Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[JohnAV]

Netflix is raising the price of its most popular plan to $14 today, premium tier increasing to $18 - The verge -10/29/2020

Netflix is introducing price hikes for its US subscribers today, increasing its standard plan to $14 a month and its premium tier to $18 a month.

The new pricing for the standard plan is a $1 price increase (from $13 a month), while the new premium tier cost is a $2 increase (from $16 a month). New subscribers will have to pay the updated monthly fees, while current subscribers will see the new prices over the next few weeks as they roll out with customer’s billing cycles.

Industry insiders have long anticipated another round of price hikes at Netflix, which last increased subscription fees in the United States in January 2019. Recently, Netflix increased the cost of some plans in Canada. Netflix rolls out price changes on a country-by-country basis and the change “in the US does not influence or indicate a global price change,” a Netflix spokesperson told The Verge.

The price hikes also arrive at a time when people have more options for entertainment than ever before — especially in the United States. A few years ago, Netflix’s biggest competition in the streaming space was Hulu, and the company vied for people’s attention being split playing video games, watching YouTube, and sleeping. Now, the US alone has HBO Max, Disney Plus, Peacock, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, and Fortnite. Oh, and sleep is still a factor. Netflix is aware of this. Prices are being updated “so that we can continue to offer more variety of TV shows and films,” a spokesperson told The Verge.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Netflix is raising the price of its most popular plan to $14 today, premium tier increasing to $18 - The verge -10/29/2020

They are going to just push it till everyone hates them.

Kind of like BlockBuster.

Raising prices and reducing quality and riding brand recognition to the last drop.

I’m glad there’s so many alternatives now. Netflix can put themselves down.

[Steedeel]

Holy crap, what has happened tonight?

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Netflix is raising the price of its most popular plan to $14 today, premium tier increasing to $18 - The verge -10/29/2020

Aren't they losing subscribers due to their "Cuties" film? So why piss off even more subscribers?

I don't understand why they keep raising rates when Prime and Hulu subscriptions are significantly cheaper.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

If that member had not deleted their account at AVS I could show you some of their background. Member was a staunch HD DVD supporter, constantly railed against Blu-ray and became a streaming advocate when HD DVD folded. Not sure why a Blu-ray supported would wait till 2019 to become a member at this site.

That makes sense. The guy hates Blu-ray and for some reason seems to get excited at the prospect of cinemas shutting down. Your post confirms much of what I have been thinking.

Just wish he hadn’t took Vilya with him.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Aren't they losing subscribers due to their "Cuties" film? So why piss off even more subscribers?

I don't understand why they keep raising rates when Prime and Hulu subscriptions are significantly cheaper.

Prime and Hulu are side businesses for their parent companies and in some cases they are used as loss leaders to create more awareness for their other products.

Netflix isn't owned by a larger company. Raising prices is the only way to increase their income. Even if it eventually bankrupts the company short term gains will keep investors happy.

[PenguinInfinity]

I never understand why any streaming supporters hate physical media and/or want it to die.

If they believe that physical media is a threat to EST and all their purchases could be lost when it shuts down then why would they support EST in the first place? If they believe that physical media isn't a threat to EST then why would they care about physical media at all?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by bhampton

They are going to just push it till everyone hates them. Kind of like BlockBuster.

Raising prices and reducing quality and riding brand recognition to the last drop.
I’m glad there’s so many alternatives now. Netflix can put themselves down.

Originally Posted by MrHT

Aren't they losing subscribers due to their "Cuties" film? So why piss off even more subscribers?

I don't understand why they keep raising rates when Prime and Hulu subscriptions are significantly cheaper.

Even though you two think that Netflix has no value they have been wining Hollywood awards last couple of years and getting into better content. There were numerous examples of the level of content they provide.

from 2019


Netflix is now available in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world, and you are seeing what one would identify as a global TV networks with them.

Hulu owned by Disney is only available in USA and Japan.

Disney + is now in 30+ countries and territories around the world.

Prime memberships are currently available in 17 countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the UK and the US

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I never understand why any streaming supporters hate physical media.

If they believe that physical media is a threat to EST and all their purchases could be lost when it shuts down than why would they support EST in the first place? If they believe that physical media isn't a threat to EST then why would they care about physical media at all?

I have the same opinion. Streaming and physical media compliment each other. If you can't afford something you can go cheap and get it on streaming. By the same thinking, you might see something on streaming that you are dying to see how much better it is on physical media.

