Netflix (DVD Delivery Discussion Only)

[domino harvey]

Which is 'Scope, so it shouldn't be seen via Starz streaming...

[ando]

Finally find a good one and you tell me that!

[redbill]

They snuck in On The Waterfront on me (I say snuck because you never know what's coming or going on the stream service). Another Brando flick currently available for streaming (courtesy of Starz) is The Appaloosa, a western directed by Sidney Furie which I've never seen...

I check this RSS feed daily, doesn't help with the going though: http://www.netflix.com/NewWatchInstantlyRSS" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[swo17]

This link keeps track of what's expiring soon.

[essrog]

The first three seasons of Breaking Bad are now available. If there's anyone on this forum who a) isn't watching this show and b) didn't shitcan Netflix when they increased their prices, you're officially out of excuses.

[mfunk9786]

WHAT. *lets parents know*

[ando]

Didn't know this thread existed. Thank You for those instantwatcher lists (and the Breaking Bad tip). Invaluable.

Incidentally, instantwatcher, apparently, has the HD movies listed separately here (by year of release, alphabetically - pretty damned cool):
http://instantwatcher.com/genres/506" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Perkins Cobb]

The first three seasons of Breaking Bad are now available. If there's anyone on this forum who a) isn't watching this show and b) didn't shitcan Netflix when they increased their prices, you're officially out of excuses.

The "can't eat just one" factor with long-running TV shows is one of the few advantages that I'll concede to the "convenience" of Netflix Instant. But ... Breaking Bad is available on Blu, and it's one of the few current American TV shows that really tries to be visually striking ... so my recommendation would be to watch it that way.

[jbeall]

Apparently Netflix's price-increase led to a surprising amount of shit-canning. (Apologies if this belongs elsewhere; didn't know where to post it.)

[Lemmy Caution]

After the 50% share price drop during the recent sell-off, Netflix plunged 20% yesterday as it became clear that the number of subscribers has dropped in the wake of their price increase. Changing their model and increasing prices during a recession was a bold gamble.
Should add that the share price of $170 is just about right back before the big '11 run-up.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/invest ... atest_news" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dx23]

It wasn't a bold gamble, it was just stupid greediness. Just because they are somewhat the only game in town doesn't mean that the can shake up things, raise the prices and in the process screw their customers on a product that it certainly not essential. This is the part of public companies that annoy me the most; instead of spending a little more money in improving streaming quality and giving more HD options, Netflix tries to make a corporate decision that only benefits their shareholders in the short term. They just thought themselves as being bigger than the current recession and the loss of members is just the start of the big hits they are going to get. If Dish Network gets the ball rolling with the Blockbuster streaming, they could become a serious competitor to Netflix.

[mfunk9786]

They've already got more streaming subscribers than disc rental subscribers. This was a smart move on Netflix's part, as much as folks like us are going to gripe about it.

[matrixschmatrix]

Assuming that they manage to maintain their near-monopoly on the streaming video market. And that the content isn't taken away studio by studio as they become convinced they could make better deals elsewhere. And that they can recover from the downward trajectory they're on right now.

[Lemmy Caution]

I don't know the corporate structure, but Netflix has market capital of $9B and it's shares are up 10x over a few years ago. I assume all at the top have made their super-millions, and I doubt they need to please shareholders. I assume they see streaming as the future and have pushed hard to get there first. If the 1M subscriber loss is mostly mail-it-in customers, they probably don't care much.
With that said, I'm not a Netflix customer -- Chinaflix is cheaper -- and have never used their service, and don't know the ins and outs at all, or the usage history very well.

[matrixschmatrix]

I think there's no question that streaming has worked extraordinarily well for them so far, and I wouldn't actually be surprised if they recovered nicely from this- but I do think that putting everything into streaming is a gamble, and certainly one that could blow up in their faces in any number of ways.

[Noiradelic]

IMHO, one of the biggest risks is the subscription model itself. As long as they're charging anywhere near $8 a month, they're never going to be able to afford most of the big recent releases the public at large wants to see, particularly when the studios keep raising the content costs. They may have to shift to a multi-tier or a hybrid model in which they charge individually for recent hits and premium catalogue titles, which would put them more directly in competition with iTunes and Amazon and open them to more risk.

[Ishmael]

Curiously, the "Saved" section of my streaming queue has now disappeared...which means that when they mysteriously remove titles without any warning (as happened just a few weeks ago with Hawks' Monkey Business), I won't even realize it until I go looking for that particular title. I wonder why they changed this? True, Netflix is committed to decreasing their level of customer service, but what advantage would this have for them?

[Donald Brown]

One's list of saved/unavailable titles invariably grows enormous over time, reminding one of how few titles Netflix is unwilling or unable to carry. It doesn't look good, so it makes sense for the new, improved Netflix to dispose of it.

[MyNameCriterionForum]

And how long will it be until we are no longer given an "expiring soon" date for certain streaming titles? They'll just disappear, poof, with no "saved" section to go to.

[swo17]

They used to tag expiring titles with the last available date a month before they'd be gone, giving you plenty of time to notice that something would be unavailable and watch it. My last few months using Instant Viewing, it seemed like they started only giving a few days of advance notice.

[Ishmael]

They used to tag expiring titles with the last available date a month before they'd be gone, giving you plenty of time to notice that something would be unavailable and watch it. My last few months using Instant Viewing, it seemed like they started only giving a few days of advance notice.

I think they've been giving a week now. Except when they don't tell you at all.

[ando]

That's why I've bookmarked instantwatchercom. They seem to give ample notice for expiring titles.

Three of the best Bond films were just added today: Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger are now available - with an Oct. 1 expiriation date.

[Mr. Ned]

Thanks for the heads-up. I hadn't seen From Russia with Love in years and, now seeing again, I still stand by it being the best and classiest Bond film of them all; that or On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Since today is the last day before school starts, I may as well splurge and watch Dr. No tonight.

[ando]

instantwatcher.com really is a timesaver. The Netflix search engine is impossible. I tried, for example, looking up "Shakespeare" adaptations and got 3 results on the Netflix site. instantwatcher gave me 15 straight adaptations and 15 or 20 associated titles.

And, if you're a Bard fan, Peter Brooks' King Lear (with the late, great Paul Scofield) is not to be missed (expiring Oct. 15) nor is Kenneth Branagh's Henry V. Imo, they're two of the best Shakespeare films ever made.

[Cosmic Bus]

Netflix to split DVD rentals exclusively to new site, Qwikster; adds video game rentals.