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Netflix Is Abandoning DVDs, Customers Who Prefer DVDs
Yahoo Movies ^ | 01/18/2010 | Tim Grierson

Posted on 01/18/2011 6:20:18 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist

When Netflix started up more than 10 years ago, its sales pitch was pretty simple: Hey, subscribe to us, and we'll mail you DVDs that you can then mail back to us without worrying about any late fees. But as the rental market moves toward online and on-demand models, Netflix's iconic red envelopes may eventually become as antiquated as VHS tapes. Beefing up their streaming business, Netflix has predicted that in about two years their economics will be geared more toward their "Watch Instantly" service than through physical discs. For that to happen, Netflix will have to nudge their DVD-loyal customers to the new platform. And on Monday, the company learned just how hard that may be.

In a seemingly innocent 109-word blog post, Netflix director of product management Jamie Odell announced, "We're removing the 'Add to DVD Queue' option from streaming devices," suggesting that it was being done so that the company "can concentrate on offering you the titles that are available to watch instantly." Granted, the Netflix website still allows DVD queue updating, but this post, dropped on the morning of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, created an immediate firestorm of comments -- most of them very, very angry.

(Excerpt) Read more at blog.movies.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: dvd; netflix
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To: Gena Bukin; Extremely Extreme Extremist
So Netflix's ability to stream will be limited by the USA's lousy internet connections?

It's worse than that - Netflix is shaping their future business model around a free ride on the infrastructure of others. This won't end well for them.

NFLX: Now We're Cooking (The Business Model)

http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=172990

Netflix days numbered riding the free bandwidth wagon

http://tickerforum.org/akcs-www?post=173518

81 posted on 01/19/2011 5:32:17 AM PST by kiryandil
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To: Arizona Carolyn
Based upon the fact that you are not adept at networking issues (no insult intended) I would return them and get wireless instead.

You might want to buy one, see how it works out, then buy the second wants you have it all working.

82 posted on 01/19/2011 5:53:01 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun." -- Barry Soetoro, June 11, 2008)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Just got Netflix in the last month.
I am baffled why they have any DVD’s? Why is not everything on streaming?

My other thought is, how will cable companies and video stores still be around in the future?

HULU is out there and many more options.

83 posted on 01/19/2011 5:56:16 AM PST by HereInTheHeartland (Vote like Obama is on the ballot)
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To: Arizona Carolyn

Wow - ours is only a year old, I guess I should read the manual...

Nah...I’ll just keep pushing buttons till I find it or blow it up! Thanks for the info, I wasn’t aware of that feature.

Colonel, USAFR


84 posted on 01/19/2011 7:03:13 AM PST by jagusafr ("We hold these truths to be self-evident...")
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
"We're removing the 'Add to DVD Queue' option from streaming devices,..."

OK, this thread is a wee bit too long to read, so someone MIGHT have already pointed this out... but.....

I don't see how they're ENDING DVD delivery, they're ONLY taking out QUEUE MANAGEMENT from their streaming devices. We're still going to be able to get any title on a disc. Why all the hullabaloo?

85 posted on 01/19/2011 7:17:28 AM PST by GreenAccord (Bakon Akbar!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

My husband did all the electronic in our house and I just knew what buttons to push.... he would have this figured out long ago, but yes I am going to return these and get one wireless and see how it goes.


86 posted on 01/19/2011 12:58:54 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: HereInTheHeartland
Try http://tv.blinkx.com, but don't buy anything. There are usually enough links that when one times-out after 72 minutes, you can resume on another.
87 posted on 01/19/2011 1:12:46 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun." -- Barry Soetoro, June 11, 2008)
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To: Arizona Carolyn

It’s not that hard. Usually just one HDMI cable running to the TV and then the power cable, unless you have some kind of home theater setup. The manuals show you how. I have the LG wifi bluray player. Supports Netflix, Youtube, Picasa, DivX TV from internet, CinemaNow, and has an AccuWeather app installed.


88 posted on 01/19/2011 1:13:24 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: Arizona Carolyn
So should I return these and get fully wireless instead?

The BD570 is on sale. I got it a few weeks ago for $150, but it's back up to $175. It supports wireless.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036WT1RW/ref=oss_product

89 posted on 01/19/2011 1:18:34 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: AFreeBird

Nah the BD550 is 3 models back. It doesn’t support wireless. BD570 supports wireless, and the newest model they released after that supports 3D.


90 posted on 01/19/2011 1:22:38 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

They will lose me as a customer. I have a 768 Kb/sec connection. Nowhere near fast enough to play on their stupid player. Besides, I’d rather watch on a real DVD player and a real TV than on the computer. And I don’t have, and never will have, all those other gizmos.

Anybody have an e-mail address for Netflix? Like most gigantic, faceless corporations, they make it near impossible to communicate with them.


91 posted on 01/19/2011 1:50:48 PM PST by Arthur McGowan (In Edward Kennedy's America, federal funding of brothels is a right, not a privilege.)
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To: Sir Gawain

Thanks. I didn’t know her models numbers initially. Just assumed since they were a new purchase. Assuming is never a good thing.

I don’t see the attraction for 3d though. Sure it sounds like a neat gimmick, but I have to wear glasses anyway, and I don’t relish having to wear a set over the ones I already have to wear.


92 posted on 01/19/2011 3:18:06 PM PST by AFreeBird
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To: GreenAccord

Well, the writing is on the wall. They do want to go to a streaming model eventually. Not gonna happen for some time though. Still, as an iPad user, I love being able to grab the pad from the coffee table and go to the netlix app when I see a movie is being released on DVD (since i dont go to the theater anymore) and put it in the queue. I think they’re stupid for making me go the the website when their app does it quicker.


93 posted on 01/19/2011 3:23:58 PM PST by AFreeBird
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To: Fee
Is there a version for movies where one buys the film and stores it digitally on the computer.

iTunes.

94 posted on 01/19/2011 3:26:43 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: catfish1957
You have to pay a Netflix subscription, but when you stream, or hardwire through the X-Box, you need to pay for an X-Box Live subscription on top of that.
95 posted on 01/19/2011 6:08:33 PM PST by Rome2000 (OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST CRYPTO-MUSLIM)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

I was unfair to say that it’s hard to communicate with Netflix.

I called them last night. The guy was nice, and helpful. He said it will be many years before DVDs disappear. He said there have been thousands of calls about the article. He even linked my comments with my account.


96 posted on 01/20/2011 7:56:47 AM PST by Arthur McGowan (In Edward Kennedy's America, federal funding of brothels is a right, not a privilege.)
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To: Gena Bukin
How is it that the country that practically invented the internet has the weakest internet service?

Easy: innovative greed. Our ability to want more than what can be provided is insatiable. Until Netflix Instant caught on, average internet users had no need for gigabytes-per-day service; now some 20% of internet traffic is Netflix content and rising fast. The infrastructure was built, the concept of streaming video became viable, and now EVERYBODY wants on that freeway.

Countries behind the curve have the advantage of cheaper and better technology to build their infrastructure with than we did when we built ours. Don't worry, we'll catch up and race ahead once we sort things out.

97 posted on 01/20/2011 12:43:47 PM PST by ctdonath2 (Great children's books - http://www.UsborneBooksGA.com)
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To: AFreeBird
Actually, I find the iPad Netflix app is slower than the website.
98 posted on 01/20/2011 12:45:07 PM PST by ctdonath2 (Great children's books - http://www.UsborneBooksGA.com)
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To: Sir Gawain

I haven’t even open the boxes, I plan to return them tomorrow and get wireless.


99 posted on 01/20/2011 7:53:27 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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