I remember back a few years I saw Croods in HD on Netflix before 4K streaming, I got the BD of it and it was really improved.

A lot of times you have something as BD in your media collection and you see it streaming in 4K and it inspires you to pick up the UHD BD.

Either way you are getting exposed to more content to make choices on which way to go.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Even though you two think that Netflix has no value they have been wining Hollywood awards last couple of years and getting into better content. There were numerous examples of the level of content they provide.

I don't know but Netflix's content has been decreasing overtime. And with the decreasing content comes frequent rate increases. Sounds like pure greed that's only going to hurt them because with the competition out there, it's very easy to cancel and subscribe to another streaming service. Even Prime offers way more content than Netflix and is cheaper.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I never understand why any streaming supporters hate physical media and/or want it to die.

If they believe that physical media is a threat to EST and all their purchases could be lost when it shuts down then why would they support EST in the first place? If they believe that physical media isn't a threat to EST then why would they care about physical media at all?

We don't hate PM, we are just over it. You have to move on, like I have always said it's all Digital. Both come from the DI, and where is that stored?......On a Server. PM will survive as long as Collectors Buy, but the cost will go up because to produce Quality PM cost, and supplies will be limited So yes that niche market will be there as long as the Collectors pay the price!

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by alchav21

We don't hate FM, we are just over it. You have to move on, like I have always said it's all Digital. Both come from the DI, and where is that stored?......On a Server. PM will survive as long as Collectors Buy, but the cost will go up because to produce Quality PN cost, and supplies will be limited So yes that niche market will be there as long as the Collectors pay the price!

Why do you care? If you don't have any concerns about the future of EST and streaming subscriptions then why do you care in the slightest about what other people buy?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by MrHT

I don't know but Netflix's content has been decreasing overtime. And with the decreasing content comes frequent rate increases. Sounds like pure greed that's only going to hurt them because with the competition out there, it's very easy to cancel and subscribe to another streaming service. Even Prime offers way more content than Netflix and is cheaper.

If Prime wasn't heavily subsidized by Amazon Sales it would not be only $119 a year. But don't be too surprised as content becomes more exclusive to the content owners that Amazon isn't hurt by all the consolidation occurring. Disney owns Hulu.

Using Decider.com as a source for comparing.

• Amazon Prime - November 2020
  
• Netflix - November 2020
  
• Hulu - November 2020
  
• Disney Plus - November 2020
  
• HBO MAX - November 2020 (no 4K or HDR)

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by alchav21

We don't hate FM, we are just over it. You have to move on, like I have always said it's all Digital.

How about you learn how to spell. I am so glad you are over FM radio.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

How about you learn how to spell. I am so glad you are over FM radio.

I think he was referring to Fysical Media.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Why do you care? If you don't have any concerns about the future of EST and streaming subscriptions then why do you care in the slightest about what other people buy?

He only pulling your leg. He represents only one view, streaming.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Holy crap, what has happened tonight?

I hate to jump into the thread after a day at work and see this. Both are really strong contributors to our sometimes dysfunctional little family we have here.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by alchav21

We don't hate FM, we are just over it. You have to move on, like I have always said it's all Digital. Both come from the DI, and where is that stored?......On a Server. PM will survive as long as Collectors Buy, but the cost will go up because to produce Quality PN cost, and supplies will be limited So yes that niche market will be there as long as the Collectors pay the price!

FM is a great Steely Dan song, why so much hate?

[MrHT]

If only people collected physical copies of movies back in the day, we wouldn't have THIS problem...

If any of you have a physical copy of any of those movies in that list, then congratulations, you have something that's worth a lot of money and you can become rich!

Having said that, I don't dislike physical media. I think it's great. But as I get older, I have less of desire to own and rewatch movies. The only reason I buy digital movies is because they are always on sale for $5 and to me, that's a rental price. So if I only "own" it for 5 years and then gets taken away from me, I look at it as a $5 five year rental.

But yeah, if there are movies I absolutely want long term, I buy physical. And that's why I have some BDs and DVDs I will cling onto and never get rid of.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Why do you care? If you don't have any concerns about the future of EST and streaming subscriptions then why do you care in the slightest about what other people buy?

I don't understand your question, I buy Movies in the Format that suits me. I really don't care what other people do. I started with VHS, then DVD, BD, and a little UHD 4K, before going all Digital. The Future of Movies and TV Shows are accessing from a Server on your own Network or Local Network. PM will be dependent on the Studios Profit Margin making those Discs worth the Cost!