Criterion Collection Launching $11/Month Streaming Service in April, Coming to tvOS and iOS

[MacRumors]

The Criterion Collection has announced the upcoming launch of an all-new streaming service aimed at classic movie fans, called the "Criterion Channel." Launching on April 8 in the United States and Canada, Criterion Channel will include over 1,000 classic and contemporary films for $10.99/month (via Variety).

Image via The Criterion Channel/Variety​

Subscribers will also be able to pay $99.99 for an annual subscription, and each tier will include a 30-day free trial. Those who sign up now will get discounted prices, including $9.99/month and $89.99/year. The company says these prices will be locked in "for as long as you stay active."

Criterion Channel will be available on the web, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Android, Fire TV, and Roku devices. The company hasn't yet revealed specific movies that will be in the service, but confirmed that it will allow access to Criterion's entire streaming library and offer "constantly refreshed selections" of Hollywood, international, art-house, and indie movies.

The service's apps will showcase new films and content each day, including Sunday Spotlights on directors, stars, genres, and themes; Tuesday's Short + Feature; Friday Double Bill; and more. There will also be movie recommendations from filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro, Mira Nair, and Barry Jenkins offered within the app.

The new service will launch six months after AT&T and Warner Media shuttered FilmStruck, a service that was focused on classic films and was the only streaming home for the Criterion Collection. Turner and WB Digital Networks at the time said that FilmStruck remained "largely a niche service" for its entire run, leading to the decision to shut it down.

The Criterion Collection will now be exclusively available to stream on the Criterion Channel. If you're interested in signing up for the Criterion Channel to get the discounted price, you can do so now on the service's website.

Article Link: Criterion Collection Launching $11/Month Streaming Service in April, Coming to tvOS and iOS

 

[nburwell]

Received my email yesterday. Really looking forward to the service launching.

 

[MacManiac1]

Sure would be nice if they had at least a partial list of the films they plan to have. And I take it that it will be commercial free, but I wish they would say that.

 

[whyamihere]

The Criterion Collection will now be exclusively available to stream on the Criterion Channel.

Every studio, producer, creator, tom, dick, and harry now wants to charge for access to their own content and remove it from being consumed anywhere else. The decline in piracy is about to shift.

 

[Zxxv]

Watching tv and movies just went up financially to $299 per calendar month

In other news web traffic to pirate bay saw an increase of 6000% in the last quarter.

 

[Unity451]

Every studio, producer, creator, tom, dick, and harry now wants to charge for access to their own content and remove it from being consumed anywhere else. The decline in piracy is about to shift.

Truth.
As much as I love being cynical towards Apple these days... this would be a stellar time for them to introduce something to really shake up this industry just like they did with iTunes/iPod when mp3 pirating was at it's peak.

 

[arkitect]

Are people keeping tabs on all these monthly subscriptions?
Goodness knows I have a list as long as my arm… and it needs culling.

 

[John Connor]

Sure would be nice if they had at least a partial list of the films they plan to have. And I take it that it will be commercial free, but I wish they would say that.

The film they are currently showing, Mikey and Nicky, doesn't have ads.

 

[Jaro65]

Ha. And this just after Apple ran a Criterion movie special and I bought a bunch of Criterion movies through Apple TV. Still, there is some superb content available here that can free us from the traditional Hollywood flicks.

 

[outskirtsofinfinity]

Finally (as they say). I've been missing Filmstruck, and MUBI has limited selection. I may cancel Netflix and Crave now.

 

[roncron]

Oh how I long for the days when my Hulu subscription included a huge selection of Criterion films at no extra cost.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Watching tv and movies just went up financially to $299 per calendar month

In other news web traffic to pirate bay saw an increase of 6000% in the last quarter.

Pirating seems difficult without access to either a proper computer or an Android device (... which... now that I think about it, I think I would say that Android devices are proper computers. Disappointing that Apple is so reluctant to actually make iOS into a proper computer OS.)

 

[Gasu E.]

Every studio, producer, creator, tom, dick, and harry now wants to charge for access to their own content and remove it from being consumed anywhere else. The decline in piracy is about to shift.

Watching tv and movies just went up financially to $299 per calendar month

In other news web traffic to pirate bay saw an increase of 6000% in the last quarter.

Are people keeping tabs on all these monthly subscriptions?
Goodness knows I have a list as long as my arm… and it needs culling.

