Film/TV Aug 30, 2012 at 11:42 am

Netflix and the Battle of the Major Digital Multimedia Distribution Services

Grant Brissey
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Comments

1
No option for "I get everything from quasi or straight out illegal torrents."
SchmuckyTheCat on August 30, 2012 at 11:52 AM Report this
2
Steam.
Zebes on August 30, 2012 at 11:54 AM Report this
3
TORRENTZ.
Graham on August 30, 2012 at 11:57 AM Report this
4
I love Netflix & still get most of the movies on DVD rather than watching them online.
very bad homo on August 30, 2012 at 11:58 AM Report this
5
INTERNETZ.

Also broadcast TV.
Sam O. on August 30, 2012 at 11:59 AM Report this
6
10% cable, 60% Amazon and 25% Netflix and 5% AEBN *ahem*
Cato the Younger Younger on August 30, 2012 at 12:03 PM Report this
7
I go to the library and if they don't have what I want I go to the video store.
on August 30, 2012 at 12:06 PM Report this
8
Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, and satellite (husband needs his sports).

I really don't watch much that isn't on one of the services - awards shows are about it.
Soupytwist on August 30, 2012 at 12:10 PM Report this
9
Direct TV, Amazon Prime, iTunes, YouTube, Family Video (because it's there) and reading dead tree editions of things.
Griffin on August 30, 2012 at 12:19 PM Report this
10
Cable, Netflix streaming, iTunes store.
DowntownTaylor on August 30, 2012 at 12:20 PM Report this
11
SPL
Westlake, son! on August 30, 2012 at 12:21 PM Report this
12
if netflix doesn't improve its instant watch selection soon, they are going to get themselves squeezed out of the market. really, go look at what's on offer for instant play and tell me it's not piss poor.
ellarosa on August 30, 2012 at 12:22 PM Report this
13
I go to YouTube first, and if it's not there I check the library,
and if the library doesn't have what I want then I go to Scarecrow Video,
and if Scarecrow Video doesn't have what I want
then I watch on MUBI.com, and if it is not available there
then it is torrent-time or file-sharing.

Keister Button on August 30, 2012 at 12:22 PM Report this
14
Netflix or Hulu first, I have an Amazon Prime account, but I hate the search and play system on Amazon. Anything available via Amazon Prime is also on Netflix, and since Netflix has a better UI...

When none of the places have what I want (mainly HBO series), it is torrents.
ScienceNerd on August 30, 2012 at 12:26 PM Report this
15
Hulu, Netflix, library, my own personal collection, as meager as it is. I can, and do, watch the same movies over and over again.
keshmeshi on August 30, 2012 at 12:27 PM Report this
16
Since I don't conveniently live near Scarecrow Video, I do Netflix: A fine independent, B movie exploitation schlock and foreign film selection that's hard to beat even if they don't have absolutely everything I want. 5 to 10 % pay premium cable channels (the girlfriend likes them). A little bit of *ahem* too.

I would do mubi.com, but you've got to pay for most of those films anyway, just like Netflix.
neo-realist on August 30, 2012 at 12:30 PM Report this
17
Where is the iTunes choice in your poll?
on August 30, 2012 at 12:31 PM Report this
18
Cable, SPL, Redbox and Internet.
biffp on August 30, 2012 at 12:31 PM Report this
19
@12. That is exactly why I quit my Netflix account. All the decent movies are dvd only. I take my $8 to redbox every month and get the movies I want. Plus, Hulu has an excellent Criterion Collection of movies". Some of the older stuff I can't find anywhere else.
pussnboots on August 30, 2012 at 12:35 PM Report this
20
Long live Scarecrow video!!
Captain Wiggette on August 30, 2012 at 12:37 PM Report this
21
@17: Gak! I spaced it. Write in!
Grant Brissey, Emeritus on August 30, 2012 at 12:40 PM Report this
22
OTHER.....I do not use ANY of them. Masturbation is more entertainment, 'specially if you invite friends over.
on August 30, 2012 at 12:47 PM Report this
23
Torrents, torrents, torrents.
yelahneb on August 30, 2012 at 12:50 PM Report this
24
Netflix is great for some movies and recent teevee. I began to feel guilty about all the torrents, so I actually started paying for the shockingly sucky Hulu Plus. Why should I have to watch commercials if I'm paying a monthly subscription? Bah!
Original Andrew on August 30, 2012 at 12:57 PM Report this
25
Torrents and the cable that the boyfriend signed us up for against my wishes. Now all I really watch is HGTV all day, every day. Those Property Brothers are hot.
care bear on August 30, 2012 at 1:05 PM Report this
26
Commercial free Star Trek? Netflix! Netflix! Netflix!
internet_jen on August 30, 2012 at 1:08 PM Report this
27
I wish regular Hulu (the free kind) was available to stream on xbox. I use Netflix mostly, but also Amazon Prime sometimes. They have a good selection of mst3k which Netflix has since removed.
lizlemon on August 30, 2012 at 1:08 PM Report this
28
Cable, Hulu. Netflix, Usenet (much more private than torrents).
Tiffany on August 30, 2012 at 1:09 PM Report this
29
@ 28: The Usenet phenomenon is the subject of the next post.
Grant Brissey, Emeritus on August 30, 2012 at 1:13 PM Report this
30
Netflix has gotten really good in the last two years as they have added scores of new indie and small films from 2010/11/12.

