BLU-RAY NEWS TAGGED "NETFLIX"Receive Blu-ray News via RSS

Verizon and Redbox Join up for Netflix-Like Disc and Streaming Service

Tue Feb 07, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
Tags: Redbox, Verizon, Netflix, Streaming (all tags)

Redbox is finally entering the streaming game, but just what the service will offer is a mystery.

It's about time we see the formation of a streaming service that can legitimately go head-to-head with Netflix. Verizon and Redbox have joined forces to create their own service that provides both streaming video and physical media.

The Netflix model is far from perfect, especially when it comes to the disc-by-mail portion of it. Shipping out individual discs is expensive, but it looks like Redbox will be solving that by letting subscribers pluck DVDs and Blu-rays out of kiosks.

The pricing layout is a big question mark at this point as the joint venture promises "subscription services and more" in "an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the U.S. to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want."

The launch of this new venture is expected in the latter half of 2012. Expect to see some changes at Netflix in anticipation of the competition.

Source: Engadget

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Rumor: Warner is Doubling the Rental Embargo to Eight Weeks

Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 09:30 AM ET
Tags: Redbox, Netflix, Blockbuster, Warner, Rumors and Speculation (all tags)

This embargo affects not only Redbox and Netflix, but Blockbuster stores as well.

Warner Home Video has never been a fan of the whole Redbox and Netflix thing. They say that the low priced rentals are hurting sales and are doing what they can to cut down on the effects. It's not surprising then that Warner is looking to expand their existing 28 day embargo to 56.

What does seem a bit out of character is that Warner isn't just targeting Netflix and Redbox this time. Not only is the company expanding the embargo on low priced kiosks and subscription services, they're applying that eight week embargo to Blockbuster stores as well.

It hasn't been officially announced at this point, but it seems fairly likely. Adding the delay would be a move not only to increase DVD and Blu-ray sales, but to push the digital copy storage locker UltraViolet which is getting a big push this year.

Source: Home Media Magazine

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Disc-By-Mail Services May Face Delay Thanks to New USPS Plan

Wed Dec 07, 2011 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, Blockbuster (all tags)

If this goes through, it may spell doom for disc by mail services.

Blockbuster and Netflix disc-by-mail subscribers may be in for some bad news - movies are going to be getting to you even slower. This isn't something you can blame on Netflix or Blockbuster though. This one goes to the USPS.

Apparently, our postal service isn't doing so well. They've been losing money hand over fist and there doesn't seem to be any sign of it stopping. They've talked about ending Saturday deliveries but now there's an option on the table that would make disc-by-mail incredibly inconvenient.

The proposal would put an end to next-day delivery of First Class mail, instead allowing up to 72 hours for your letter or disc to get to its destination.

Source: Hacking Netflix

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Analyst Michael Pachter Says Netflix is Broken - 11 Million Lost Hybrid Subscribers by 2012

Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 01:20 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, Industry Trends (all tags)

Of those 11 million, he predicts that seven million will downgrade their plans and the rest will leave Netflix completely.

Right now, the future of Netflix is unclear. Things could go one of two very different ways for the company thanks to an incredibly aggressive plan for growth. Netflix is expanding to other countries, acquiring new contentw, and doing everything it can to get new customers, but that may be at the root of the problem.

"In our view," writes Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities, "the company’s business model was broken when it raised prices for its hybrid customers, and continued customer defections will require it to invest ever-increasing amounts in marketing."

Pachter suggests that Netflix will lose 11 million hybrid accounts, meaning accounts that subscribe for both disc delivery and streaming. He says that four million will leave the service and the rest will downgrade to just streaming or just discs. This loss is just the beginning of what Pachter says will be a big loss for Netflix.

Source: Home Media Magazine

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One Third of New Netflix Subscriptions are Returning Subscribers

Wed Nov 30, 2011 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, Industry Trends, Streaming (all tags)

Netflix CFO David Wells knows he can't win everyone back, but Netflix is hoping to do a bit of rebuilding as far as the brand is concerned.

It's no secret that Netflix messed up pretty bad this year. Complain as people did about the price change, it's something that happens every once in a while. It wouldn't have been too big of a deal either if Netflix didn't try splitting their services in two and otherwise confuse and enrage loyal customers.

Internet outrage was widespread, but apparently that outrage was short lived for some people. Out of all the new subscribers Netflix picked up in October and November, 33 percent were returning customers.

CFO David Wells says that Netflix is going to have to work hard to win the rest back. "There is no one big fix that is going to undo this and set the reset button,” he says. “We are under no illusion that it will go away after 90 days."

