Netflix to spend $1 billion on new streaming content

[Modelworks]

Good news to hear, hope all this spending they have been doing doesn't raise prices too much.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ent...partnership-to-shake-up-pay-tv-landscape.html

In a deal that could transform the landscape for digital movie distribution, start-up pay-TV channel Epix is in serious negotiations to give Netflix exclusive online rights to films from its three equity partners -- Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The five-year arrangement would allow Netflix subscribers to watch movies such as "Iron Man 2," "Dinner for Schmucks" and this week's release "The Expendables" via the company's Internet streaming service, according to several people familiar with the situation.
The people noted that there are still outstanding issues that must be resolved before the deal can close.
Netflix is expected to pay Epix close to $1 billion in licensing fees over the life of the deal, bringing the channel closer to its goal of breaking even by 2011. Earnest discussions have been ongoing for several months.
The agreement would make Netflix, best known for its DVD-by-mail business, a potentially formidable competitor to Time Warner's dominant pay channel Home Box Office, which has movies from Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures. As more people watch Internet content on their televisions, Netflix has been investing huge amounts of money to acquire content for its streaming video service. It already has a deal with Liberty Media's pay channel Starz, which brings it movies from Walt Disney Studios and Sony Pictures. Netflix also recently acquired exclusive pay-TV window rights for films produced by Relativity Media.
Among the issues the two companies are discussing is when exactly Epix would allow Netflix to start streaming its movies. One person familiar with the matter said it would be at some point after Epix starts airing new movies, typically several months after they launch on DVD.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Meh. I wish they'd just stream every TV series and get new release DVDs on the actual release date.

 

[DesiPower]

Meh. I wish they'd just stream every TV series and get new release DVDs on the actual release date.

No, I like this structure, trading off 3 or 4 weeks or whatever and getting rights to stream the whole shebang was a awesome deal IMHO.
I am exited about this new project, go NF go

 

[boomhower]

No, I like this structure, trading off 3 or 4 weeks or whatever and getting rights to stream the whole shebang was a awesome deal IMHO.
I am exited about this new project, go NF go

Agreed. I would rather wait on the DVD's and have a broader streaming library.

 

[PricklyPete]

This makes me very happy. I'm going to push for no Cable/Satellite on my next move.

 

[FelixDeCat]

You could have bought Netflix stock last week after the "disappointing" earnings announcement for as low as $98. Now you have to pay $125 per share. :'(

 

[dfuze]

I like the idea of more available for streaming, current content is pretty lacking compared to by mail

 

[DaveSimmons]

More movie content will be great. The TV series streaming library is already very good.

 

[endervalentine]

how's the streaming quality? that's the only thing holding me back right now ...

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ depends on the show and how good your connection is.

Stargate Universe is in HD (720p I think) and looks great. Many other shows and movies are basically DVD quality.

If I care about the visual quality I get the blu-ray shipped to me, but for a lot of programs the streaming is fine.

 

[OutHouse]

i love instant watch on my blu-ray. last night i watched the 4 episodes of nip tuck season 1.

 

[PimpJuice]

You could have bought Netflix stock last week after the "disappointing" earnings announcement for as low as $98. Now you have to pay $125 per share. :'(

Its way too high. Their PE is over 50.....they are going to need some crazy earnings to validate that PE.

 

[Miramonti]

This snail mail thing has got to end, yesterday.

 

[vi edit]

Wow the idea of legal "day one" availability online has make the buttholes of theatre owners pucker up a bit.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Awesome. I watch movies infrequently enough for the snail mail to not be an issue anymore and with on demand I can usually find something to watch if I am just ridiculously bored.

 

[eplebnista]

Woot!

 

[GCS]

More content is great. I would just prefer it not to be glitchy for me anymore.

It used to work fine but for a week now everything is in "delayed". The video runs at a slightly slower speed sometimes. Very annoying to watch. I have reset my modem and router several times and it still persists. Extra content won't help me if I can't watch it.

Greg

 

[JM Aggie08]

The streaming looks kind of like crap IMO. Then again, i'm pretty anal about quality.

 

[Kev]

Wow the idea of legal "day one" availability online has make the buttholes of theatre owners pucker up a bit.

wat

 

[bfdd]

No, I like this structure, trading off 3 or 4 weeks or whatever and getting rights to stream the whole shebang was a awesome deal IMHO.
I am exited about this new project, go NF go

hell yeah, i pretty much exclusively stream things on NF as my form of entertainment so I'm super stoked about this.

 

[SP33Demon]

Streaming is fine, great news here.

 

[IGBT]

so how will bandwidth caps effect this?? don't they have to compress the video and degrade edge sharpness and other quality video/audio compromises??

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

They already have so much shit I can't keep up. I'm in the middle of Nip/Tuck right now, with at least 3 other series I'd like to see on Instant Watch. Even though a few that I'd like to see aren't on IW (True Blood), not much of a big deal IMO, I have more than enough to stay occupied.

 

[Chaotic42]

Agreed. I would rather wait on the DVD's and have a broader streaming library.

Same. I don't even mess with the DVDs. If it's not available for streaming, I don't bother with it.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

Only thing I do like about physical dvd's is being able to rip and copy them.