CNN Article: Studio's starting to play hardball wth NetFlix

[jinjuku]

Interesting (and sobering) article on CNN Money about how studio contracts are getting ready to reset at NetFlix. Enjoy your $8.99 plan while you can

I enjoy ad-hoc programming but I am to the point that my HT is just for the occasional movie. Programming just doesn't have a lot of intrinsic value for me any longer. Getting to the point if the cost is much above $20/month I am not going to participate.

 

[bikemig]

This is a really interesting article. We'll see if a wealthier competitor tries to buy up Netflix. The cable companies would love to see Netflix prices go up no doubt as they have done a horrendous job with streaming and see Netflix as a competitor. Netflix may well have to charge more for streaming going forward, provide a tiered plan, or perhaps charge per movie (like Amazon does for much of its content). Netflix is the small kid on the block which came up with a great idea and has disrupted the business plans of competitors who frankly are not doing a good job of taking advantage of new technology. I wish Netflix luck in kicking the door down when it comes to access to movies and tv shows.

 

[highfigh]

Sure, google and the others have a ton of cash on hand and may even be willing to pay what the studios want but at what point will people stand up and say "Your movies suck!"? Most are usually bad remakes and if they can't come up with anything but remakes, why should we kiss their ring? The studios are responsible for the HDMI debacle and now they want to gouge for licensing their crappy movies? I'd rather listen to music, anyway. I don't know the last time I rented a movie, I don't own a single one and I can't think of any that are so important to me that I need to buy a copy. I'm not in the majority, though.

 

[jinjuku]

Sure, google and the others have a ton of cash on hand and may even be willing to pay what the studios want but at what point will people stand up and say "Your movies suck!"? Most are usually bad remakes and if they can't come up with anything but remakes, why should we kiss their ring? The studios are responsible for the HDMI debacle and now they want to gouge for licensing their crappy movies? I'd rather listen to music, anyway. I don't know the last time I rented a movie, I don't own a single one and I can't think of any that are so important to me that I need to buy a copy. I'm not in the majority, though.

Yep, my TV viewing has fallen quite dramatically. The content stinks, it's expensive, the DRM and the way they would like to block my legitimate consumption of it is just too much.

Big content has hung out a sign that says: Go away.

We have received that message loud and clear.

 

[rgriffin25]

Sure, google and the others have a ton of cash on hand and may even be willing to pay what the studios want but at what point will people stand up and say "Your movies suck!"? Most are usually bad remakes and if they can't come up with anything but remakes, why should we kiss their ring? The studios are responsible for the HDMI debacle and now they want to gouge for licensing their crappy movies? I'd rather listen to music, anyway. I don't know the last time I rented a movie, I don't own a single one and I can't think of any that are so important to me that I need to buy a copy. I'm not in the majority, though.

I thought the music and movie industry are both evil junk pumping machines?

 

[jinjuku]

I thought the music and movie industry are both evil junk pumping machines?

I would hazard a guess there there are a lot more independent music labels providing great talent then can be said for the movie industry.

Last time I checked there wasn't a Telarc or Favored Nations type outfit in Hollywood.

 

[Midwesthonky]

The studies seem to be stuck in bad risk management mode. Go with the tried and true to make a buck rather than take any kind of risk with original and creative movies. Other movies have potential, but are done by studio execs who are clueless and therefore produce a crappy result.

I suppose it doesn't help that movie studios are fighting for attention against everything else: youtube, internet, streaming, stolen content, texting, sexting, billboards, tv, cable, video game console, online video gaming, etc.

Does suck though. There just are not many movies that make me want to fork out cash for expensive tickets, deal with annoying talking people in a theater, etc for a crappy movie. Plus they then work the advertising to try to get you to part with your cash. But then they misrepresent the movie so you expect one thing and get another which just leaves you pissed off and even less likely to take the risk on another movie.

Sigh...Even most TV programming sucks and suffers from the same issue. So many channels today and too often there is nothing to watch. Another reality program? Oh joy.

 

[highfigh]

I thought the music and movie industry are both evil junk pumping machines?

They are but at least we can listen to our own catalogs, streaming services and satellite broadcast. I'm using Pandora and they're playing all kinds of music I have never heard (but styles I really enjoy) or haven't heard in a long time. I've never been the type to buy everything I like or want and there's a lot of music I don't have. I'm not hearing a lot of new music that excites me either, unless it's local.

 

[Duff man]

Myself and a lot of my friends don't buy or stream movies at all. Most of us have a PVR and a high def TV, and subscribe to a cable package that includes a movie channel. I simply record movies and watch them at my leisure.

Some people may enjoy building a movie collection or just HAVE to have Blu-ray, but I rarely watch a movie more than once, and the picture quality that comes on the high def channels is good enough for my casual viewing habits. Also, I don't care if I have to wait a few months for a new release to be aired...I have 60+ unwatched movies taking up space on the PVR to worry about first.