Blockbuster on demand is a joke

[Aharami]

I prefer blockbuster over Netflix because there is a blockbuster store right next to me and I like being able to exchange my mailed movies for a movie in-store. I recently heard that blockbuster is coming out with their on demand service and that it will only be available on samsung blu-ray players. That pretty much sealed the deal for me getting the Samsung BD-P1600 over LG's BD-670.

I just got around to hooking up my BD player to the internet and activating the blockbuster on-demand service -what a joke it is. There are only 50 movies, no TV shows, and all content are for extra fee, even though I'm paying monthly to Blockbuster. I just signed up with the netflix free trial (my BR player supports both BB and Netflix) just to see their on demand service, and it is light years ahead of BB.

Still not enough for me to consider switching to Netflix though. At least not yet.

 

[mizzou]

I have it available on my samsung blu ray, but i'm subscribed alrady to netflix. Beyond me why netflix + blockbuster are both available.

they work FLAWLESSLY, i love it

i believe that is the same exact model i have

netflix, you basiclaly get everything, but you just need to add it to your instant playlist

 

[TallBill]

I get a 2 day turn around time for Netflix physical discs, plus I don't ever want to step foot in a movie store.

 

[Aharami]

I get a 2 day turn around time for Netflix physical discs, plus I don't ever want to step foot in a movie store.

when blockbuster first started their 'exchange movies in-store', I had a really sweet deal. I'd exchange a movie in store, and BB would ship out the next movie in my online queue right away. At times, I ended up with 6 movies out at a time (3 from store, 3 from online)

Too bad they wised up and now only ship out movies from online queue when I return the store rented movie.

And my BB turn around time is 1-day. I live close to a hub I guess. No way can Netflix beat that at this time.

 

[StageLeft]

BB has been a dying company for a long time. And I knew it. I so wish I had the balls to do something with that on the market.

Anyway, Netflix streaming is just THE MONEY. That and hulu with a laptop and an HDMI cable have completely changed me recently. I wish Netflix would have a streaming-only option but have everything. To me I'm more interested in instant than video quality.

 

[thegimp03]

A bunch of the BB's around me have shut down over the past year or two so I use Netflix instant through my Tivo HD. Works perfectly - can also stream through my 360 and PS3. The quality for me is always set to the highest bars.

 

[Gibson486]

when blockbuster first started their 'exchange movies in-store', I had a really sweet deal. I'd exchange a movie in store, and BB would ship out the next movie in my online queue right away. At times, I ended up with 6 movies out at a time (3 from store, 3 from online)

Too bad they wised up and now only ship out movies from online queue when I return the store rented movie.

And my BB turn around time is 1-day. I live close to a hub I guess. No way can Netflix beat that at this time.

Yup, that is the reason why i stopped with Blockbuster.

 

[Slick5150]

The difference is that you don't have to have a monthly plan with blockbuster to download one of their movies, while with Netflix you do. Netflix' online component is an extention of their monthly program, while Blockbuster views them as 2 separate things.

There are obviously pros and cons of both.

Blockbuster does tend to have some new releases available online well before Netflix does.

 

[FoBoT]

netflix keeps adding more content to instant play
it is very nice

 

[DT4K]

I get a 2 day turn around time for Netflix physical discs, plus I don't ever want to step foot in a movie store.

With in-store exchanges, my blockbuster turn around time is 15 minutes. 5 minutes to drive to the store, 5 minutes to pick something, 5 minutes to drive home.

I've used both and the in-store exchange is the only reason I'm with blockbuster.
I can get a movie in the mail, watch it, exchange it for another movie, watch that one, and return it to the store, all on the same day. Two days later, I'll get the next disc on my queue in the mail.

Since I have the 3 at a time plan, I could theoretically watch 6 movies every 2 or 3 days. Or at least 60 movies a month for $18.

Within 5 miles, there are two BB stores and they are always busy.
Within 15 miles, there are at least 7 or 8 stores.

 

[soulcougher73]

With in-store exchanges, my blockbuster turn around time is 15 minutes. 5 minutes to drive to the store, 5 minutes to pick something, 5 minutes to drive home.

I've used both and the in-store exchange is the only reason I'm with blockbuster.
I can get a movie in the mail, watch it, exchange it for another movie, watch that one, and return it to the store, all on the same day. Two days later, I'll get the next disc on my queue in the mail.

Since I have the 3 at a time plan, I could theoretically watch 6 movies every 2 or 3 days. Or at least 60 movies a month for $18.

Within 5 miles, there are two BB stores and they are always busy.
Within 15 miles, there are at least 7 or 8 stores.

This is pretty much my same story to a 'T'. Store is only 5 mins tops from me.

 

[Andy22]

I am in Memphis and the turnaround for shipping to and from Netflix is one day...without fail. From the TV shows to the classic movies to the growing instant watch catalog, you would have to pry Netflix from my cold dead hands.

