Netflix splits off DVDs - separate company Qwikster

[dwell]

Yes... But their streaming selection SUUUUUCKS.

And it's only getting worse. When they lose Starz they will have even has less content then they do now. The content industry is aligning to crush Netflix but not licensing content to them. Maybe they will make a huge deal sometime soon but it's going to cost them hundreds of millions of dollars.

 

[LookBehindYou]

I wonder if Netflix will change from an all you can consume streaming into per movie stream further down the road. I doubt they would be able to keep sub $10 price while all the content holders want more money as contracts expire.

I hope not, blockbuster movies and tv shows are one thing. But think of all the money you'd waste. I know I have started many documentaries and tv shows and old movies, that I got 10-20 minutes into and moved onto something else because they flat out sucked.

A per movie/show deal would kill them I think. I think that is why itunes movies and shows haven't become a real competitor to netflix. if they offered the subscription deal I bet a lot of people would jump ship.

 

[rudder]

Not sure if I get the point.

People paying $8 for netflix
Price doubles and people now pay $16 for netflix
People complain
Companies split
People paying $8 for netflix once again.

Maybe the $8 month for qwikster creates a disconnect for the consumer. So now they have to manage two accounts and still pay the $16 month.

Anyway I see trouble ahead for netflix. They use more bandwidth than torrents. Although it shouldn't matter to ISP's since they charge for a given amount of service... they want their skin in the game somehow as well. Whether it be throttling netflix or raising prices.. something will give on that end.

 

[mnewsham]

at least they kept the netflix name with the section of the company that will be successful. I can only imagine how pissed people would be if they had changed the streaming service name.

 

[MotionMan]

i got the same email a couple hours ago.

i suspect that the only people who got the email were those who canceled their mail service and stuck with just the streaming, since most of you who said you were cancelling after reading the op never got the email. i canceled the mail dvd service about a week ago and i got the email.

I got the e-mail but I had not changed my account. It has always been streaming only.

MotionMan

 

[Triumph]

To the ones who say dvds are going the way of betamax, that may be true, but blu rays aren't. I haven't watched a dvd in years, but I watch blu's all the time. Streaming, so far, has come nowhere close to matching the quality, not by a long shot, in both video and audio. Until it catches up (which could be a while, because that is a lot of data to stream), there has to be a viable option for physical media besides redbox.

I think it's clear that the industry should be going towards streaming, right now we're just working out who gets their cut of the pie. But yeah, Blu Ray and its successor will always be around, but it will be relegated to a videophile/audiophile niche market segment, for people who want the absolute best picture and sound. I'm betting that you will only be able to buy them online in the future, as there won't be enough casual viewers buying them in B&M stores to support stocking them. Same thing with CD's.

 

[waggy]

I think it's clear that the industry should be going towards streaming, right now we're just working out who gets their cut of the pie. But yeah, Blu Ray and its successor will always be around, but it will be relegated to a videophile/audiophile niche market segment, for people who want the absolute best picture and sound. I'm betting that you will only be able to buy them online in the future, as there won't be enough casual viewers buying them in B&M stores to support stocking them. Same thing with CD's.

maybe in 20 years. but until then blu-ray (and dvd) are still going to be the main source. Not everyone in the country have internet able to handle streaming.

IF/when we get internet setup better in the US i just don't see streaming takeing over DVD/s or blu-ray

 

[mnewsham]

maybe in 20 years. but until then blu-ray (and dvd) are still going to be the main source. Not everyone in the country have internet able to handle streaming.

IF/when we get internet setup better in the US i just don't see streaming takeing over DVD/s or blu-ray

I do not personally know anyone who uses the dvd by mail service, i know about 15 people who use the streaming service (the rest torrent) I think you are a little slow in this area, dvd's and blurays are almost already dead. For anyone with decent cable or Fiber internet anyway. They either do VOD, netflix, or downloading.

 

[microAmp]

maybe in 20 years. but until then blu-ray (and dvd) are still going to be the main source. Not everyone in the country have internet able to handle streaming.

IF/when we get internet setup better in the US i just don't see streaming takeing over DVD/s or blu-ray

Don't forget Time Warners desire to limit bandwidth and charge more for excess usage above the cap.

 

[waggy]

I do not personally know anyone who uses the dvd by mail service, i know about 15 people who use the streaming service (the rest torrent) I think you are a little slow in this area, dvd's and blurays are almost already dead. For anyone with decent cable or Fiber internet anyway. They either do VOD, netflix, or downloading.

The amount of the US that is covered in high speed internet is not that large. there are still very very large portions of the US that are still useing (GASP!) dial up or satellite (slightly better then dialup).

where streaming sucks on it or not possible at all.

DVD's are not going to die out anytime soon and are not "already dead"

now when we get off our ass and supply high speed interenet to everyone i see streaming being king adn then dvd/blu-ray dieing.

 

[mnewsham]

The amount of the US that is covered in high speed internet is not that large. there are still very very large portions of the US that are still useing (GASP!) dial up or satellite (slightly better then dialup).

where streaming sucks on it or not possible at all.

DVD's are not going to die out anytime soon and are not "already dead"

now when we get off our ass and supply high speed interenet to everyone i see streaming being king adn then dvd/blu-ray dieing.

