Netflix does it again - UPDATE: Official statement - min. 2 streams per account

[xSauronx]

People seem to be forgetting something very important, we're only talking about $8. $8 for streaming as much as you want is ridiculously cheap. Any other content provider charges multiple times that for their service. So what if you have to make 2 accounts to watch more than one stream? You're still paying less than half of what you would for the most basic crappy cable service.

i wouldnt mind if their streaming selection wasnt getting reamed. my kids are already complaining that they cant find that much they like, i help and show them stuff, of course, but still....starz just refused to renew for $300m, thats a shitload of money, and clearly they think they can do better than that or they would have taken it. thats a lot of content to get dropped

 

[ch33zw1z]

When they changed their plans recently, this was exactly my complaint to the customer service rep. She said: "well, you can just buy another account", my reply: "then I'm forced to manage multiple instant que's, accounts, etc...How does this help the customer?"

My suggestion was to offer $5 per additional device, then the customer can watch on multiple devices, one instant que and account to manage.

If Netflix keeps fucking around, they're going to lose more custy's.

edit: Looks like our local library will be getting more than one visit per week from my fam.

 

[ViRGE]

Just about every new TV today has a QAM tuner, so all you have to do is plug in the TV and you're good to go (at least that's the case with Time Warner Cable).

I have a box downstairs in the living room, but I also have two LCD TVs upstairs plugged directly into the wall. Whereas the box downstairs gets me all digital channels and full programming, I can still get HD local channels and basic cable programming (1-78) to the TVs upstairs.

Time Warner must not be encrypting their expanded basic lineup yet. The waivers have been granted by the FCC, so I'd expect they will start at some point, following in the footsteps of Comcast. Otherwise they have to put filters on lines to block those channels for limited basic customers, which is something all the cable companies are looking to get out of.

Basically, enjoy it while it lasts.:|

 

[nageov3t]

i wouldnt mind if their streaming selection wasnt getting reamed. my kids are already complaining that they cant find that much they like, i help and show them stuff, of course, but still....starz just refused to renew for $300m, thats a shitload of money, and clearly they think they can do better than that or they would have taken it. thats a lot of content to get dropped

tell your kids to get jobs and buy their own dvd's if they want to complain about content, imo.

 

[waggy]

Not anymore you can't... most of the cable companies scramble their signals now, so you need a decoder box at each TV in order to watch anything than 3 or 4 basic TV channels.

That's how Comcast works now, anyway. The basic boxes are free, but you need to pay out the nose if you want an HD box or a box with a DVR.

at my ex-wife's place it still works that way. she has had+dvr in the living room and basic in the kids and her room. No box needed just put the wire in the back of the tv.

i think she has medicom.


i haven't had real "cable" for at least 9 years. with satalite you need a box per tv wich sucks and then you are limited to 4 tv's

 

[ch33zw1z]

I'm on Comcast, Samsung 32" LCD and LG 19" LCD, both with digital tuners, neither has a box plugged in. We have basic 13 channels (plus we get some extra HD channels that aren't advertised )

 

[Wyndru]

Basically, enjoy it while it lasts.:|

That will be another service I drop if that changes too, look at that, I'm saving money all over!!

I guess I'll try googletv next

 

[KidNiki1]

tell your kids to get jobs and buy their own dvd's if they want to complain about content, imo.

my kids are 6 and 8....

>.>

 

[nageov3t]

my kids are 6 and 8....

>.>

they could be running the iPad factory in China at that age!

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Arg... Very frustrating. We often have 1 stream playing in the living room and another in the bedroom or computer room. :thumbsdown:

 

[KidNiki1]

they could be running the iPad factory in China at that age!

damn! good thinking. looks like we are moving to china!!

 

[waggy]

damn! good thinking. looks like we are moving to china!!

family discount on merchandise? WINNING!

 

[mugs]

I've only skimmed the replies to this thread, but has anyone mentioned that as usual the Consumerist article title is a blatant lie to draw pageviews? There is no limitation of one stream per customer. The limitation that they're enforcing is the same limitation that they've had in their policy for years - one stream per DVD on your plan. They're just enforcing it now.

Big fat meh.

 

[LookBehindYou]

I've only skimmed the replies to this thread, but has anyone mentioned that as usual the Consumerist article title is a blatant lie to draw pageviews? There is no limitation of one stream per customer. The limitation that they're enforcing is the same limitation that they've had in their policy for years - one stream per DVD on your plan. They're just enforcing it now.

Big fat meh.

I mentioned it twice in this thread. Complainers will always complain.

 

[Miramonti]

so cancel. pretty simple solution

I see where this is going.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I've only skimmed the replies to this thread, but has anyone mentioned that as usual the Consumerist article title is a blatant lie to draw pageviews? There is no limitation of one stream per customer. The limitation that they're enforcing is the same limitation that they've had in their policy for years - one stream per DVD on your plan. They're just enforcing it now.

Big fat meh.

It's not really a lie, just some facts are left out Still, Netflix is hurting themselves with these decisions:

1. Price increases.
2. Losing Starz. (not really their decision)
3. Deciding to enforce limitations that should have been enforced since implemented.
4. Not allowing more than one streaming device per account, unless you also purchase the 2-disc plan, even if you don't use the discs.

 

[classy]

I have no problem with this. It should be that way. But they are falling apart. The streaming movie updates are getting worse and a lot of the "newer" content you can watch other places for free. The horror section is just terrible now. They have lost Sony and now Starz, I predict they will be gone in a couple of years from streaming. DVD rentals will still be there, but if Redbox continues to expand, many dvd rental places will be hurt greatly.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'm not familiar with netflix, but couln't you output the video to some kind of recording device, capture it overnight, and watch it later? So not having multiple streams is probably not that big a deal.

 

[PricklyPete]

To be honest I thought this was already how it worked.

 

[Wyndru]

I'm not familiar with netflix, but couln't you output the video to some kind of recording device, capture it overnight, and watch it later? So not having multiple streams is probably not that big a deal.

It's an extra step, and a lot of devices don't even allow it. Most TVs that are netflix compatible don't output video at all for instance. It should work on a bluray player, console or laptop though.

 

[Miramonti]

I've only skimmed the replies to this thread, but has anyone mentioned that as usual the Consumerist article title is a blatant lie to draw pageviews? There is no limitation of one stream per customer. The limitation that they're enforcing is the same limitation that they've had in their policy for years - one stream per DVD on your plan. They're just enforcing it now.

Big fat meh.

This makes me rethink the latest 60% price increase.

Maybe this new pricing was always their pricing format, but they just wanted to discount us all these years.

 

[slayer202]

I see where this is going.

oh yeah? It's already there. You either keep paying, or you can cancel. You are free to do whatever you want. Either you think the service is worth the fee, or you don't. I wish people would stop complaining and make their decision. A quick "well this sucks" would suffice just fine, but complaint after complaint is useless

 

[lupi]

Never got around to trying netflix. The more they change the more I doubt I ever will.

 

[aldamon]

We are not affected by this change. We are on 2 DVD + streaming and it's just the two of us in the house.

 

[SunnyD]

I'm still laughing at Netflix emailing me and saying, "We're having a problem charging your card this month..." Morons.

Netflix hit a HUGE brick wall with this. I'd run 2 streams at a time often - kids watching something and me and the wife something else. Occasionally three or for (I'd watch something on my computer/phone). This is just lame. I'm glad I left netflix this month.

I pay for DirecTV, I'm gonna get my money's worth out of it now.