Netflix shoots itself in the foot... aka no more free streaming

[Scout101]

Yeah, the name's just dumb. And by breaking it into two completely different things, and not even linking the queues, it makes it pretty easy to just dump the mail part in favor of someone else. Blockbuster is more (although you DO get blu-ray at that price cheaper than the Netflix add-on), but depending on how many movies you get a month, Redbox is cheaper, can get blu-ray for a dollar, and has new releases. If you are doing the movie thing for older titles, better off streaming netflix. Unless, of course, it's one of the many titles netflix doesn't offer to stream...

[Robert Maxwell]

The "-ster" suffix is basically a death sentence.

[Warp Coil]

I just canceled the DVD-by-mail portion of my Netflix account. I'd completely cancel my account altogether but I already dropped cable a year and a half ago, and I really like the Netflix streaming, even though I am growing unhappy with the company. I know that other companies are working on their own streaming initiatives and I hope they're able to knock Netflix off the pedestal its put itself upon. Honestly, who the hell is running this company? They were doing so well and now they've gone and screwed themselves over.

[RoJoHen]

DVDs have been canceled. We'll see how long streaming lasts.

[Brolan]

gh4chiefs wrote:

---

BB includes blu-ray and video games at those prices. Those service are extra on Netflix.

And if I had no interest in games or blu-ray I'd be paying extra for something I don't need.

[Data Holmes]

I think that Netflix and Dish (blockbuster) are rushing to get their net based streaming businesses in order because they are worried about the studios bid Digital Download push this xmas season and next year as well as what Apple and Amazon have in store.

The push by studios toward Digital Downloads was bad enough, but with Amazon's new Kindle with the included Prime membership, and Apples looming but still rumored TV unit, the industry insiders know that it's reaching a boiling point. Optical Disk format is in line to be obsolete as the primary mode of video distribution, outside of audio and videophiles and Bluray.

Mass distribution will be streaming, downloads, and sales of SD cards and USB thumb drives with the movies on them. These businesses need to adapt or die. THe Netflix CEO knows this, and is pushing his company into a stronger position long run by splitting off the successful but soon to be dead weight that is the DVD-by-Mail business.

[Scout101]

don't completely disagree, but it's not THERE yet, so putting all the eggs in one basket is premature. Also, you can spin off your mail business without seeming to go out of your way to kill it off...

[bigdaddy]

I'm really sick of the projections that discs are dead. They aren't, people still like them and will for awhile still. Physical copies are still better than everything else.

It's like the Target employee saying in January that DVDs will be gone by summer, and my the lasted now, because companies will only make blu ray. Change takes longer, and you can't rush it. Netflix rushed it and has paid the price.

[gh4chiefs]

Brolan wrote:

---

And if I had no interest in games or blu-ray I'd be paying extra for something I don't need.

I was responding to your post suggesting I was stupid (because of the price differences) for even considering I take a look at BB vs Netflix. I don't recall saying YOU (or anyone else for that matter) should switch to Blockbuster.

[FatherRob]

We got rid of Sattelite 2 years ago for Cable, and ditched it a year ago. We have an HD antenna in our living room and bedroom, and get crystal clear local channels. The only thing I really miss at this point is ESPN for Monday Night Football, but it's a small price to pay for the extra $80.00 a month I save by not having cable.

We made that choice because of Netflix. We understood and agreed with the choice to raise prices back in July. But this... splitting off the DVD business... is a pain in the neck. I love a lot of older movies, and often times the only way to get them is on DVD. Now I'll have to juggle two accounts to handle that? No thanks. We'll keep the streaming, but I think we're going to try to get what is in our Netflix DVD queue watched quickly, and then cancel the service.

Rob+

[gh4chiefs]

FatherRob wrote:

---

We understood and agreed with the choice to raise prices back in July. But this... splitting off the DVD business... is a pain in the neck.

That's where I'm coming down on this. Despite my questions to the contrary yesterday about the name change, I really don't care what they call the new DVD service. They can call it "Kissmyasster" if that's what trips their triggers.

But having to juggle two websites, and (apparently) not having the same level of intergration as they have now, well FatherRob is right, it's going to be a pain, but I would just say much lower down in the anatomy.

[Professor Zoom]

Brolan wrote:

---

Well let's see here, One DVD at a time Blockbuster $10, Netflix $8
Two out at a time, Blockbuster $15, Netflix $12. Yup, boy those Netflix guys are really screwing everyone, I can't wait for everyone to join Blockbuster so they can pay more.

I was actually fine with the raise in price. I was going to keep both the streaming (which I really like... lots of shows, documentaries and movies) and the 1 disc at a time. 15 bucks. good deal.

However, it's this splitting up into 2 websites that I think it is obnoxious. "Let's turn something that was convenient and actually a deal into something LESS convenient. They'll LOVE US!" that's what I don't get.

[Warp Coil]

Professor Zoom wrote:

---

However, it's this splitting up into 2 websites that I think it is obnoxious. "Let's turn something that was convenient and actually a deal into something LESS convenient. They'll LOVE US!" that's what I don't get.

Pretty much. Netflix is going to alienate and anger its customers by forcing them to manage 2 separate accounts on 2 separate websites instead of keeping everything in one nice, organized location. You'll have to manage 2 queues and won't get any sort of notification if something in your DVD queue is also now available to stream. If you are searching for a specific title, you'll now have to search for it twice. Go to Netflix, see if it's available to stream. If not, go to Quickster and see if it's available on DVD.

The new name for their DVD service is also a terrible marketing move, because they won't be able to use the Netflix brand that they've done such a great job at building. Potential customers will go "what the hell is Quickster?" and shun the service without even realizing that it was the same company.

It seems pretty clear to me that Netflix wants to eliminate its DVD business model entirely. First they split the company up, then wait for Quickster to crash and burn, then conveniently get rid of it due to lackluster performance. They'll say that sales figures clearly indicate that viewers only want to stream content now and that no one wants physical media via DVD.

[RoJoHen]

Warp Coil wrote:

---

It seems pretty clear to me that Netflix wants to eliminate its DVD business model entirely. First they split the company up, then wait for Quickster to crash and burn, then conveniently get rid of it due to lackluster performance.

Yeah, it seems like they're intentionally setting it up to fail so they won't have to deal with it anymore.

When that happens, maybe they'll have a "going out of business" thing and sell off the DVDs for super cheap!

[gh4chiefs]

Warp Coil wrote:

---

It seems pretty clear to me that Netflix wants to eliminate its DVD business model entirely. First they split the company up, then wait for Quickster to crash and burn, then conveniently get rid of it due to lackluster performance. They'll say that sales figures clearly indicate that viewers only want to stream content now and that no one wants physical media via DVD.

Why do you think that is? Is it really that unprofitable? Or is streaming just that much more lucrative?