Netflix sees subscribers opting for streaming over mailing, global surplus in red envelopes predicted

We already covered the numbers from Netflix's impressive earnings call this past Monday, but there was another story lurking in there too; a potential sign of the coming apocalypse for physical media. The company is reporting that many of its customers are replacing mailed movies with streamed ones, taxing the USPS less and their broadband connections more. CEO Reed Hastings is playing coy about whether this is a strong trend or just the curious behavior of early adopters, and since his company gets paid either way he probably doesn't care, but you can be sure those still firmly attached to profits from plastic discs are going to be watching this pattern rather closely. (As if Sony needed any more bad news.)

[cray Posted Jan 28th 2009 10:41PM]

A lot bitching over something that is still relatively new. Show some patience.

[Nathan Sweeney Posted Jan 28th 2009 11:04PM]

Many are disapointed with the selection of titles on Instant Watch. There are some great titles to watch, though not much new material. Most of Werner Herzog's films are available for a while longer.

Really, is the selection by Netflix's choice, or by the studios' refusal to allow newer titles to be streamed? I think it's more the studios not allowing Netflix to offer newer titles as Instant Watch.

[wolfus Posted Jan 29th 2009 1:58PM]

they need MANY MANY MANY more streaming movies - and TV shows... especially cable tv shows... either way, i use it, a lot, and it's great.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 30th 2009 8:33AM]

Two words, as as broadband ISP's infrastructure starts to crumble under the weight of all the traffic:

Broadband Caps