Comments on: Without Movies, Netflix Is Dead In the Water

By: $14727610

$14727610 — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:08:00 +0000

If Netflix is reading this: stream every local TV station’s original programming (news shows, mainly). Then, start a, “commercial channel,” where classic advertisements are shown. For that matter, old sporting events might also make for good viewing. If possible, get old news broadcasts from the networks, organized by date so they could be viewed on the day the event happened. All of this is content that is sitting somewhere, ignored and forgotten. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

By: Sugarbooger

Sugarbooger — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:10:00 +0000

Despite catalog shortcomings, I would still watch streaming if ISPs like AT&T hadn’t put a cap on usage (except their own U-verse –> can you say MONOPOLY?)…..we can’t watch our “unlimited” streaming….and when we do, YES, the selection is lacking to say the least….we had the combo package that included streaming & DVDs, but were conned into dumping it….now I have found that approximately 3/4 of the titles we look for are DVD only or that there are HUGE gaps in material by certain actors — especially those in demand…not quite clever enough to keep us….

By: marxmarv

marxmarv — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:40:00 +0000

None of which three streaming services offer, for example, the charming, over-the-top sexploitation spoof Reform School Girls (1986). So much for depth.

By: marxmarv

marxmarv — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:33:00 +0000

Monetizing novelty and celebrity is the core of the motion picture cartel’s business model. The movies are just vehicles. If you think they’re going to give that up and undercut themselves by offering new releases to all and sundry streaming houses at archive rates, you’re high.

Netflix’s service is breadth, not currency. Those who see media consumption as a fashion accessory and wouldn’t be caught dead wearing, er, watching anything but the latest insipid Hollywood designer schlockbuster are likely to be happier elsewhere.

By: paul i

paul i — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:37:00 +0000

Well, no other service except the ones from Amazon and Hulu and Crackle.

By: gus gordon

gus gordon — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:57:00 +0000

Uh, what happened to my comment? And why did the Atlantic threaten to ban me? (which I discovered when I clicked on my name.) There was nothing the least bit risqué in either remark. Contrary to popular opinion perhaps, but not even remotely radical.

O.K. by me if you all want to just keep tossing around the same old second-hand banalities. I was simply hoping to provoke somebody into writing something interesting or, uh, perhaps original? But that’s what I get for wishing. Thanks anyway. Glad y’all are enjoying yourselves.

By: TankTop

TankTop — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:09:00 +0000

Hey, my 3 year loves the same show 6 times a day… every day…

But really, Netflix is drying up, it’s only saving grace is its user interface. I go to cable occasionaly to look up a show and I want to throw my remote through my TV! On demand has a wonderful UI from 1992… If Netflix would get blockbusters I would pay $15 a month and cancel cable yesterday.

By: Dennis McDonald

Dennis McDonald — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:08:00 +0000

This article makes a great deal of sense as long as you don’t have any interest in classic movies, intelligent TV documentaries (National Geographic, Nova), independent films, Asian horror movies and mysteries, old westerns, old Star Trek episodes, etc. etc. Other than that you’re right – there’s nothing to watch…

By: real_realist

real_realist — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:38:00 +0000

If Netflix charged a dollar to stream AAA titles, I would pay it. The movie would have to be a legitimate blockbuster, less than 6 months old, HD, and DD 5.1.

By: Jay Raskin

Jay Raskin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:17:00 +0000

I don’t have satellite or cable and I only watch a few shows over the air a week. I have had Netflix streaming service for four months and I’m very satisfied. I may not get to see the latest Hollywood blockbusters, but I’m seeing some wonderful documentaries, great French movies that I never heard about and old television series that I missed. Some of the classic films from the 20′s to the 70′s are films that I have heard about in my youth, but never got a chance to see until now. They are terrific. Right now there are 235 movies/T.V. shows in my cue. That number has been growing by the week. Whenever I watch a movie, I usually find one or two new ones that I want to see.

Last Month I went to the movies with my wife and daughter one night and it cost me $40. We watched some 100 movies and television shows on Netflix nearly every other night and it cost me $8. We got about 30 times more enjoyment at about 1/5th the price. People should be screaming at 20th Century Fox and Paramount for producing a far inferior product at a much greater cost as compared to Netflix.

It is a mistake to think that everybody just wants to see the latest Hollywood blockbusters. I am quite happy with the amazing and diverse selection that Netflix offers.

By: nilbud

nilbud — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:03:00 +0000

How cute, you don’t understand what was written but you still feel some compunction to attempt to contribute, corn fed.

By: a_guy_on_the_net

a_guy_on_the_net — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 04:41:00 +0000

Maybe pulling the old “bait and switch” on your customers wasn’t such a good idea after all?

Moreover, I don’t get the whole “DVD is Dead” camp. Actually it was the whole notion that Netflix would MAIL you the DVDs that you wanted that got people fired up in the first place! The only thing the customer had to do was get their lazy ass off the couch and check the mail.

I guess people can’t be bothered burning the precious calories and emotional trauma that checking their mail and possibly having to greet their neighbor might incur…

I quit Netflix several months ago, but renewed my subscription. So far, so good, but then again, I like movies like The Quick And The Undead…

By: DianaM

DianaM — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 03:19:00 +0000

I find that Netflix has a lot of British shows and movies, which I have found to be entertaining. I find myself speculating that maybe British Television is more flexible with Netflix because they are trying to get a foothold here. I am certainly becoming a big fan of it. I can’t recall the last time I saw a movie made by a US company. I mean, they aren’t available to me, so I have found other sources of entertainment.

