DS Forums

 
 

Netflix is Coming


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 03-01-2012, 21:36
noise747
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,789
Do you work for Netflix , you may well be right but for the time being I'll stick to my linear pay TV sub.
i stick to my freeview, oh wait, i am getting rid of that, T.V licence ends at the end of month. Ok, so I will stick with my Lovefilm DVD/Blue-ray rental service.
noise747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 04-01-2012, 00:18
mrkite77
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: arizona
Posts: 5,220
Ok, so I will stick with my Lovefilm DVD/Blue-ray rental service.
By all means. The fact is that Netflix hasn't launched in the UK yet, so you don't know the pricing or the amount of content available.

On top of that, Netflix is trying to become streaming-only. They're downplaying their dvd-by-mail service, so it's not exactly the best deal anymore.

Adding blu-ray support would cost me $4/mo (£2.56) extra for netflix. I have a 3-dvd plan + unlimited streaming, so I pay $23.98 a month (£15.32). A year ago I was paying $16.99/mo (£10.86) for the exact same service.

Dropping to just streaming-only would be $7.99/mo (£5.11). We've actually been considering this, especially since we have several Redbox kiosks nearby. Going streaming-only for Netflix, and then using Redbox for disc rentals that aren't available on Netflix streaming.

Redbox is only $1.00 a night (that's 64p) for DVDs, $1.50 (96p) for blu-ray, and $2.00 (£1.28) for video games, and you can special-order discs online to be delivered to a specific kiosk for no extra charge.
mrkite77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2012, 09:51
noise747
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,789
By all means. The fact is that Netflix hasn't launched in the UK yet, so you don't know the pricing or the amount of content available.
Which is what I type in reply to jwball, more or less.

On top of that, Netflix is trying to become streaming-only. They're downplaying their dvd-by-mail service, so it's not exactly the best deal anymore.

That is all they are going to do in the U.K so I have heard, just streaming, maybe they think with BT rolling out their fibre network more people will use streaming. The problem is there will still be many people who don't have the broadband bandwidth to cope with streaming in good quality.


i also don't think Netflix have realised how many people use sky in this country and that these people may not want to pay out a subscription for another service.

[quote]
Adding blu-ray support would cost me $4/mo (£2.56) extra for netflix. I have a 3-dvd plan + unlimited streaming, so I pay $23.98 a month (£15.32). A year ago I was paying $16.99/mo (£10.86) for the exact same service.

Lovefilm 3 disks and unlimited streaming here is cheaper by about a quid. Blu-ray is part of the package,
Dropping to just streaming-only would be $7.99/mo (£5.11). We've actually been considering this, especially since we have several Redbox kiosks nearby. Going streaming-only for Netflix, and then using Redbox for disc rentals that aren't available on Netflix streaming.

Redbox is only $1.00 a night (that's 64p) for DVDs, $1.50 (96p) for blu-ray, and $2.00 (£1.28) for video games, and you can special-order discs online to be delivered to a specific kiosk for no extra charge.
The only place I can rent DVds from around here is Blockbuster and that is a pain to get to. Lovefilm is just so more convenient, they send me a disk, I watch and send it back when I walk to work. Lovefilm did announce a new streaming only service, but it seems to have vanished from their website.

The problem with all these services, that they want people to subscribe, so you subscribe to one and then you find out that the other service have something you want to watch, which you one you subscribing to don't.

In my opinion video on Demand should be just that, on demand when you want it and when you want it then you pay for it. There is a service called BT vision here, which when first advertised, came out with the slogan pay for what you want to watch, not what you don't or something like that, they was pointing at Sky where you pay subscription for packages and you get so many channels in a package.

Bt vision did that as well, sure you could buy the box and pay for stuff you want, but they kept that bit hidden.

Maybe if Netflix have a non-subscription system then I may use it now and again if the quality is good. but i am not going to subscribe to another package.

