Nov 5 2010

Warner Bros. Making it Even Harder for You to Watch Movies from Warner Bros.

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Under the new plan, Netflix will only get the movie after at least one lead actor has died.

So, Warner Bros. (and other studios) have been experimenting with a month-long wait before new DVD releases hit Netflix. Apparently, that’s been a success because Gizmodo says that the company is thinking of making the wait even longer.

Obviously, the idea is that if you have to wait for a movie to show up on Netflix, you may break down and just go buy it.  Which, in my mind, makes absolutely no sense.  Maybe I don’t consume movies in the same way others do, but if you were really chomping at the bit to see a movie, so much so that you can’t wait four weeks to get it for (essentially) free from Netflix, then why did you wait four months for the DVD instead of just going to the theater?

The wait period may be convincing some folks who were on the fence to just bite the bullet and buy.  I admit I’ve done it when I wanted to see a movie at a very specific time (like for a Halloween party.)  But I can’t imagine that’s a huge number of people.  In fact, I’m more inclined to believe that the planned increase is an attempt to save a bad idea, rather than make a good one more profitable.  Am I wrong?  Anyone out there ever bought a DVD because they couldn’t rent it yet?


Aug 13 2010

Netflix to Officially Make Me a Hermit

A few days back, Netflix signed a five year deal worth nearly 1 billion buckaroos to assure that the majority of their users will never leave home again.

Yes, starting September 1st, Netflix will begin streaming films from Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM.  What does this mean to you?  Well, first off, you’ll finally get around to seeing Saw V.  Second, you’ll now be able to blow an entire weekend watching every James Bond film.  But most importantly, you’re going to be reminded why you have Netflix in the first place: Because that guy down at the video store makes fun of you for the movies you rent.  Not to your face…but you hear the laughing.  Oh, do I ever. You think you’re so funny, don’t you, Steve?  Well, laugh while you can, because soon it will be I who is laughing at you.

Anyway, we’re still going to have to wait 90 days on all new releases to hit the ol’ “Watch Instantly” queue, but with the amazing back-catalog of films that these studios have, there should be plenty to pass the time.  And I’m sure Netflix will make it’s $1 billion back in no time with all of the new users they get from this.  We’re talking mucho dinero, and probably some American money too.

via Yahoo!