Source: Home Media Magazine

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Class Action Lawsuit Against Walmart and Netflix Could Get You a Gift Card

Mon Nov 21, 2011 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, Walmart, Class Action Law Suits (all tags)

Netflix is fighting the charges, but Walmart is settling and offering gift cards to those they've (allegedly) wronged.

Remember back six or seven years ago when Walmart was in the DVD-by -mail business? According to a class action suit filed against the company, they dropped DVD-by-mail in an agreement with Netflix. Netflix, the suit alleges, agreed for its part to stop selling new release DVDs. If true, this arrangement is what made Netflix the sole provider of DVDs through the mail.

Netflix says that the case has no merit, and is going to be fighting it in court. Walmart, whether out of a desire to avoid a legal battle or fear that they'd lose, has agreed to a settlement.

If you subscribed to the Netflix DVD rental service any time between May 19, 2005 and Sept 2, 2011 you're eligible to be included in the settlement. Go on over to the case website and fill out a claim form for either a Walmart gift card or print out and send one to get cash.

Source: Netflix/Walmart Class Action Suit

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Netflix Loses 810,000 Subscribers in Third Quarter of 2011

Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 08:00 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, Industry Trends (all tags)

Raising prices and confusing/angering people with Qwickster made them lose subscribers - who could have guessed?

The folks over at Netflix have something really amazing on their hands that no one could have predicted. They've got an impressive service with a giant subscriber base and it seems like they're at the point where they don't know exactly what to do with it.

That uncertainty has resulted in a series of moves that really upset the subscriber base. First, the company raised prices without adding anything new. People got upset, but price changes happen - it's not the first time and it won't be the last.

Then the folks at Netflix tried to split off the DVD side of the service into a new one called Qwickster. That really didn't go over well and the idea was quickly scrapped. Two big changes in a row was too much for quite a few subscribers and the service suffered for it.

Over eight hundred thousand subscribers have now left the service and, as you might expect, Netflix isn't too happy about it. They're not ignorant as to why it happened though, stating "Our primary issue is many of our long‐term members felt shocked by the pricing changes, and more of them have expressed that by cancelling Netflix than we expected."

Source: Home Media Magazine

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Netflix Changes Back - No Qwickster After All

Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 12:55 PM ET
Tags: Netflix, Qwickster (all tags)

Turns out a few million pissed off subscribers can make a pretty big impact!

"There comes a time for every man who becomes rich and deserts his friends, when he goes back to how it was. For me, that time is now." - Philip J. Fry

The folks over at Netflix have come under some heavy fire recently because of price changes and decisions that would only inconvenience their customer base. The splitting off of the DVD division into a separate company appears to have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

In response to the outcry across the internet, Netflix has completely pulled the plug on their planned change. There will be no new site, no need for two accounts and two subscriptions and no further inconvenience. They're still gonna jack those rates on you if you like discs and streaming though.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings says that the price is going to stay stable, and that there's no chance they'll revert back to the old pricing scheme. "While the July price change was necessary, we are now done with price changes," he writes on the Netflix blog.

Source: Netflix

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Netflix Co-Founder Thinks Qwickster is a Good Idea

Thu Sep 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM ET
Tags: Netflix, Qwickster, Industry Trends (all tags)

Well, at least somebody out there does...

Netflix has been upsetting customers left and right. Most recently that has been in the form of a new pricing scheme and then a complete split between the physical and digital media parts of the company.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is taking a lot of flak over the choice, but co-founder Marc Randolph says it's a great idea. He mentions that back when Netflix first started, they sold DVDs as well, but ended up having to cut that part of their business despite the customers it would alienate.

"By trying to run a business that did two things well, we inevitably were forced to make an endless series of compromises that resulted in us doing neither of them well," he says. "Not having to worry about compatibility between the services makes it infinitely easier to optimize every decision around the real prize, which is clearly streaming."

Source: NewTeeVee

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Netflix May Be Setting Up For a Sale to Amazon

Mon Sep 26, 2011 at 10:00 AM ET
Tags: Netflix, Amazon, Industry Trends (all tags)

One analyst suggests that the reason Netflix split off the businesses is so they could sell to Amazon more easily.

There's been a lot of discussion about sales recently, and with Hulu potentially pulling itself from the market, all eyes are on Netflix. The company split off into two recently and one analyst says that he knows why.

"Netflix’s streaming has current content deals that provide it with access to movie content during the premium cable TV window," says Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities, who suggests that the reason for the split was to package the streaming service up for easy sale. As far as the buyer is concerned, Pachter says that Amazon looks most likely.

As analysts go, Pachter tends towards the grandiose predictions and has a habit - especially in the gaming world - of being more of a rock star than an analyst. Still, his idea here makes a lot of sense.

Source: Home Media Magazine

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