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Netflix splitting DVD rental and streaming services

Netflix said:
Your current $11.99 a month membership for unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs (including Blu-ray access) will be split into 2 distinct plans:

Plan 1: Unlimited Streaming (no DVDs) for $7.99 a month
Plan 2: Unlimited DVDs (including Blu-ray), 1 out at-a-time (no streaming) for $9.99 a month

Your price for getting both of these plans will be $17.98 a month ($7.99 + $9.99).
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I'll likely drop them altogether. When I want to watch, I typically stream since whatever DVD I have from them isn't something I want to see at that moment. I've been underwhelmed with their streaming selection, so I don't see much point in continuing the service.
 
I was actually considering rejoining Netflix, but now I'm not going to bother.

It's just not worth it for me at those prices, especially since the quality of the streaming titles are so meh.
 
Well

I am ok with this as we never rent the physical DVDs. We are changing plans to streaming only and saving a couple bucks actually.

That being said, Netflix had better step up their streaming game and start getting more recent releases and a broader library.

I would love to see some serious competition.
 
MattSepeta said:
I am ok with this as we never rent the physical DVDs. We are changing plans to streaming only and saving a couple bucks actually.

That being said, Netflix had better step up their streaming game and start getting more recent releases and a broader library.

I would love to see some serious competition.
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I don't think it's a competition issue. Don't the studios control what they can stream?
 
rdowns said:
Don't the studios control what they can stream?
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That's what Hulu claims. From their website:

Why are some of the shows I watch on Hulu not available on devices?
We understand that the content difference can be confusing, and at times frustrating for our users, so we hope this explanation is helpful.

For background, when we launched the free Hulu.com service, we obtained licensing to stream content direct to the PC – and only to the PC. With the launch of the subscription-based Hulu Plus service, we had to start from scratch and acquire licensing to stream content on TVs, smartphones, and tablets as well as PCs. We tried to get as much overlap as possible. (We want it all, of course!) But there are still some exceptions that we are working to resolve.

Today, Hulu Plus includes hundreds of shows, some of which haven't been available online before, and full runs of many of them. (To see a full list please go to Hulu Plus Content page)

Still, we understand it's disappointing when you can't access some of your favorite shows on your favorite devices. Please know that we are working diligently to include as much content as possible in Hulu Plus so you can enjoy more of your favorite shows where and when you want, and we're confident the offering will improve over time.
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It's very frustrating. I've been dying to cut the cord to cable, and I'm willing to pay to do it, but there's just not enough content (that my wife and I watch, anyway) available for streaming outside the browser for it to be feasible.
 
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dmr727 said:
Hooking my MBP to the TV via HDMI works, but is a pretty kludgy option.
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Yeah, right now, having a dedicated computer, like a Mac Mini or other small PC (mine is an EeeBox) that can be attached to the back of the TV or tucked away and then controlled remotely (by iPhone, remote control, BT kb, etc) is probably the best option. What's kludgy there is still that there isn't a good interface for some things (e.g. Netflix), although others have a great couch-level interface (Hulu).
 
dmr727 said:
That's what Hulu claims. From their website:



It's very frustrating. I've been dying to cut the cord to cable, and I'm willing to pay to do it, but there's just not enough content (that my wife and I watch, anyway) available for streaming outside the browser for it to be feasible.
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I was considering cutting the cord but now that Cablevision has blanketed the area with free wifi, that has stopped me. They have also been talking about offering cell service much of it would be on their wifi. I'd rather cut ATT out of my life.
 
They say it's to better serve their customers, but they know damn well that most of their subscribers use both options, and also that they're basically the only DVD by mail service with Blockbuster not doing so well.
 
What makes the least amount of sense is that they offer ZERO discount to those who subscribe to DVD and streaming. At least that would give some incentive to stick with NF streaming.

If both are full price, there's no reason not to stick with NF for physical dvds but dump their streaming in favor of someone else.

But what's a decent alternative, especially for someone with an apple product like appleTV or iPad (hulu has no video out)?
 
milo said:
What would you recommend?

Streaming only isn't that appealing until someone has an offering that includes virtually all available content, basically what's available on netflix DVD. Is there an offering with that kind of selection?

I guess doing someone else's streaming plus NF discs (is there a better alternative to NFs discs by mail?) would be an option if someone else has a more competitive streaming option - are there ones with a better combination of price and selection?
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Seems like people are putting too much emphasis on getting it all from one provider. People look at Netflix and see that there are very few new releases and instantly exclaim "crap". I use Netflix for my everyday entertainment, and when I feel like watching a new release I stream it from Amazon video (much cheaper overall than iTunes). I've also used Hulu+ to watch current TV series. Using all three together often costs me less than $20 a month.

I am overwhelmed with the amount of content available...
 
We were coming out of a free trial period and based on this new change we will be cancelling entirely. It's too expensive for what's being offered in my opinion.
 
mscriv said:
We were coming out of a free trial period and based on this new change we will be cancelling entirely.

It's too expensive for what's being offered in my opinion.
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Counsellor, do you realise the harm you just caused?