I still happy with my lovefilm subscription, two disks a month and now that they have stopped blasting me with emails about updating which I don't want to do, thta is even better/

We will see how well Netflix do here, but so far streaming have not taken off that well unless it is free and then the quality is hit and miss.
noise747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2012, 10:48
jwball
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1,233
By all means. The fact is that Netflix hasn't launched in the UK yet, so you don't know the pricing or the amount of content available.
Sorry but I'm using it at the minute so I know exactly how much content is on there.
jwball is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2012, 13:02
finbaar
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,918
I was going to sign up to US Netflix here in the UK, just because it is a fairly easy workaround but decided that it was full of American stuff that I didn't want to watch anyway. I think I will wait until they launch over here or LoveFilm do a purely on-demand service before I decide but I can't see Netflix having much decent UK sourced stuff.
finbaar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2012, 15:10
muppetman11
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,162

On top of that, Netflix is trying to become streaming-only

But the US market is further down the road with streaming services ,the UK is still in its infancy plus the average Joe in the UK has never heard of Netflix.

Going streaming-only for Netflix, and then using Redbox for disc rentals that aren't available on Netflix streaming.
But this service isn't available in the UK.

Redbox is only $1.00 a night (that's 64p) for DVDs, $1.50 (96p) for blu-ray, and $2.00 (£1.28) for video games, and you can special-order discs online to be delivered to a specific kiosk for no extra charge.
The average nightly rental price in the UK is probably between 3-5 pounds. You say Netflix streaming only price is around £5.00 in UK money , I'll bet it costs considerably more when launched here probably nearer £10.00 in my opinion.
muppetman11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2012, 15:49
noise747
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,789
Sorry but I'm using it at the minute so I know exactly how much content is on there.
But if you are on a trial, surly it have not got all the content they are going to offer?

What is the quality like?
noise747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2012, 15:51
noise747
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,789
I was going to sign up to US Netflix here in the UK, just because it is a fairly easy workaround but decided that it was full of American stuff that I didn't want to watch anyway. I think I will wait until they launch over here or LoveFilm do a purely on-demand service before I decide but I can't see Netflix having much decent UK sourced stuff.

That is because there is very little decent UK stuff, you got to be honest the U.K is pretty naff when it comes to making films and other video content.


Saying that I don't like most of the American stuff either.
noise747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2012, 12:33
BigFoot87
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,257
It is certainly part of the future. But iti is an inefficient use of resources for distributing popular programming. Far better to use a one to many distribution system with local caching.
Like a content delivery network or muliticasting? That's what IPTV deployments do. 1 stream which leaves the server, which is then duplicated when requires by nodes in the network.
BigFoot87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2012, 12:39
BigFoot87
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,257
Yes there is.


Lack of broadband, bad quality broadband, cost of subscription. also maybe someone don't want it, so there are reasons.
That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people who wouldn't have the problems accessing streaming services, which has been the case now for years.

Just because someone in a rural area has issues, doesn't mean that the majority of people wouldn't access such services.

Besides, tech is improving - adadtive bitrate streaming for one (Silverlight) and content is (or should) be cached closer to the edge of the network, improving Quality of Service for everyone.
BigFoot87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2012, 19:35
noise747
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,789
That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people who wouldn't have the problems accessing streaming services, which has been the case now for years.
If you read the post I replied you will see that I was replying to mrkite77 post that said there is no reason for anyone not to have Netflix on their t.v.

Just because someone in a rural area has issues, doesn't mean that the majority of people wouldn't access such services.

Besides, tech is improving - adadtive bitrate streaming for one (Silverlight) and content is (or should) be cached closer to the edge of the network, improving Quality of Service for everyone.
Tech is improving? oh yes they can now compress so much that the quality of the picture is awful. you only have to look at digital T.V to see what compression does.
noise747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2012, 14:05
jwball
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1,233
But if you are on a trial, surly it have not got all the content they are going to offer?

