Looks like the movie studios are beginning to realize that Netflix is racing away with the streaming market, and things are starting to change fast: hot on the heels of
Warner forcing Netflix to accept delayed DVD rentals in exchange for better streaming terms, Disney and Starz are reportedly renegotiating their deal, and blocking Netflix is one of the terms. Most new releases on Netflix right now are part of the StarzPlay package, and the studios don't get a cut, since they've already sold those rights to Starz. As we all know, the studios aren't big fans of not getting a cut, so what Disney is trying to do is block Netflix from dealing with Starz and force it to license streaming rights directly -- not the end of the world and certainly not impossible, but a move that has the potential to disrupt service and raise prices. As of right now, things are status quo and no one's talking on the record, but we've got the feeling there's a shakeout coming -- stay tuned.
posted January 15th 2010 6:04PM
@credo lol, seriously. i dont even want any copies of anything. i have a mess of dvds in storage i need to purge. i'm honestly over it. would rather have it in the cloud or all on a drive.
@NetNewsercom
I'm not sure that that's how Disney's Key Chest will work. What's Amazon's motivation to stream a movie to you for free??
@(Unverified). money. they will get some each time a studio wants to access their service.
@NetNewsercom
Ok, so I go out and buy a disc at a brick and mortar, so that I can then sit home and download it afterwards? Nothing that I see about that replaces the convenience of streaming.
Also, I won't even wade through the 500 channels I'm not subscribed to from a cable provider to surf the 100 I am (a result of the cable cos intentionally wasting my time to try to sell me channels I've long ago decided I don't want). Nowadays, If I can't browse an EPG that I can enter search terms into, I won't watch anything. The more fractured streaming catalogs become the less likely I'll be to use them.
Brick and mortar is three steps removed from that... I don't even know what they have before I drive there. If II have enough motivation after a long day of work to go someplace for a surprise ending, I'll go someplace to engage in the real world.
When i cancel my netflix subscription and resort to just pirating movies, ill be able to tell the judge "Disney made me do it!"
@Ioncloud9 And unfortunately the judge will still fine you hundreds of thousands of $$$$$. You are effed either way.
@Ioncloud9
right on, brother
Fuck the skull of Disney if they pull that shit.
@lamerz
I think Eisner already wore it out.
Greedy ba$terds.
@JackB
"Greedy ba$terds."
9 bucks a month, and you're mad because every movie in the world isn't on there. Who's being greedy? These threads always fill up with people that think they have to get day one new releases, and have streaming full of new releases for 20 bucks a month, or their getting ripped off - back to piracy we go!
I'll go along with it if you all promise not to use the internet to steal. Walk into a store and take it.
Don't act all noble. You don't steal to make a point, and you don't steal as a protest to some injustice. You steal because it is easy, and you're spoiled - just admit it. Everybody does it, right? So no one will get mad at you, just call it what it is.
@ntriusbil
I could have misunderstood, but I think you missed the point. I'm too spoiled and downloading movies is too easy.
That's exactly what the houses are too busy protecting their traditional dollars to capitalize on. I'd gladly pay to feed my lazy habits, but moves like this leave only one route for the convenience of download service.
All the tech is here, ready to go, tested and proven by netflix and other online content providers. This happened despite publisher's best efforts to prevent core development (don't cite funding for and participation in encryption standards, even those are self-serving competing train wrecks). All the excuses are gone, and most publishers are still tearing themselves apart in adamant greed and denial.
I just want my online services.
@ntriusbil
My spoiled a$$ has purchased over 1,000 DVDs, HD-DVDs, Blu-Rays and hundreds of items on iTunes...all legally, thank you very much!
D'OH! Just when I saw that the new Spartacus would be streaming on Netflix starting Jan 22. weaksauce.
Another liberal company trying to pad their pocket. Hopefully they'll pay more than they owe in taxes because higher taxes create prosperity.
@(Unverified)
RANDOM!
Torrents.
Wow they deserve what they get which is piracy people are trying to go legit and they act like idiots!
I'll even pay $15 a month to stream there whole library its convenient and fast
What they don't realize is that consumers on the long run win the battle
because we have the cash they want.