People in windowless rooms spend man-years plotting to shape customers to their bidding.

Your position is unconscionable!!! :mad:








:rolleyes:
 
Decided on the streaming only plan, Red Box and Comcast cable.
Dammit. Went into this looking to cancel Comcast and save about 80 a month, but not possible. The wife likes shows like "Gross Crap from the ER" and "20 Brainwashed Kids and Counting".
Sigh.
 
Plutonius said:
Yep, if you get the streaming + 1 DVD, it's about a 60% increase. Netflix could not increase the streaming only cost because of the competition so they have passed the entire cost increase to the people who get the physical DVDs.

The streaming content is pretty mediocre and it was the DVD that made it a good deal (for the current monthly price). I'm still on cable so I'll probably end up dropping one or both (streaming / DTV).
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I was shocked by this. My wife likes the streaming because there is lots of old stuff there to view, however, if you stream thinking your getting all the latest movies, forget it. You'll see some old movies, some recent movies that bombed at the box office, and many old but good movies, you can't even stream them.

Whose quitting Netflix?? I probably won't but I'm not happy this news and am considering alternatives.
 
zweigand said:
Seems like people are putting too much emphasis on getting it all from one provider. People look at Netflix and see that there are very few new releases and instantly exclaim "crap". I use Netflix for my everyday entertainment, and when I feel like watching a new release I stream it from Amazon video (much cheaper overall than iTunes). I've also used Hulu+ to watch current TV series. Using all three together often costs me less than $20 a month.

I am overwhelmed with the amount of content available...
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True about multiple sources being an option but even that is much more limited than NF's streaming plus discs. NF isn't just lacking new releases, the movie selection is spotty even when it comes to older titles. TV series seem to be the best, but even those are missing many significant titles, both old and new.

Amazon would be OK for "renting" a new release here and there, but it doesn't fill the gap that NF dvd covers, there's tons of material not available, particularly tv series. Or in the case of TV, renting at over a buck an episode is a horrible deal, in some cases more expensive than buying the DVD set.

Hulu has a few things that NF doesn't, but many TV series are only a season or two instead of the whole thing. The commercials put it at a disadvantage, and for someone streaming to iPad, the lack of video out is a deal breaker.

As much as the price hike sucks, it looks like there is a ton of content that's available from NF's dvd service that isn't on any of the streaming options, at least not yet. At this point I think my plan will be to cancel the DVD plan for now, stick with streaming for a while until we feel like we're running low on things to watch, then switch back to DVD to catch some of the stuff that's not on streaming and look at streaming options from the competition. I figure at some point someone else's streaming will be competitive with NF and at that point I could see doing discs from NF and streaming from someone else.
 
Cancelling my account over this change. Their streaming options were fairly limited as is. They'll definitely be losing lots of customers/revenue over this change but their stock is up on the news. Go figure.
 
Netflix should not split the service into two billing lines until all new releases come out on the digital stream at the same time as DVD.

It is ridiculous to see new releases come out on tier one providers to wait months for the DVD on Netflix then have to wait even longer to be able to stream.

I have enjoyed Netfilx for the past year, between the OLD movies and TV shows, available for streaming and newer releases on DVD, the price was agreeable. Now the price is such I am considering jumping back to Comcast, getting a movie channel using their free movie stream and using redbox for over night rentals.

URGH!
 
Huntn said:
Whose quitting Netflix?? I probably won't but I'm not happy this news and am considering alternatives.
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I am staying put --- actually upgraded from streaming only (selection was woefully lacking, I thought) back to 2 BD out, without streaming option. I am an Amazon prime member, so I can stream from there, if I need to. I don't watch a lot of scripted TV, so I canceled cable, and will purchase the odd BD movie that is not available on NF, so I actually came out ahead.

I don't have a problem with NF raising its rates, as I am free to cancel if I don't like their terms, and have done so in the past. I am always considering my entertainment options, and how to maximize my limited entertainment dollars. I only, however, draw the line at torrenting, partly due to ethnics and partly because of stories like these :)
 
We might cancel our mail service until we catch up with the instant queue. Then we might start up the mailers again and drop the streaming service for a while. We'll have plenty to watch either way, and that will avoid paying double the price for the minor convenience of having both at once.
 
Lex Friedman at Macworld says:
I believe that paying $16 a month for a service that was once $10 (and, just a few months before that, $9) irks me. I think the blame for that cost increase falls mostly on the shoulders of the studios that license content to Netflix, although the company hasn’t said so publicly. If enough likeminded customers scale back or cancel their Netflix subscriptions, I don’t know that it punishes the studios—but perhaps it will help send a message.​
 
Doctor Q said:
We might cancel our mail service until we catch up with the instant queue.
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For those pondering canceling, I just wanted to mention, that I put my Netflix on holiday, and it was scheduled to be on holiday until early August, but I logged in yesterday, and they actually let me extend the holiday until mid-October. So, if one wants to see what not having Netflix is like, putting the account on hold may be a pretty good option....
 
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