price. 55k IS a huge number yes, but me and everyone else I knew could never find the movie we actually wanted to see. Also the quality was awful. And with studios less willing to cooperate with netflix, the only thing you WILL get to see are out of print movies, because all the new good stuff will be elsewhere.

their business model isn't inherently bad, but now that they can't abuse doctrine of first sale, and have to come cup in hand to the studios and beg for content, what do you think is going to happen? amazon isn't totally copying them - importantly they are a huge distributor of physical content AND are willing to sell a la carte, all of which are good for the studios. netflix is still holding on to 'all you can eat' model which is good for the user but studios hate that crap. in the end netflix will simply be starved for content on their stream model, subscribers will realize this, and they will continue to shed even more people.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by endy

That 20 million was a legacy of when people signed up for the disc rental service. They are shedding people now and that's partly what's killing their stock price. 55k IS a huge number yes, but me and everyone else I knew could never find the movie we actually wanted to see. Also the quality was awful. And with studios less willing to cooperate with netflix, the only thing you WILL get to see are out of print movies, because all the new good stuff will be elsewhere.

their business model isn't inherently bad, but now that they can't abuse doctrine of first sale, and have to come cup in hand to the studios and beg for content, what do you think is going to happen? amazon isn't totally copying them - importantly they are a huge distributor of physical content AND are willing to sell a la carte, all of which are good for the studios. netflix is still holding on to 'all you can eat' model which is good for the user but studios hate that crap. in the end netflix will simply be starved for content on their stream model, subscribers will realize this, and they will continue to shed even more people.

ABUSE the doctrine of first sale??? that's a right of whoever buys a product. they are UTILIZING that right to their advantage. I don't give a flying f@ck if the studios don't like it. they haven't like ANY change to their industry. the VCR was considered to be a major blow to their industry when it was announced, Steve Jobs was adamant against blu-ray unless they found a copy protection scheme that would be unbreakable. the list goes on. Netflix has been around with the "all you can eat" disc model for years and years. the studios have hated them for it, yet somehow they continued to make loads of money (and still do, just not as much in a declining economy).

and you're right, they are being starved of content and are shedding customers, but they aren't being eaten up by the studios streaming alternatives or other alternatives. Hulu is shedding customers, Netflix is shedding customers they are ALL shedding... why, because the consumers don't want to deal with low content. the studios are in for a RUDE shock if they think they can create a model whey they can stream directly and the customers have to take it. no customer wants to go to one site for Disney titles, another for Fox etc. and ESPECIALLY they don't want their ridiculous prices. they keep trying and trying to bring back PPV but they don't realize that it's a niche market. they've tapped out that market YEARS ago.

[slick1ru2]

NetFlix lost 850k out of 24 million subscribers. That's not even 5%. They expect, especially since they are expanding to the UK, to more than make up for that in the next year. Hulu subs are growing, over a million Plus subscribers this year. It was forecast for Hulu to have a million premium subs by December, they hit it months early. NetFlix is available on over 100 devices, including the Roku which is selling like hot cakes. They sold a million Roku devices last year and by the end of this year expect to have 3 million subscribers. I bought 2, they are AWESOME. My wife's iPhone can stream NetFlix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, etc. etc. She had her car in the shop this week and decided to stay and catch up with her shows and a movie while waiting. And that was over the dealer's wifi. People talk about caps? Public places with free wifi is growing, from businesses to airports to hospitals to cities providing free wifi areas. That is only going to grow too.

You guys think this is going away? Its only getting bigger.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...78K7DT20110921

http://myrokureviews.com/2011/05/rok...riple-in-2011/

http://venturebeat.com/2010/12/21/ap...1m-sales-roku/

[Steedeel]

It is a shame NFL has just been signed up by OTA/cable until 2022. Oh well, better luck next time Internet!

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

Oh and where is the bassonist when someone else makes wild baseless claims. You think NetFlix is going to let go of roughly 20 million streaming customers and keep the 3-4 million disc only customers?

What I think doesn't matter, what Verizon and Netflix certainly does:

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...n_Netflix/8303

Next time don't shoot the messenger.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by rickah88

What I think doesn't matter, what Verizon and Netflix certainly does:

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...n_Netflix/8303

Next time don't shoot the messenger.

You think that if Verizon buys NetFlix they'll "go back to their roots as a disc only business." That was the part that won't happen. Verizon, the ISP company with no caps, buys NetFlix and tells 20 million customers they no long offer what they subscribe to. Spend billions for NetFlix and then cut the service that 95% of the NetFlix's customers subscribe to.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-1...r-netflix.html

Verizon Said Not to Have Discussed Making Offer for Netflix



Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), the second-largest U.S. phone company, hasn’t discussed making a bid for Netflix Inc. (NFLX), according to two people with knowledge of the situation.