 

[DT4K]

I haven't looked at BB's on demand service, so I can't comment on that.
From what I've heard in the past, Netflix instant streaming stuff is pretty limited. I read something about them making a deal with Warner Bros., but in exchange for getting more streaming stuff, they had to agree not to rent new releases for the first month or something? Sounds like a fucked up deal to me and if it means I can rent a new release a month sooner on BB, then I'm definitely not going to Netflix.

 

[Theb]

I've never received a disk from Netflix that didn't work, even the kid movies. It was a constant problem back when I went to the BlockBuster store. Maybe 25% of the old release kid movies wouldn't be too scratched up to work. They'd give me a free rental and take it off the shelf when I complained, but they wouldn't replace it with another copy and it's not like I wanted to drive to the store twice.

 

[sourceninja]

I tried netflix for about 2 hours. The on demand was all standard res, and the videos were all old. It was great if you wanted to wait for disks, but that's about it. I canceled before my free trial was a day old.

 

[Nitemare]

Been with Netflix for probably 5 years or more. I tried Blockbuster, Walmart and a few others and nothing came even close. The hub is 20 miles from my house as well, so next day turn around on everything.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I tried netflix for about 2 hours. The on demand was all standard res, and the videos were all old. It was great if you wanted to wait for disks, but that's about it. I canceled before my free trial was a day old.

The selection has improved quite a bit, especially for TV shows. They had Lost season 5 on streaming at the same time as the DVDs came out, and they were streaming the new Spartacus at the same time as it aired on cable.

They also have Dr. Who, Torchwood, Sliders, Farscape, Primeval, Red Dwarf and a lot of other SF TV.

They're also making deals with the studios to delay new release discs by 30 days in exchange for streaming rights to new and old movies, plus cheaper disc costs (so they can stock more copies of the discs when they are released).

 

[gorcorps]

Not surprised Netflix is better than BB, look how much longer they've had the on demand service to work out kinks and get their library up.

I mean BB is still awful and I'm sure they won't get it going fast enough, but it's a little premature to call it a total failure already.

 

[Queasy]

Not surprised Netflix is better than BB, look how much longer they've had the on demand service to work out kinks and get their library up.

I mean BB is still awful and I'm sure they won't get it going fast enough, but it's a little premature to call it a total failure already.

BB On Demand has been around since 2007 I think. They're different services though. BB On Demand is more like Pay Per View than what Netflix is offering. That's why it gets newer shows.

I grew tired of Blockbuster constantly nerfing their rental plans. Yeah, I understand that they are trying to make a profit but constantly changing the terms is not a good way to hold on to customers. I eventually switched to Netflix for movies and streaming and am now trying out Gamefly for the second time for game rentals since they got rid of their rent 1 game get 1 game free coupons at mycokerewards.com.

 

[h8red]

http://www.streamingsoon.com/

Nice link to see what's coming to Netflix streaming

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Netflix owns the video market, BB is years late to the game

 

[Andy22]

I tried netflix for about 2 hours. The on demand was all standard res, and the videos were all old. It was great if you wanted to wait for disks, but that's about it. I canceled before my free trial was a day old.

You couldn't be more wrong but I can understand that since you spent only two hours making up your mind. There are thousands of HD on demand offerings. As for them being old? Wall-E, Paul Blart and Bedtime Stories are a few off the top of my head that are relatively new. Plenty of 2009 movies on there.

 

[gorcorps]

BB On Demand has been around since 2007 I think. They're different services though. BB On Demand is more like Pay Per View than what Netflix is offering. That's why it gets newer shows.

I grew tired of Blockbuster constantly nerfing their rental plans. Yeah, I understand that they are trying to make a profit but constantly changing the terms is not a good way to hold on to customers. I eventually switched to Netflix for movies and streaming and am now trying out Gamefly for the second time for game rentals since they got rid of their rent 1 game get 1 game free coupons at mycokerewards.com.

Ah, I figured BB on demand was fairly recent given that the OP said : "blockbuster is coming out with their on demand service"

 

[Queasy]

You couldn't be more wrong but I can understand that since you spent only two hours making up your mind. There are thousands of HD on demand offerings. As for them being old? Wall-E, Paul Blart and Bedtime Stories are a few off the top of my head that are relatively new. Plenty of 2009 movies on there.

Yep, the general rule of thumb for newer movies is that when they get done with PPV and the movie channels like HBO, then they are eligible for streaming. The rest just depends on licensing.

As someone else mentioned, some TV shows show up on almost the same day.

 

[sourceninja]

You couldn't be more wrong but I can understand that since you spent only two hours making up your mind. There are thousands of HD on demand offerings. As for them being old? Wall-E, Paul Blart and Bedtime Stories are a few off the top of my head that are relatively new. Plenty of 2009 movies on there.

I'll put it this way. Compared to ATT Uverse on demand offerings (video quality, content, etc) there was nothing that made it seem worth it to pay monthly.

If it was all 720p (or 1080i) and recent, I'd pay for it. I dont' care to watch old tv shows or old movies in standard res.

It may have changed, but we streamed about 5 different movies, each looked worse then the dvd copys I had on hand, and we couldn't find anything we actually wanted to watch. This was when they first released the xbox 360 application.

To each their own.