Netflix changes pricing structure

[Alley Oop]

Originally Posted by CrazyJoe

Personally, I don't care about their cost. I would pay more if they would give me more but their new movie selection is crap. I will do almost anything to stop watching commercial ridden TV.

There's no free lunch.

The studios want big bucks for streaming rights.

Netflix is the middle man and has to pass on costs.

The market will decide.

[CrazyJoe]

I'm not buying it --- the market has to stay competitive. Redbox gets the movies at a price they can rent them for $1. This is setting the bar for the future.

IMHO --- Comcast and others have milked this cow for all they can get. Comcast has separated every little thing they do into a add on price structure. I am now down to the minimum TV channels to get High speed internet and as soon as ANYONE comes along for competition -- I will dump Comcast in a heartbeat.

I get my internet phone from Vonage and it is better and cheaper than Comcast. They had all my business and could have kept it but they want to squeeze me out of every dollar they think they can get. You can bet they are not making it off of me.

Sure --- there is a market for Aston Martins but those cars don't pay the bills for the entire population. The companies that will succeed in the future will realize that $1 from everyone is way better than $1000 from a few.

[jstrain]

Joe, part of the problem is that streaming and DVDs are licensed separately. And it sounds like the streaming licenses are getting much more expensive.

Comparing a streaming based business to a physical DVD based business is apples and oranges.

[jstrain]

Also Joe,I have Comcast Internet and no cable tv service at all. Maybe it's a regional thing, but tv and Internet aren't coupled afaik.

[Desmo]

I'm not buying it --- the market has to stay competitive. Redbox gets the movies at a price they can rent them for $1. This is setting the bar for the future.

It's not setting any bar for the future. Driving to some store to pick up a DVD is outdated by 15 years or so. And once the DVD format is dead, Redbox will be dead too. You won't see any new companies copying that kiosk model. I'd bet on it.

And maybe for you Redbox makes sense. But for me? It's useless. I have to go to some crappy 7-11 across town to find one. Or to a grocery store that I never use and don't want to go to. What kind of model is that? It's nothing more than a scaled down rental store. And look! They charge late fees too! Yay!! Just like the good old days!!

Now, having discs arrive at my door every few days, that works for me. No late fees either, and I can rent as many as I can possibly stand to see in a month for $8.

Regarding streaming - The content OWNERS who sell the rights to Netflix to stream their content have seen what a huge market streaming is and now they are gonna make Netflix pay BIG bucks for the right to use their content.

As jstrain said, DVD vs streaming are entirely different animals.

[CrazyJoe]

Originally Posted by jstrain

Also Joe,I have Comcast Internet and no cable tv service at all. Maybe it's a regional thing, but tv and Internet aren't coupled afaik.

Here Comcast makes you take the first 15 (or something) channels in order to get the internet. Racket.

The point I'm trying to make is this --- there is only so much money folks have to spend on the telephone, internet, TV experience and when you add all this up --- it's getting out of hand.

Of course, I'm an old man and I was raised to shy away from anything that represented a constant monthly charge. I don't believe many folks realize how much money they are really spending on some of these things.

Then again, I'm amazed that people want to stream a video to a little phone screen anyway. Especially now that they've sold us all on the big screen concept.

[CrazyJoe]

Originally Posted by Desmo

It's not setting any bar for the future. Driving to some store to pick up a DVD is outdated by 15 years or so. And once the DVD format is dead, Redbox will be dead too. You won't see any new companies copying that kiosk model. I'd bet on it.

And maybe for you Redbox makes sense. But for me? It's useless. I have to go to some crappy 7-11 across town to find one. Or to a grocery store that I never use and don't want to go to. What kind of model is that? It's nothing more than a scaled down rental store. And look! They charge late fees too! Yay!! Just like the good old days!!

Now, having discs arrive at my door every few days, that works for me. No late fees either, and I can rent as many as I can possibly stand to see in a month for $8.

Regarding streaming - The content OWNERS who sell the rights to Netflix to stream their content have seen what a huge market streaming is and now they are gonna make Netflix pay BIG bucks for the right to use their content.

As jstrain said, DVD vs streaming are entirely different animals.

I hear what you're saying but it is different in different areas. Redbox is everywhere around here and most places we go to all the time.

I see that streaming and DVD's are different but, to me, it's simply how and where I'm getting the content and whether or not I am willing to pay for it. I agree streaming is a better way to go but if it starts costing too much -- I'll bow out of all of it.

[jstrain]

Originally Posted by CrazyJoe

Here Comcast makes you take the first 15 (or something) channels in order to get the internet. Racket.