I can't say that I care too much... The video quality on all the Starz content on Netflix isn't just bad, it's abysmal. To the point where, if there's a Starz logo on there when I'm browsing, I don't even bother trying to watch it. It's already such a crappy option, I wouldn't mind seeing it go away. The big content companies will eventually figure out that this is a losing battle. It might take half a century, but someone with a functioning neuron will eventually get them on the right path.
@falconbrad. there is a potential positive. if Netflix is dealing directly with Disney we could end up with better quality streams. and remember that Disney is more than just the ani films. Touchstone is part of Disney as is ABC. and at least some of the Pixar releases (if not all) are under Disney's control.
@Charlik Pixar content is already available streaming on netflix. This threatens to pull that content or Netflix charging more per month.
Between Sony and Fox trying to force everyone to use Blu-ray, Warner delaying the rental of DVDs, and Disney trying to force everyone to use iTunes this really is a miserable situation for consumers. These studios should support every available distribution avenue otherwise the only place to get all the content you want in one place will be at the TORRENT sites. And if those sites win then all the studios lose. Hollywood better smarten up fast before it's too late for them. 35Mb/s connections here in NY.
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
I wouldn't mind it at all if netflix licenses the content directly through the studios..... means we would likely start getting hd streams of their movies and not the crappy quality starz provided versions.
Does this affect Starz picture titles or just the package?
@DAATMAN This effects all content that Starz streams through their cable channels and provides to Netflix for streaming. Starz negotiates the rights to stream studio content through their cable channels. In late 2008 Starz used the first-sale doctrine to sell all this content to Netflix. Studios went ballistic because it was the first time the cable industry every used the first-sale doctrine to sell all content on a cable channel to a service like Netflix.
So when I saw netflix cave and give into release delays, all I could thing is they are screwed. You feed the rabid dog, and just tried harder to bite you.
I was wondering how Netfix would be able to negotiate with studios when their ability to stream content through Starz was lost due to studio renegotiations. Hold new releases for 30 days sounds like a good sacrifice for maintaining newer streamed films. The bigger issue is that if Disney is launching their own subscription streaming site they will not negotiate easily - likely put a large premium on Starz for providing disney content to 3 party distribution. The contract is not up until 2012 so this is not likely to impact anyone for two years - however, Netfix whole business model for moving from DVDs to streaming is in question if they have to negotiate with every studio.
@hardcache
Disney tried the sub router with the Disney channel which has since gone free. No one wants to pay for the Disney channel.
Ah yes, the undead spectre of Walt Disney once again rises from the grave to rob the innocent of their joy and spread his evil Empire throughout the world.
Too bad they never properly staked him.
@angelceballos
wow wonder what netflix will respond to this..
Like Obama would give two shits about this problem anyway.
I never understood why Netflix negotiated with a cable channel [to provide content] instead of the content providers. Seems to me, this was going to end up a problem for Netflix at some point, because the cable channel doesn't really own the content. They're basically 'leasing' content and here they were 'sub leasing' content to Netflix.
I have to believe that Netflix went ahead knowing the ramifications, thinking that if they could prove the model, and negotiate later. The content providers are likely to ask for a bigger sum, which could get passed on to the subscriber.
Perhaps Netflix was envisioning that they were a cable channel of sorts on demand via the internet. To my knowledge no cable channel has exclusivity to all content, which may not necessarily bode well for Netflix.
Thing is, I much perfer the digital model to the disc model. I really wish I could get any content digitally whenever I wanted streamed to my TV. It's not going to be easy for the content providers to get on board with this, as they're probably thinking, we could do this ourselves without the middle man. BUT, if everything becomes on demand, it pretty much destroys other revenue models. I suspect one of two things will happen here, we'll either have to pay for each movie we stream at some point, or we'll play a flat fee, but be limited to how much content we can receive per our price point. No matter what, the customer will likely end up paying more.
Disney knows that the best way to decrease piracy and increase cash flow is to make their movies available to less people.
Wait...
I just got netflix. Biggest reason - streaming videos.
I don't care much for the dvds. I mean yah, blu ray is definitely awesome and all.
I have it on my xbox and my ps3.
they really should fix the ps3 interface.
and honestly, taking stuff off is the last thing they need to do.
And actually, if you go to a website, it'll tell you all the upcoming movies on netflix, and they're about to upload A LOT on the 19th.
I think somewhere around 30 movies.