In this era of globalization and all you can think about is the USA?

 

[Jeffg010]

maybe in 20 years. but until then blu-ray (and dvd) are still going to be the main source. Not everyone in the country have internet able to handle streaming.

IF/when we get internet setup better in the US i just don't see streaming takeing over DVD/s or blu-ray

Your a fool remember when steam came out? Everyone said that was never going to work. Now when a game is not on steam everyone get all pissy. It is going to be the same thing. With Apple TV, Roku, Sony SMP-N100, ect it is making streaming even easier. I hope to get the Roku 2 XS for Christmas it looks like a grate product for streaming.

 

[waggy]

In this era of globalization and all you can think about is the USA?

Yes. since its the only part of the world i live in.

 

[mnewsham]

Yes. since its the only part of the world i live in.

Okay, so is this the only country netflix operates in?

 

[waggy]

Your a fool remember when steam came out? Everyone said that was never going to work. Now when a game is not on steam everyone get all pissy. It is going to be the same thing. With Apple TV, Roku, Sony SMP-N100, ect it is making streaming even easier. I hope to get the Roku 2 XS for Christmas it looks like a grate product for streaming.

what? where did i say streaming sucked or wouldn't work? I said DVD/Blu-ray is not going to die (or dead as some claim).

as more people get access to high speed internet streaming is only going to get more popular.

 

[waggy]

Okay, so is this the only country netflix operates in?

don't know and don't care. I only live in the US. Since i don't live in those countries i don't know the state of how the infrastructure of the internet in said countries.

I do know how good/bad it is in the US though and since i live here that's where i base my arguments and knowledge of.

 

[Jeffg010]

what? where did i say streaming sucked or wouldn't work? I said DVD/Blu-ray is not going to die (or dead as some claim).

as more people get access to high speed internet streaming is only going to get more popular.

I never said you said it sucked I just call you out on saying that it will be anther 20 that streaming will be viable.

 

[nageov3t]

I never said you said it sucked I just call you out on saying that it will be anther 20 that streaming will be viable.

it's not that streaming isn't viable now, it's just that it's not in a state where it's close to overtaking physical disks.

Steam is great... but how many A-list games have seen digital-only releases?

 

[waggy]

I never said you said it sucked I just call you out on saying that it will be anther 20 that streaming will be viable.

and that is not what i said either..
streaming is viable NOW. but its not killing dvd/blu-ray. It won't until we get more people high speed internet (wich i said could take another 20 years or so).

Again i never sadi streaming is not viable or that it would start to be viable in 20 years.

 

[mnewsham]

don't know and don't care. I only live in the US. Since i don't live in those countries i don't know the state of how the infrastructure of the internet in said countries.

I do know how good/bad it is in the US though and since i live here that's where i base my arguments and knowledge of.

Netflix being an international company cant do what you are doing. And they wont.
Netflix is not doing this for the right now. They are spinning off Qwikster to continue their DVD/Bluray rentals But they are keeping the big name (netflix) with the company they know will succeed in the LONG run. Not now. But 5-10 years from now. They are planning ahead.

 

[mnewsham]

it's not that streaming isn't viable now, it's just that it's not in a state where it's close to overtaking physical disks.

Steam is great... but how many A-list games have seen digital-only releases?

EA seems to be taking it seriously with Origin. If they had their way you would only be able to download their games from them. And streaming is viable now, I have yet to find an area in the US where there is a large population base that doesnt have high speed internet. Now if you arent willing to pay for it, that is your fault. But if the option is there then streaming is viable.

 

[slayer202]

and that is not what i said either..
streaming is viable NOW. but its not killing dvd/blu-ray. It won't until we get more people high speed internet (wich i said could take another 20 years or so).

Again i never sadi streaming is not viable or that it would start to be viable in 20 years.

20 years? I think you are overestimating that by a lot. People's preference for the physical media is going to be the bigger obstacle imo. Owning vs. just "renting" is another factor. But the internet capability will be there. Too bad the US is lagging behind in internet bandwidth/speeds, as we are in everything else. But 20 years, don't think so.

 

[waggy]

20 years? I think you are overestimating that by a lot. People's preference for the physical media is going to be the bigger obstacle imo. Owning vs. just "renting" is another factor. But the internet capability will be there. Too bad the US is lagging behind in internet bandwidth/speeds, as we are in everything else. But 20 years, don't think so.

i hope its not 20 years. but at the rate its been expanding i suspect its at LEAST 20 years.

i agree also with the preference for the physical media. when given a choice between buying a digital copy or a DVD i always go DVD.

 

[Saint Nick]

I am considering making the move back to cable, unfortunately. Maybe getting a TiVo. I hate the commercials something fierce...

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I will be sticking with streaming for a bit. They have a decent selection of documentaries and History channel type stuff (right now I'm watching America: The History of Us which I wanted to watch when it first aired, but forgot), and some TV shows for backlog watching (like just finished ST: Voyager). For $8/mo I can live with that.

Now, if they have to jack up streaming prices due to the MPAA or something, then I might cancel. As long as it stays at $8 (or reasonable increases over time), then I'll stick around. As soon as they do anything where there is a 50% increase for just streaming, I'm out most likely.