The point I'm trying to make is this --- there is only so much money folks have to spend on the telephone, internet, TV experience and when you add all this up --- it's getting out of hand.

Of course, I'm an old man and I was raised to shy away from anything that represented a constant monthly charge. I don't believe many folks realize how much money they are really spending on some of these things.

Then again, I'm amazed that people want to stream a video to a little phone screen anyway. Especially now that they've sold us all on the big screen concept.

I don't doubt that they require it. I signed up for new service when I moved into my apartment, so maybe I'm in a different boat. Just pointing out that you may me able to get just Internet from Comcast. Like I said, that may be a regional thing.

I totally agree with you about the monthly cost. When I was married, we started out with basic cable. Then digital came out. Then a premium channel we wanted. Then dvr capability on one of our cable boxes. After a few years of that, we were easily paying $120 or more per month.

When I moved into my current place, I was adamant about not getting caught up in that mess again.

[Desmo]

I have never heard of Comcast requiring TV as part of the internet subscription.
My mom has ATT Uverse for TV, and comcast for internet.

[Alley Oop]

Originally Posted by CrazyJoe

Sure --- there is a market for Aston Martins but those cars don't pay the bills for the entire population. The companies that will succeed in the future will realize that $1 from everyone is way better than $1000 from a few.

Everyone is not Walmart.

Thank goodness.

I don't get upset about prices. You pay or you walk. Your choice.

I get upset about unfair competition.

[jstrain]

Come to think of it, you may be able to get Internet only from Comcast, but you get charged more if you don't have tv service. Basically, you pay about the same for basic cable + Internet as you do for Internet only.

Since I was new service, I got some kind of 6 month discount. After 6 months, I think it was supposed to jump to $50ish per month for Internet only. 10 months later and I'm only paying about $32 per month I'm not calling to check on that billing issue

[gotfz1]

Movies do well in tough times.

Even if you're an "old man" and don't want recurring bills compare the cost of going to the movies with the wife once per month vs the cost of unlimited movies from a service. Get back to us.

[Blind Spot]

Notwithstanding the desirability of available content Streaming VS physical rentals like RedBox. How is everyone figuring that redbox is the cheaper solution?

I think it'd be most dependent upon your viewing habits.

For example. Last week I watched a lot of Futurama, Top Gear series, The Machinist, The Hustler, The Crow, Clerks I/II.

I watch enough streaming content in a month that RedBox can't trump the Netflix monthly by itself.

Then you also have to consider the time involved in going to a RedBox location, any lines (there usually is) and the fact that you need to bring the movie back (more time) or else pay penalties. You have two trips, probably 30 minutes of time (unless tacked onto another trip) with gas.

[Desmo]

If you go to the same location every day maybe it makes sense. But I ain't making a special trip to
rent a movie ever again, and the whole idea of being hit with late fees again is laughable.
Welcome to 1980 Redbox!

[Alley Oop]

I've seen Red Box mentioned a lot today.

I've only peered into one of those (at a hotel), and it had the worst selection imaginable.

I already don't have time to take a relaxed dump much less make another stop at a video kiosk.

So I wouldn't care if they were one penny.

I think if I were really that poor I'd just say f*** it and reread all my books and go to a matinee movie once a month and bring my own hard candy. Been there, done that.

[CrazyJoe]

Originally Posted by gotfz1

Movies do well in tough times.

Even if you're an "old man" and don't want recurring bills compare the cost of going to the movies with the wife once per month vs the cost of unlimited movies from a service. Get back to us.

Sorry --- I'm not that stupid. I've been to maybe 2 movies in 30 years. When I was young --- you didn't have to take out a loan to go to the flicks.

[Alley Oop]

What are the current options for watching a NEW release movie?

[Desmo]

Originally Posted by Alley Oop

What are the current options for watching a NEW release movie?

You mean new to the theaters?

You can see it in the theater or wait for the DVD release. Studios release DVDs at various times after the
theatrical releases. There have even been some that released the DVD at the same time as in theaters. But that is rare.

Other options? Pirating new releases from the web.

[Alley Oop]

Originally Posted by CrazyJoe

I've been to maybe 2 movies in 30 years.

I hope one wasn't White Chicks.

[mikec426]

Originally Posted by hunter-scout

Now if I can get the wife to dump direct tv!

NO! Just saw that NFL Sunday Ticket is now included with DirecTV. That almost gave me a chubby! Me want DirecTV!

Of course for current subscribers they will probably still charge you...