The two companies haven’t held talks about a transaction, said the people, who asked not to be named because the matter is private.

Netflix gained 6.2 percent yesterday in New York trading after Deal Reporter, a trade publication, said that New York- based Verizon is considering an offer for the Los Gatos, California-based movie streaming service. The publication didn’t identify its sources. Porter Bibb, managing partner at Mediatech Capital Partners, said yesterday that Verizon may bid for Netflix or a rival.

“I am hearing rumblings from inside Verizon that they are very serious about either Netflix or something similar,” Bibb said in a television interview yesterday on “Bloomberg West,” citing unnamed people within Verizon. He didn’t identify them.

Bibb said he is not working for either company. Netflix was a client in the past, he said today.

Steve Swasey, a Netflix spokesman, and Torod Neptune, a spokesman for Verizon, declined to comment on the reports.

Netflix, which offers subscriptions for video streaming and DVDs by mail, rose 1.2 percent to $76.13 at 11:23 a.m. in New York trading. The shares have fallen 57 percent this year before today. Verizon added 0.1 percent to $38.38 and has advanced 7.2 percent this year before today.

What Verizon is going to do is buy RedBox and turn it into streaming, ditching discs.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Redbox Talks

Verizon has been meeting with movie-rental kiosk operater Redbox, a unit of Coinstar Inc. (CSTR), in an effort to work out a content-distribution plan, a person familiar with the talks said on Dec. 8. The carrier has also met with other potential video partners and final details for any arrangement haven’t been determined, the person said then.

“Verizon’s not interested in Netflix, they see Redbox as a much better fit,” said Sam Greenholtz, an analyst with Telecom Pragmatics in Westminster, Maryland, who has consulted for Verizon and was briefed by its employees about its plan.

http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/07/ver...y-2012-launch/

Verizon And RedBox Planning Major Partnership For Early 2012 Launch

Yesterday, it was reported that Verizon was planning a Netflix competitor and in talks with various content producers to provide the streams and downloads. TechCrunch has obtained additional information on this story that makes the concept a bit more realistic and should alleviate some of the concerns noted by critics and consumers yesterday.

Our source says that Verizon is in fact planning a major partnership with RedBox, whose fast-growing business of $1 (now $1.20) DVD-rental kiosks has made it a major player in the content distribution game. They aim to debut a TV and movie streaming and download service this coming May.

The service is called Project Zoetrope internally, and will be a subscription, streaming, and downloading service for TV and movies that will be available on a broad variety of platforms: they plan support for iOS, Android, Google TV, Xbox, Roku and other streaming boxes, and browsers. “Set-top boxes,” by which they mean more traditional digital cable boxes, are not supported; this is an internet service, not a broadcast service.

It will stream in SD or HD to all of these devices, and local storage of video will be enabled for mobile devices and tablets. It is still in talks with content providers and will be following their lead on blackouts and release timing; this won’t be a quick-release channel for new movies or live TV, for instance.

Launch is planned for May 28th, with a beta starting in late April. Pricing is expected to be monthly and credit-based, e.g. $5.95 per month for 6 credits, which could be used to rent X movies or Y shows. There will be several tiers and some will include physical disc rentals, and of course there will be ways to purchase more shows if necessary.

For those who were skeptical of yesterday’s rumors, this should come as some kind of reassurance. Verizon has little to no branding in the on-demand movies and TV world, while RedBox is immediately recognizable and synonymous with simplicity and value. Redbox, however, has little in the way of TV shows, so Verizon is probably doing much of the heavy lifting on that side, and of course on the delivery infrastructure front.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

Hey crazy guy. You think that if Verizon buys NetFlix they'll "go back to their roots as a disc only business." That was the part that won't happen. Verizon, the ISP company with no caps, buys NetFlix and tells 20 million customers they no long offer what they subscribe to. Spend billions for NetFlix and then cut the service that 95% of the NetFlix's customers subscribe to.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-1...r-netflix.html


What Verizon is going to do is buy RedBox and turn it into streaming, ditching discs.

Don't shoot the messenger.



http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/07/ver...y-2012-launch/

Verizon And RedBox Planning Major Partnership For Early 2012 Launch

Yesterday, it was reported that Verizon was planning a Netflix competitor and in talks with various content producers to provide the streams and downloads. TechCrunch has obtained additional information on this story that makes the concept a bit more realistic and should alleviate some of the concerns noted by critics and consumers yesterday.

Our source says that Verizon is in fact planning a major partnership with RedBox, whose fast-growing business of $1 (now $1.20) DVD-rental kiosks has made it a major player in the content distribution game. They aim to debut a TV and movie streaming and download service this coming May.

