Cable (including pricing and bundling) works very differently in different countries.
Netflix loses big-name movies, promises better exclusive content
- Thread starter AnarchoWookiee
- Start date
Yes. At least for me in the United States. We cut cable in 2009. We use Hulu Plus, Netflix on a Roku. I also run a Plex media server for downloaded content. I borrow my Father In Law's username and password and watch NBCSports and the wife watches NHL network. Any live sporting event (except the Olympics) I've been able to find on some streaming website.
We pay for blazing fast internet service and a few pennies for Netflix and Hulu Plus. Far cheaper than cable and we watch more TV now than we did when we had cable.
But does it have Rent-A-Goalie?
Yeah, my bad. I meant from the perspective of someone who lives in the United States. Normally I do a better job of making that distinction clear, but I was half-asleep when I posted that last night.
How does it work for you in Germany?
That's what I thought. After my post I did some googling and apparently there's a relatively new service out there called Sling TV that lets you stream a bunch of cable channels, and its base package only costs $20/month. Sounds like it's getting easier and easier to cut the cord...
They can't do that, as it's illegal. Content licensed by them to be shown in one country/region, cannot be exported to another, even if you're an American/Canadian/European traveling abroad with a account. Netflix allows you to see the local version, but you can't access (legally) the US and or your home service.
Yes, it is too much to ask. One service to rule them all, something we've dreamed of for decades, not limited to Netflix. Studios DO NOT WANT THIS, as they make far more money pitting one service against the other, resulting in bidding wars that drive up prices. They get big bucks selling discs to people that want movies when they are released, collect fat checks from the pay service with the biggest wallet, then gets to resell those movies 5-6 years later as those films get classified as "library" titles. The pay service that didnt land them exclusively during the initial bidding, will still pay handsomely later on to augment their lineup.
Netflix' focus on originals is a response to the price gouging that they have had to endure. They paid Epix $1 billion- with a "B", for the movie package. And then watched as Epix sold the same package to Amazon, Redbox's now defunct streaming service, AT&T, Dish, and others for nowhere near what they shelled out.
HBO turned to making originals after creating the exclusivity wars in their battles against Showtime in the early 80s caused the flow of movies to both them and their pay tv siblings Cinemax and The Movie Channel respectively, to dry up... Netflix really doesn't have a choice but to follow the same gameplan.
Hulu dropped the "plus" from it's name in July. Its now just Hulu. And if you use a pc, they permit you to watch a selection of older programming and movies for free, but their main offerings, namely, next day or same week episodes of shows from their broadcast network owners (NBC/Fox/ABC), are behind a pay wall @ $7.99. The free stuff cannot be viewed on set top streaming devices or thru the Hulu apps on game consoles.
If there was one single monopolistic service, what'd stop them from drastically jacking their prices up?
And Amazon offers a huuuuuge selection of movies to rent for a day at $3 SD, $4 streaming, no subscription or Prime required - about the same or even cheaper, in other words, as many video store rentals used to be, and you don't need to leave home or make a return trip. (And Netflix's disc service has pretty much anything one could want, also.)
But going to the store (in a group) was fun because we'd have usually more fun arguing over what to rent than watching the movies we rented.
It's called Antitrust, and it's a law. Monopolies should be impossible in America.
It's called Antitrust, and it's a law. Monopolies should be impossible in America.
I kind of doubt that much will change for the Canadian version, if any, since we haven't had the same library. I find very few Hollywood Blockbusters on there to begin with, and I find myself watching more independent and foreign movies as of late, which seems to be more of a focus for the Canadian version. The only recent push for more movie content was after the Oscars with the winners.
I also find it to focus more on TV shows, as we tend to have more recent TV shows rather than movies. There's also the fact that in Canada, we don't have the same alternatives like Hulu or Amazon Video, and less places for content to go to.
But you make up for that with universal healthcare.
Very few people have so far decided that rewatching Transformers 4 is more important than having a bullet removed.
Although, I saw a miniseries recently with that Mountie from Due South (Paul Gross makes everything better.), selling Canada to the US for a polite annexation, so that he could run for POTUS and rule the new united 62 states of America... But my point was if Canada became America, or America became Canada, because of a swift and successful invasion, how would that effect everybody's Netflix?
Very few people have so far decided that rewatching Transformers 4 is more important than having a bullet removed.
Although, I saw a miniseries recently with that Mountie from Due South (Paul Gross makes everything better.), selling Canada to the US for a polite annexation, so that he could run for POTUS and rule the new united 62 states of America... But my point was if Canada became America, or America became Canada, because of a swift and successful invasion, how would that effect everybody's Netflix?
Really?
I always find some gem on German netflix. There's a nice selection of international movies for example. Some fun documentaries, too.
I'm confused. Does this mean Netflix will be losing all its big-name movies, or just the ones from a specific supplier?
Absolutely. Those were the days. Major urban centres still have video stores! It's awesome being able to browse brand new releases, pick up the actual packaging and examine it. Plus I ultimately see things that I never see searching online.
Personally, I never saw the value in Netflix because you pay for the bandwidth separate from content... and most people have caps imposed. Couple that with no control over the content and that's a deal breaker for me.
There's no cap on Netflix streaming. All their streaming plans offer unlimited viewing. The only caps are on the DVD rentals.
I think he's talking about caps from bandwidth providers.
We're with Time-Warner and have no data caps.
It's stuff from Epix which is Paramount Pictures/Viacom, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lions Gate Entertainment as far as I'm aware.
Hmm, that's a pretty big chunk of the pie, then.
If I signed up for Amazon Prime, would it work like Netflix and Hulu (formerly Plus), i.e. for a flat monthly fee I can watch everything they offer for no extra charge?
If I signed up for Amazon Prime, would it work like Netflix and Hulu (formerly Plus), i.e. for a flat monthly fee I can watch everything they offer for no extra charge?
No. There is only select things you can watch for free. Plus, there is a flat yearly fee of $79.99. But that also includes free two-day shipping on most things you order from Amazon.
Oh, that's just silly. I can understand not wanting Netflix if you have a low bandwidth cap, but not controlling the content is a deal breaker? The same could be said for cable. At least with Netflix you can watch whatever they have whenever you want and for a much, much lower price.
And 80 dollars a year is only 6.67 per month, which is cheaper than Netflix and a bit pricier than Hulu. Seems reasonable, but I'm already a Netflix and Hulu and cable subscriber, so it kind of adds up. (And I watch so little on cable anymore than I'm sometimes tempted to drop it altogether, but there are still a few things I can only get there.)