What is the quality like?
I have access to the full UK service which will launch this year, I can search the full library and playback any film or series. The quality is very good to be honest however the films are not that new, which is my main gripe. The latest I could find was around 2008. There are some decent TV box-sets such as Heroes, Shameless, Peep Show, Inbetweeners, Scrubs, Secret Diary of a Call Girl etc.

Good for people who haven't seen any of the shows in question and want to catch up in full. Not checked to see if Lovefilm have the same.

Hope this helps.
jwball is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2012, 22:12
SkyPlatinum
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 769
I have access to the full UK service which will launch this year, I can search the full library and playback any film or series. The quality is very good to be honest however the films are not that new, which is my main gripe. The latest I could find was around 2008. There are some decent TV box-sets such as Heroes, Shameless, Peep Show, Inbetweeners, Scrubs, Secret Diary of a Call Girl etc.

Good for people who haven't seen any of the shows in question and want to catch up in full. Not checked to see if Lovefilm have the same.

Hope this helps.
Hi any idea of launch date?
SkyPlatinum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2012, 10:02
leegareththomas
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Treorchy
Posts: 33
How does it compare to the line up offered by lovefilm?
leegareththomas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2012, 17:09
noise747
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,789

Um, so Lovefilm is making more content available,, It looks like they are fighting back


http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=4283

Will it be worth the wait is another thing.


According to a thread on the Ds Ps3 forum there is a icon for Netflix on the Ps3, but it does nothing apart from put a comping soon message
noise747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2012, 18:26
TheBigM
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: moon
Posts: 12,983
LoveFilm already have an unlimited streaming-only service in the UK. It costs £4.99 a month (launch price) so it might go up to £5.99 or something later but I doubt it. The selection isn't very good at the moment but I've read they recently signed a deal with a publisher and are looking to sign a few more deals.

They weren't too bothered about it before but the arrival of NetFlix is forcing them to become more competitive. Given that video-on-demand is fairly prevalent here now through BT Vision, Virgin Media, Acetrax etc LoveFilm and Netflix type stuff is only really relevant for those watching many movies a month.

Netflix would need to beat LoveFilm on packages by at least £1 a month or have a much better selection to make the minority who do subscribe consider switching.
TheBigM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2012, 20:47
muppetman11
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,162
Um, so Lovefilm is making more content available,, It looks like they are fighting back


http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=4283

Will it be worth the wait is another thing.


According to a thread on the Ds Ps3 forum there is a icon for Netflix on the Ps3, but it does nothing apart from put a comping soon message
http://www.t3.com/news/netflix-app-a...playstation-3s
muppetman11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2012, 10:54
noise747
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,789
LoveFilm already have an unlimited streaming-only service in the UK. It costs £4.99 a month (launch price) so it might go up to £5.99 or something later but I doubt it. The selection isn't very good at the moment but I've read they recently signed a deal with a publisher and are looking to sign a few more deals.
One of the reasons I am in no rush to update to one of their higher packages, the content of their streaming packages is not that great. I had a trial of so many hours streaming last year, I think it was last year, and watched one thing,

The strange thing is I have not seen the streaming only package on their website, i have seen the advert on T.V last week.

They weren't too bothered about it before but the arrival of NetFlix is forcing them to become more competitive. Given that video-on-demand is fairly prevalent here now through BT Vision, Virgin Media, Acetrax etc LoveFilm and Netflix type stuff is only really relevant for those watching many movies a month.
But this is a good thing surly? competition is good, well it should be good. Video on Demand is still in its early stage, Bt vision have not really caught the peoples imagination, after all of all the customer BT got for their broadband service, their BT Vision have not done so well.

Virgin media is a different thing, it uses a cable system which should in theory offer more bandwidth that people gets with ADSL and using their own network keeps costs down for Virgin.

