Look, some people
are perfectly content to swap a DVD with Netflix once a millenia and watch Matthew Broderick and Michelle Pfeiffer in
Ladyhawke on their Xbox 360 -- other people demand something a bit more "hip" on their Instant Watch queue. Netflix is apparently investigating the possibility of an additional $10 monthly fee to watch HBO shows and movies on the streaming service, or at least has a poll to that effect. For people that keep cable around just for things like HBO and Showtime, it's an attractive proposition, and perhaps a bit of an inevitability, but at $10 a month we'd expect Netflix to toss in a bit more premium content than just what one channel has to offer. What's clear is that either way, people are going to find a way to watch this stuff online, and the first provider to figure out the right way to monetize and distribute it wins. This seems like a tentative step in the right direction, if it comes to pass.
posted February 1st 2009 6:50PM
I still prefer having every new release available in a la carte fashion on my Apple TV, but this is good news for online movies! Netflix is becoming pretty pervasive on Blu Ray players, video game consoles and even internet connected TV's, but the Achilles heel of Netflix's system is the lack of "good" content for their streaming service.
There's still a lot of work to do in that department for Netflix, but this is a step in the right direction.
I just dropped $100 on the Roku box this last week to get the free content. If they now decide to start charging for it I am going to be PO'd. I would not have made the purchase if I new they would want to pull this.
Have you not read any of the comments or the story Chumly? They are not charging you more all of a sudden, their asking about the possibility of charging extra for something such as HBO.
Besides, even with the Roku box don't you need to have at least some sort of netflix plan with streaming as an option?
"For people that keep cable around just for things like HBO and Showtime..."
What about sports channels, ESPN and etc?
I've read a few posts and comments talking about not needing cable anymore. Even with a HTPC (with a ton of movies I haven't watched yet) and XBOX360 (thinking about Netflix once they have more HD content), I can't imagine canceling cable because then I wouldn't be able to watch a lot of sports and more specifically, NBA and college basketball in HD. And there is also some other pretty cool shows in HD lately like How it's Made and ScifiHD channel.
But then again, I guess it did say "For (those) people...".
That would be a 50% increase for one "channel" of content ... and I think it sets a bad precedent for the consumer. I don't know of anyone who's looking towards Netflix to be become just like any other cable company ... given the infrastructure/capability of flawlessly and consistently delivering HD content is not there.
I wouldn't mind paying extra, since I already use my 360 for streaming, as long as all the new releases are available, if they charge extra just to end up watching old crap as it is now, I will cancel the service, I already get dvd's by mail from Blockbuster which I can exchange in the stores.
That is ridiculous - I can get HBO from Dish network for close to that price and they give me a bunch of HDTV channels for that money. I also have two HD dvr's so I can record and watch later.
I'd pay $50 a month if they could give me HBO & Showtime + all the other cable content that's worth anything (not much, btw). That way, I could cancel cable and save loads of cash.
Careful here Netflix... Don't get too greedy or your golden goose will dry up.
Some expansion into new territory might be good, if it is all option-based.
Streaming is a GREAT convenience for movies -- the quality of choice is just clearly lacking most of the time in current Instant Watching, but for something that is FREE, who can complain too much? There is always a half-dozen worth watching.
To ask for a bunch of new movies free instantly for $10 more a month -- well, people are just dreaming. It won't happen. But to ask for two or three more newer movies to the list, maybe changing every month--or maybe a few more within six months or a year of release--would be worth, $5, $10, $15 or more dollars additional, depending on the details of the plan,
Netflix needs to start streaming 5.1 before I use it for anything more than a random documentary or old TV show that I happen to find in their mess of stream-able offerings.
I think HBO is being too demanding here. $10 dollars is more than what I am paying for my Netflix subscription ($8.99) alone.
Not to mention we get Instant Starz and Showtime (look under Television > TV networks) for Free. What does HBO got to deliver that's worth that high price. It will have to be daily updated new content and have series that show all the episodes and not omit 1 or 2 like the current free instant channels do.