Who said Netflix is in trouble?

[Todd Anderson]

Subscribers are up 27% and Q1 revenues are up 40%... looks like Netflix has weathered streaming war fairly well.

We subscribe and I’ve been somewhat frustrated by the inaccessibility to movie titles... apparently original content is driving the boat?

 

[tripplej]

Original programming is indeed what is driving Netflix.

 

[GFOviedo]

My wife and I have been watching their original tv shows and movies a lot lately.

 

[Asere]

We love Santa Clarita Diet!

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I'd love to see Netflix drop the catalog and focus on their original programming. The catalog films and TV can be accessed just about anywhere these days, and Netflix's catalog content has dropped in quality. Their originals are where the value is coming from.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I think you're right @thrillcat, and I I think they're headed in that direction. Folks are willing to pay to gain access to their shows.

We're finally making our way through Stranger Things and are enjoying it!

 

[Mark C Flick]

I dunno, I do like some of the original programming but I'm in it for recent Blu-ray releases more than anything else.

 

[Tonto]

I subscribe as well. Watching Longmire now. 6 seasons if I remember correctly, very good, in season 4 now.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

Subscribers are up 27% and Q1 revenues are up 40%... looks like Netflix has weathered streaming war fairly well.

We subscribe and I’ve been somewhat frustrated by the inaccessibility to movie titles... apparently original content is driving the boat?

The lack of new mainstream movies has been a long ongoing issue. My understanding is that its an issue of money. The people who own the movies don't want to give them away, they want their $3 for each showing, so Netflix simply can't offer their current model and afford such options. I've also heard the studios simply won't license these movies and would rather do it themselves. I've often wondered if they could provide a second tier service where, for more money, you get access to more movies. I would try it if they offered something good.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

The people who own the movies don't want to give them away, they want their $3 for each showing, so Netflix simply can't offer their current model and afford such options. I've also heard the studios simply won't license these movies and would rather do it themselves.

These two points...

I'm also sure it has much to do with the added competition in the marketplace these days. With Amazon Prime competing, they have the added value of selling digital and physical product alongside the subscription model. Even VUDU now offers some movies for free to entice users into the platform, where they can sell/rent the new releases.

When Netflix started streaming, they were really the only subscription game in town for movies. Now there's Prime, and Hulu has movies as well. Not to mention your other point...doing it themselves.

 

[Todd Anderson]

There's also that Disney thing... ultimately they may end up being the king of streaming flicks

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

You mean Movies Anywhere? That's competing more with UV than Netflix.

I think there will always be a subscription streaming option, but I see the Vudu model of offering free old titles alongside the rental/purchase new releases as the strong player in that battle. It's basically taking Movies Anywhere AND UV and adding that layer of enticement on the front step.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

You mean Movies Anywhere? That's competing more with UV than Netflix.

I think there will always be a subscription streaming option, but I see the Vudu model of offering free old titles alongside the rental/purchase new releases as the strong player in that battle. It's basically taking Movies Anywhere AND UV and adding that layer of enticement on the front step.

I generally agree.

What I really want is to see someone offer a streaming/download service with lossless or truely perceptually lossless video. It needs to have a true uncompressed audio track the equal of Blu-ray and it needs to have better video. The only option right now is restricted to proprietary hardware that is simply too expensive.

I'd pay a few dollars for a rental of a movie if the quality is good and a streaming or download approach would be amazingly convenient. As of right now, Vudu is the closest cheap option, but the quality isn't quite there yet.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I generally agree.

What I really want is to see someone offer a streaming/download service with lossless or truely perceptually lossless video. It needs to have a true uncompressed audio track the equal of Blu-ray and it needs to have better video. The only option right now is restricted to proprietary hardware that is simply too expensive.

I'd pay a few dollars for a rental of a movie if the quality is good and a streaming or download approach would be amazingly convenient. As of right now, Vudu is the closest cheap option, but the quality isn't quite there yet.

You mean Kaliedescape?

It is exactly what you want. And, just like VUDU, it connects to UV (not sure if Movies Anywhere is available yet, but I'm sure it will be). Kaliedescape is the model for the future of home video distribution. As the studios continue to push consumers away from physical media, we just have to hope they get some competition that will drive the hardware costs down.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

You mean Kaliedescape?

It is exactly what you want. And, just like VUDU, it connects to UV (not sure if Movies Anywhere is available yet, but I'm sure it will be). Kaliedescape is the model for the future of home video distribution. As the studios continue to push consumers away from physical media, we just have to hope they get some competition that will drive the hardware costs down.

That is the product I was referring to. I can’t afford $3500 for a video player. I also believe it requires custom installation.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

That is the product I was referring to. I can’t afford $3500 for a video player. I also believe it requires custom installation.

Few people can afford it. I don't know that it REQUIRES custom installation, though I can't say for sure. I have a friend who owns one, and he didn't have a custom install, but he's also a member of the industry, so could've skated around their typical policy that way.

This is where I wish Oppo would've gone, or in theory, could still go. Create a piece of hardware to compete with the Kaliedescape.