I never heard of Acetrax, had a look and once again it is not straight forward.
You need a T.V or blue-ray player that supports the service, so you get a T.v to support that service, then it may not support another one.
Sure you can use a computer, but how many people are going to be bothered to set up their computer to watch it on T.V?

the other problem is prices, Acetrax have a pretty decent system, but when you are paying £2.50 to £3 a film which you may not be getting it top quality , you may not think it is such a good price.
subscription is fine, but again you may only want to watch a film at the weekend, so a subscription is a waste of money.

What is needed is a platform, something like what you view is suppose to be, that can support different services, but still have a central payment point and where people can PAYG or pay for a subscription. it needs to be easy to use and not cost a fortune.

for people like myself, we need a box that can do all of that, but without a tuner.
Netflix would need to beat LoveFilm on packages by at least £1 a month or have a much better selection to make the minority who do subscribe consider switching.
Well at the moment I am not really that bothered about streaming, my broadband, is not really suited to streaming at the quality I would like, so the chance of me changing to Netflix is pretty slim unless as i said they have a system that allows me to rent the odd video and they don't charge a fortune for it.

I am staying with lovefilm for my subscription.
noise747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2012, 23:18
BigFoot87
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,257
More deals coming to Netflix, and £5.99 for unlimited streaming?
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/n...paramount-and/
BigFoot87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2012, 00:38
Red Devil
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,876
I looked at this earlier and it said coming soon, it now lets you sign up for a free trial, I'm tempted to try it.
Red Devil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2012, 06:06
azimo
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 927
The selection Netflix has at the moment is not good even for £5.99 compared to love film, I'm on the £9.99 package (2 disks at a time+unlimited streaming) with love film and there are more films available via my Digitalstream IPTV Box than there are on Netflix, in the horror section via my IPTV Box there are 99 films to chose from, Netflix have 18, if I watched via my pc on love films web site I can choose from 546 horror films, Netflix have a long way to go before Love Film need to start worrying
azimo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2012, 08:32
daleski75
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Northampton
Posts: 1,014
Its early days yet for netflix and it's only just gone live so you cannot say lovefilm is a better deal as the ink is not even dry yet on the contracts for netflix.

I found the streaming quality of lovefilm to be dire it's the equivalent of vhs quality in my eyes and it's only now they are ramping up the content because for the first time they have a serious competitor on the UK

Once netflix start to get more studio's and television companies onboard then the content will continue to grow.

I am using the USA netflix on my ATV2 and will happily switch to the UK one once they get more studio's on board.
daleski75 is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2012, 09:22
noise747
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,789
Had a look on their website, not that impressed with the choice to be honest and to get the free trial it looks like you have to have a facebook account, I have got one, but I don't to connect it to Netflix, no more than I want to connect it to spotify.

is this the way it is going to go, to get a service you need to haver Facebook or some other social network so you can do their advertising for them for free?

Ah, just found the sign up with email address, but it is in small letters and the only time it came up was when I got chrome block to unblock Facebook connect.
noise747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2012, 10:27
mrkite77
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: arizona
Posts: 5,220
Netflix have 18, if I watched via my pc on love films web site I can choose from 546 horror films, Netflix have a long way to go before Love Film need to start worrying
I imagine they'll get there eventually, just look at the US version. I think at last check Netflix US has 20,000 titles in their streaming library. Although the library does rotate a lot. I'll have stuff in my queue that becomes unavailable for a few months, and then comes back. (and I'll have stuff in my queue for years. I've had Toy Story 3 sitting in my netflix instant queue for over a year now. I'll get around to watching it eventually)

Netflix also had some exclusive stuff. For example, season 2 of Jeremiah came out on dvd in 2010, but has been available to stream since 2007.
mrkite77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2012, 10:53
AndyTSJ
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,622
Every season of 24 Netflx is on day 1, I wouldn't judge its content yet. I'll probably keep Lovefilm as well though, more choice is better.
AndyTSJ is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 18:13.