The service is called Project Zoetrope internally, and will be a subscription, streaming, and downloading service for TV and movies that will be available on a broad variety of platforms: they plan support for iOS, Android, Google TV, Xbox, Roku and other streaming boxes, and browsers. “Set-top boxes,” by which they mean more traditional digital cable boxes, are not supported; this is an internet service, not a broadcast service.

It will stream in SD or HD to all of these devices, and local storage of video will be enabled for mobile devices and tablets. It is still in talks with content providers and will be following their lead on blackouts and release timing; this won’t be a quick-release channel for new movies or live TV, for instance.

Launch is planned for May 28th, with a beta starting in late April. Pricing is expected to be monthly and credit-based, e.g. $5.95 per month for 6 credits, which could be used to rent X movies or Y shows. There will be several tiers and some will include physical disc rentals, and of course there will be ways to purchase more shows if necessary.

For those who were skeptical of yesterday’s rumors, this should come as some kind of reassurance. Verizon has little to no branding in the on-demand movies and TV world, while RedBox is immediately recognizable and synonymous with simplicity and value. Redbox, however, has little in the way of TV shows, so Verizon is probably doing much of the heavy lifting on that side, and of course on the delivery infrastructure front.

You just post several pages, and call me crazy?? Uhm, yeah...keep holding on really, really tight!
You are like a broken record playing the same sad tune over, and over, and over again. When will you understand that I don't give a damn what: Netflix, Verizon, Redbox, etc etc all do. You keep trying to sell me something, and I'm not picking up what you're throwing down.
For the last time, try to understand:
I am: a happy Netflix disc rental customer. Have been for many years. IF that service goes away, I will take my business elsewhere. Are you understanding me? I'm typing slowly in the hopes that you do.

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by rickah88

You just post several pages, and call me crazy?? Uhm, yeah...keep holding on really, really tight!
You are like a broken record playing the same sad tune over, and over, and over again. When will you understand that I don't give a damn what: Netflix, Verizon, Redbox, etc etc all do. You keep trying to sell me something, and I'm not picking up what you're throwing down.
For the last time, try to understand:
I am: a happy Netflix disc rental customer. Have been for many years. IF that service goes away, I will take my business elsewhere. Are you understanding me? I'm typing slowly in the hopes that you do.

Lord knows, posting is a sign one is crazy. Again, I'm not selling you on anything. You sound like a self centered broken record saying "I don't care about anything but me", over and over again. And you think every post on the internet is directed at you. I could care less what you do or how you do it and I am not directing my posts right at you. You've been confused about that for awhile though so I doubt you get that. You live in some fantasy world where you think someone will buy NetFlix and ditch streaming. You understanding me? Doubt it.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

I'm not selling you on anything. You sound like a self centered broken record saying I don't care about anything but me over and over again. I could care less what you do or how you do it. You've been confused about that for awhile though so I doubt you get that. You live in some fantasy world where you think someone will buy NetFlix and ditch streaming. You understanding me? Doubt it.

Actually I think you meant to say "couldn't care less".
I'm self centered because I've been using Netfilx disc rental for years now and am very happy with the service? Okay, guilty as charged.
I live in a "fantasy world" because I posted an article speculating about Verizon buying Netflix streaming....uhm okay.
Of course I'm not understanding you because you are making little, to no, sense!

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Netflix Stream will be sold to Verizon for 3 or 4 billion and they'll go back to their roots as a disc only business.

You do recall posting this right? This is what makes no sense.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

You do recall posting this right?

Of course, that was ME speculating on an article. Is this some sort of rare event: people speculating on new media?
You do it all the time!

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Of course, that was ME speculating on an article. Is this some sort of rare event: people speculating on new media?
You do it all the time!

That wasn't speculation. That was wishful thinking. Big difference. I usually have something to base my speculation on.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

That wasn't speculation. That was wishful thinking. Big difference. I usually have something to base my speculation on.

Ahh okay, so now you're going to debate the semantics of speculation/wishful thinking? Yeah, I'm the crazy one alright! Wow!

[slick1ru2]

speculation

Definition
spec·u·la·tion
[ spèkyə láysh'n ]
spec·u·la·tions Plural
NOUN
1.
opinion based on incomplete information: a conclusion, theory, or opinion based on incomplete facts or information
2.
reasoning based on incomplete information: reasoning based on incomplete facts or information

Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs and making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to evidence, rationality or reality.


You think these two are the same? Really?

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

speculation


Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs and making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to evidence, rationality or reality.


You think these two are the same? Really?

Oh dear, it's a crazy person! Wow, just wow!

[slick1ru2]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Oh dear, it's a crazy person! Wow, just wow!

More wishful thinking. Posting things you don't understand or grasp doesn't make someone "crazy".