Comments on: Netflix launches a new $7.99 DVD-by-mail plan

By: Jonathan Boutelle

Jonathan Boutelle — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:07:40 +0000

Vision hit the nail on the head. Nothing more to say here!

By: Vision

Vision — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 03:21:56 +0000

All the new movies are already available for streaming on sites like Vudu, Amazon, etc. This is not a technology issue. The issue is about the economics of streaming on a flat fee for unlimited streaming. The balance between a flat fee that the consumer is willing to pay vs. cost to acquire the streaming rights for all the new movies is just not feasible. We will definitely move away from DVDs, blurays etc to online streaming. It is just that we will always have two models- 1. flat fee for streaming some movies and 2. Pay per view.

By: David

David — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 15:02:48 +0000

Only one problem – big problem – very little of the decent and current movies are available for streaming. I would just go for streaming if that was possible, but until that happens, I still need DVDs coming

By: James S.

James S. — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:44:28 +0000

It won’t be anytime soon but everything will eventually be streaming.

By: Bob Shank

Bob Shank — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 18:21:47 +0000

Give, entirely, up on DVDs w/NFLX. Go ‘live-streaming.’ Why are you sitting in your recliner waiting for US snail-mail twice a week for a DVD movie from Netflix (NFLX)? I mean, huh? really? …and, WHY? What are you, some kind of lame-brain from the 19th Century?? You can get live-streaming from NFLX for $7.99/mo (that would be 7 dollars and 99 cents a month – get it?). This tiny package includes ALL the freaking movies you can watch 24/7/365, one after another, with no commercials until you freaking die – in your armchair – in your living room – and you can ‘Pause’, ‘Forward’, ‘Backward’, ‘New movie’, ‘Stop’ — whenever you want with the click of a button. DVDs? Fo’get about that lame stuff! Drag your butt into the 21st Century and get a LIFE!

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:31:34 +0000

Exactly. It’s not up to Netflix to “just stream everything.” Many rights holders are holding out on offering their property anywhere.
And to be honest, the last thing I would want Netflix to do is attempt to emulate Hulu with their horrible Hulu Plus Service.

By: Jonathan Boutelle

Jonathan Boutelle — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 04:50:52 +0000

DVDs were an anomoly. No TV station has ever bought the license to ALL CONTENT, and no web site will ever be able to do it either. DVDs, since they were physical goods that an owner had the right to do whatever they wanted with, were kind of a loophole. Everything will be available by streaming for sure, but it will be from a variety of destinations, with a variety of pricing models.

By: A S

A S — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 04:36:58 +0000

While I agree that streaming licences are very expensive now and sometimes totally unavailable, I wouldn’t say we should ‘never’ expect an all-streaming future. It’s going to happen sooner or later. DVDs are going to be as passe as floppy disks.

By: A S

A S — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 04:35:38 +0000

Lots of people have many ideas for Netflix streaming plans. What they don’t realize is that if Netflix could have its way, it would indeed stream all the movies/shows and totally retire DVD rental service. The only thing keeping Netflix from going 100% streaming is that they are not able to get permission from rights-holders to do so.

By: Jonathan Boutelle

Jonathan Boutelle — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 01:51:06 +0000

Reed is on record saying that users should NEVER expect all streaming content EVER. The streaming licenses for all the good content in the world are far too expensive for any company to ever acquire.

In the slides I linked to, he says you should think of netflix as suplemental (like owning a motorcycle in addition to a car). Sure, some people get by with just a motorcycle, but not many.