You can go through this thread and pretty much tell which posters don't know what The Criterion Collection is.

 

[machpost]

It's an outstanding collection of films for sure, but I'm not sure it's worth $11/month, on top of all the other monthly subscription fees I'm paying already. I'll probably just buy cheap used Blu-ray copies of the titles I want to watch.

 

[Westside guy]

Over time, for less than $11 a month I can buy the Blu-Ray or DVD versions of the Criterion movies I’m interested in, rip them and put them on my own home streaming server (a repurposed 2007 MacBook Pro). Heck, I own many/most of them already.

No thanks.

 

[arkitect]

Are people keeping tabs on all these monthly subscriptions?
Goodness knows I have a list as long as my arm… and it needs culling.

You can go through this thread and pretty much tell which posters don't know what The Criterion Collection is.

Since you took the time to include me in your pithy post, do tell how you came to that conclusion about me?
I am very happy to help you out just how wrong you are.

So next time before you jump to illogical conclusions, do read what people actually wrote. And not what you want to read.

Thanks!

 

[lunarworks]

Ouch, another subscription. But wonder of wonders, they're finally available in Canada.

Criterion would have been a perfect partner for Apple to contribute to their streaming service, with a rotating selection of absolute classics.

 

[dragje]

Over time, for less than $11 a month I can buy the Blu-Ray or DVD versions of the Criterion movies I’m interested in, rip them and put them on my own home streaming server (a repurposed 2007 MacBook Pro). Heck, I own many/most of them already.

No thanks.

Same here, but still, as shame this service will not be availaible in the Netherlands where I’m based...

 

[whyamihere]

You can go through this thread and pretty much tell which posters don't know what The Criterion Collection is.

Well, I do know incorrect snark. And I also know of multiple films in the Criterion Collection that are currently available to stream via other sources (Netflix for example). So once they make those films exclusive to their own platform, guess what! (my original comment holds true).

 

[2010mini]

People are never satisfied

They complained for years about breaking up big cable and for studios to offer a la carte content.

People who warned that a la carte would be expensive were shouted down.

Studios start to offer a la carte.

Reality of what was forewarned has set in.

People complain about a la carte.... now want content in one place.

 

[blindzero]

Sure would be nice if they had at least a partial list of the films they plan to have. And I take it that it will be commercial free, but I wish they would say that.

They will probably do something similar to FilmStruck rotating non Criterion titles in and out a little so it feels like a curated experience...but it says on page that it will have over 1000 titles at launch. Since current top spine number is 973, it seems like it will have the majority of the catalogue.
[doublepost=1548953322][/doublepost]

Over time, for less than $11 a month I can buy the Blu-Ray or DVD versions of the Criterion movies I’m interested in, rip them and put them on my own home streaming server (a repurposed 2007 MacBook Pro). Heck, I own many/most of them already.

No thanks.

Just one Criterion Bluray even on 50% off sale is $19.99. And for less than Netflix subscription you are helping Criterion restore and preserve films. Each his own I guess.

 

[perplx]

I hope these are the same quality or better than bluray as in 50GB+ per movie. Otherwise its seems like a waste.

 

[Sethal]

Every studio, producer, creator, tom, dick, and harry now wants to charge for access to their own content and remove it from being consumed anywhere else. The decline in piracy is about to shift.

It’s getting to the point where I don’t watch nearly as much stuff as I use to. I can’t afford all these streaming services, just like I couldn’t afford all the high package channels cable offered. I’ll stick to one or two streaming services and right now that’s Netflix and DirecTV Now. Netflix is pushing my loyalty discontinuing Marvel shows and raising their prices, and I’ll leave DirecTV Now in a heartbeat if I ever lose my discount cause their service is ****. It’ll be interesting to see what Disney+ and Apple bring to the table. Like I said though 1 or 2 streaming services tops. Not paying for more than that.

 

[tatsuki]

The background picture is from a old movie from the 90s that I liked, Red with Irene Jacobs (Three colours series) Not seen it in a long time, brought back memories.

 

[Plutonius]

Are people keeping tabs on all these monthly subscriptions?
Goodness knows I have a list as long as my arm… and it needs culling.

I believe that most people don't budget and keep track of their expenses. These are usually the people that complain the most about not having enough money.

I think that most people would probably be horrified if they looked at their monthly expenses.

As far as the new streaming service, I can't see people paying Netflix level monthly fees. They should have priced it at $7.99 / month or $59.99 / year.