By: $8290949

$8290949 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:25:00 +0000

snore …

By: $8290949

$8290949 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:25:00 +0000

This

By: RobertPerez1

RobertPerez1 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 01:20:00 +0000

Whether Netflix lives or dies is in the hands of the movie rights holders. What Netflix needs is a Steve Jobs like figure that can convince them that they are the best chance they have at surviving the future. I’m not sure that the Studio’s realize that the DVD is dead. People don’t want to get into their car to get a movie and more than they want to go to the library.

By: Laosurvey

Laosurvey — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:33:00 +0000

Just part of their cost of revenues. Looking at page 22, I think netflix can handle .8 billion in royalties for streaming a year. I didn’t find a similar listing in the 2011 10K, and that would be a more useful comparison.

By: Russell Ludwick

Russell Ludwick — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:36:00 +0000

Netflix started out good, but has taken a dump. The TV shows are the only things keeping me interested. They need more good movies people want to watch and they can’t replace movies like “the quick and the dead” with “the quick and the undead” and expect people not to notice.

By: Kevin Ring

Kevin Ring — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:23:00 +0000

With more services like Vudu and Google Play offering newer releases, I am shocked Netflix has not found a way to add a similar service to their offerings.I would be fine with a ‘pay as you go’ option for new movies on top of the current streaming library.

By: Haley

Haley — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:33:00 +0000

Hmm, well, looks like the actual link has been held up in moderation, but when it finally posts, it’s Page 62 of Netflix’s Form 10-K Annual Report filed with the SEC.

By: Haley

Haley — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:31:00 +0000

Oops, I think I said Page 64 but it’s Page 62. Sorry

By: nilbud

nilbud — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Once again provincialism strikes in the USA. The TV shows haven’t necessarily aired in other countries.

By: Johnnie

Johnnie — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:56:00 +0000

aaaaaaaannddd, that’s the sort of claim that would need some sourcing.

On what basis is your claim that Netflix currently owes 3.9 billion in royalty fees? I just googled it to see if you’re right, and I come up with nothing. Sounds kinda like a load of hooey to me!

By: Johnnie

Johnnie — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:52:00 +0000

maybe… but if they started charging the outrageous prices cable companies charge, I’d ditch them the same way I did the cable company. imo the issue is more that the content producers are seeking more profit than is reasonable for their product… I wouldn’t want to pay their prices either.

By: scxfan

scxfan — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Thank the movie studios Don.

Netflix is now having to pay thru the nose for decent content. They had good deals at first but now deals are coming up for renewal and the terms are not close to as favorable for Netflix.

By: Ricky

Ricky — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:10:00 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. I was absolutely THRILLED with Netflix initially but their content selection has dried up like the Sahara. It’s sad, because the technology and platform are wonderful, but without the content, it’s meaningless.

By: Shawn Lucas

Shawn Lucas — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:54:00 +0000

That’s what I was thinking, too. Our kids love the Netflix library and it has been good for me to catch up on shows that I somehow missed the first time around like Breaking Bad and Mad Men. I also agree with the collusion comment. Old money has been very slow in waking up to the new money movement and realizing that they can make just as much money albeit in different ways.

By: neurasthenie

neurasthenie — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:39:00 +0000

They should go for independent movies…nobody needs the shit from tinseltown. Big american productions only turn you into a zombie over time. That’s all you gonna get from them, besides a nice cerebral tumor. ;-)

By: LikeIt

LikeIt — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:05:00 +0000

I find NetFlix still very good and while I’d love to have more recent movies I assume part of getting them rests in their mail DVD service - I find the movie streaming depth a cornucopia of entertainment especially since they have increased their TV series offerings – great to find one and stay up watching for hours to completion. There is no other service out there that has the depth and delivery capability.

By: Pablo

Pablo — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:54:00 +0000

“movies” dont like netflix very much

By: Showkhin93

Showkhin93 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:51:00 +0000

Don’s next column:

“Without electricity, lightbulbs won’t work.”

Please, tell me more…

By: bibleverse1

bibleverse1 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:57:00 +0000

Yeah lack of recent streaming titles is a bummer. As someone who cut cable tv though its good at saving me money.

By: Bob Lee

Bob Lee — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Strongly doubt Netflix will get any more worthwhile movies from producers and distributors SO LONG as it fails to pay out the $3.9 billion in accounts payable that Netflix owes film makers in royalty payments. Then again, how can you pay $3.9 billion when your cash-on-hand is less than $50 million? Expect more funny money accounting before the ceiling caves in at Netflix.

By: me987654

me987654 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:30:00 +0000

It’s too bad that rampant collusion goes unpunished among media cartel members.

In any case you clearly don’t have kids.. netflix is FANTASTIC for kids shows.. tons of great educational stuff

By: CoolCustomer

CoolCustomer — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:14:00 +0000

Yeah, I’m not sure if Netflix knows that charging a higher premium for better streaming wouldn’t be a problem for a large portion of their user base. Though it’s doubtful the media will let them get away with it and will write it off as a huge negative preventing people on the fence about “upgrading” from doing getting on board. Just look at all the fuss over the split up of streaming and dvd’s. I rarely used my dvd’s and it was just a waste of resources as far as I’m concerned.

By: Dionte Love

Dionte Love — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:05:00 +0000

Netflix made me honest, if $20 a month will get me access to better content so be it. It’s still cheaper than cable and on demand. If it gets worse ill just start reading books from the library for entertainment.

By: Prevacator

Prevacator — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:13:00 +0000

You mean a service that delivers streaming media would be dead in the water WITHOUT having media to stream!?

GET OUT! THAT’S UNBELIEVABLE!