A new report by The Diffusion Group reveals that of the Netflix subscribers who have broadband Internet access in their homes, more than 62% of them are using the “Watch Instantly” service to watch all the movies and television episodes that they want, at no additional charge. Perhaps the most telling result, however, is that [...]
[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/columns/2010/02/hdtv_almanac_netflix_streaming_to_tvs.php]Read Column[/url]
HDTV Almanac - Netflix Streaming to TVs
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alfredpoor
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karlhenri
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Netflix, AppleTV, Hulu, Blockbuster etc.
Good column.
I agree that the free service from Netflix creates a problem for the Apple TV when you compare free with not free. But now, when you throw Hulu into the mix, it sorts of complicates things too for both don't you think? A Netflix subscription is a small deterrent as well, and the casual person who just wants to catch up on a few episodes may decide that Hulu is good enough (if they have that show of course) or that a one-time $0.99 on Itunes is not a bad price to pay.
But now, why isn't Blockbuster matching the free download on their own service? I am a Blockbuster online subscriber, grandfathered on the $19.99/month for 3-at-a -time and unlimited store exchange plan.
That unlimited store exchange and the free coupons are gold for me at this point, because I can rent BLu-ray for same price and I can find the movies I want at the store faster than through my queue- and yet, I am keeping an eye on the Netflix. If Netflix can get a good selection of new releases on their download plan, then I'd look into moving over. However, it appears that the studios don't really want this.
But again, why isn't Blockbuster matching the free download on their own service? or giving their subscribers a break? Or create a plan with unlimited or limited downloads?
I am curious as to why you think that is.
I agree that the free service from Netflix creates a problem for the Apple TV when you compare free with not free. But now, when you throw Hulu into the mix, it sorts of complicates things too for both don't you think? A Netflix subscription is a small deterrent as well, and the casual person who just wants to catch up on a few episodes may decide that Hulu is good enough (if they have that show of course) or that a one-time $0.99 on Itunes is not a bad price to pay.
But now, why isn't Blockbuster matching the free download on their own service? I am a Blockbuster online subscriber, grandfathered on the $19.99/month for 3-at-a -time and unlimited store exchange plan.
That unlimited store exchange and the free coupons are gold for me at this point, because I can rent BLu-ray for same price and I can find the movies I want at the store faster than through my queue- and yet, I am keeping an eye on the Netflix. If Netflix can get a good selection of new releases on their download plan, then I'd look into moving over. However, it appears that the studios don't really want this.
But again, why isn't Blockbuster matching the free download on their own service? or giving their subscribers a break? Or create a plan with unlimited or limited downloads?
I am curious as to why you think that is.
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alfredpoor
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- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 9:27 am
Re: Netflix, AppleTV, Hulu, Blockbuster etc.
The main reason is that Blockbuster is in dire straits, and is on my deathwatch list. The latest financials are dismal, they're closing stores left and right, and about their only hope is to transform into a kiosk company that uses rewritable SD cards instead of read-only plastic discs. I'm betting that they won't make the transition quickly enough. The company is caught in a vise between RedBox (which owns the kiosk space) and Netflix (which owns the mail rentals business and is in the best position to deliver online content). I don't think that Blockbuster has the cash to compete, and they're too far behind the curve at this point.
Like you, we also had a grandfathered 3-disc Blockbuster account, but we traded that for a one-disc Netflix account last month when Blockbuster closed our local store. Now we watch streaming Netflix, and the first disc for our subscription is sitting on the counter, still unopened. Between Hulu, Netflix, and our two-tuner OTA DVR setup, we are paying $9 a month and have more content than we can possibly watch.
Alfred
Like you, we also had a grandfathered 3-disc Blockbuster account, but we traded that for a one-disc Netflix account last month when Blockbuster closed our local store. Now we watch streaming Netflix, and the first disc for our subscription is sitting on the counter, still unopened. Between Hulu, Netflix, and our two-tuner OTA DVR setup, we are paying $9 a month and have more content than we can possibly watch.
Alfred