It's great to sample the same movies I would have to hike to SIFF or Sundance to see, or else have to spend three or four dollars to rent at a store, only to watch 15 minutes and give up. Now I can sample, and if no good, find another one. All products should be like this.
Supreme Ruler Of The Universe on August 30, 2012 at 1:29 PM Report this
31
Torrents and switching (back) to Usenet soon. I just find the implementation and DRM of services too annoying.
Large Hardon Colluder on August 30, 2012 at 1:29 PM Report this
32
Torrents.
Gurldoggie on August 30, 2012 at 1:48 PM Report this
33
SPL
aiff on August 30, 2012 at 2:46 PM Report this
34
BE IT RESOLVED that on this day, AUGUST the THIRTIETH, in the year TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE, Slogger "SRoTU" did in fact say something entirely reasonable.


There are no words...
Xenos on August 30, 2012 at 3:49 PM Report this
35
Yeah, I don't understand why more people don't use Usenet. Way easier and less traceable than torrents.
TVDinner on August 30, 2012 at 3:53 PM Report this
36
Also: faster. Way faster.
TVDinner on August 30, 2012 at 3:54 PM Report this
37
And on topic, I love Netflix exactly because it's a "legacy service." But I figure they're in danger of losing the average customer who just feels like watching the latest and greatest. My only wonder is, how long until most films go direct-to-digital and cinemas become irrelevant?
Xenos on August 30, 2012 at 3:54 PM Report this
38
Dropped cable, don't miss it. We got high speed internet and a smart TV which connects directly to Hulu, Netflix, and (my parents) HBO GO. As soon as the latter becomes available for a la carte purchase (as opposed to an extra for cable subscribers) we'll get our own account! I think that purchasing individual channels/shows is probably the way of the future. I do regret being way behind on Mad Men and Dexter.
singing cynic on August 30, 2012 at 5:16 PM Report this
39
secure newz services and other secure video uploads
on August 30, 2012 at 5:40 PM Report this
40
Don't have a TV, but watch Netflix + Hulu Plus (for my 2-year old... it's all Kipper the Dog and Caillou in our house...)
Leoba on August 30, 2012 at 5:40 PM Report this
41
I am thinking of dropping Netflix. They never have much that I want to watch that isn't already available on Amazon and since I started paying for Hulu+, I think I have enough options for zoning out. I'm especially excited about Hulu offering the next season of Misfits the same day it airs in UK. It would be fantastic if they differentiated themselves by offering shows from other countries at the same time the shows are being aired on broadcast.
sisyphusgal on August 30, 2012 at 5:52 PM Report this
42
We have no cable and Netflix / iTunes streaming with AppleTV only. We stopped getting the Netflix DVDs when they raised the price. It's worked for a year or so but I am getting pretty annoyed with the stagnant selection. iTunes has also started crapping out and freezing in the middle of a movie which is crazy-making, especially when you've paid $5 for the movie and it expires in 24 hours so you can't give it another chance. (What happens in the last half hour of The Iron Lady?) There's only so many times you call tech support for a refund before it's not even worth the hassle of the phone call...
threnody on August 30, 2012 at 6:19 PM Report this
43
Bittorrent.
sirkowski on August 30, 2012 at 7:36 PM Report this
44
Antenna TV, baby! Also, Netflix DVDs.

Jen, @26, You have excellent taste!
Sandiai on August 30, 2012 at 8:01 PM Report this
45
basically torrents as streaming sites are blocked in Australia
on August 30, 2012 at 8:19 PM Report this
46
@45--but i heard that streaming torrents were allowed in australia as long as their breasts weren't too small.
ellarosa on August 30, 2012 at 10:34 PM Report this
47
Torrent, with a bit o netflix when it actually has something I like
lemonrose on August 30, 2012 at 11:01 PM Report this
48
I used to do Netflix (for years) until they announced that weird rate hike/split, and I dropped them like first period French. Now I'm so disillusioned by all the bullshit every company's spitting out (can one of them just offer a wide array at a reasonable price with reasonable restrictions?), that I just torrent my shit. Fuck you, digital media distributors. I'll pay you when you actually have what I want.

Also, video stores still exist? Where? I had to explain Blockbuster to a 19-year-old co-worker today and you'd think I was telling her about bread lines in the Great Depression.
persimmon on August 31, 2012 at 7:51 AM Report this
49
Is anyone else excited to tell their kids (I have none yet..I'm still "young") that you lived before the internet, that DVDs or CDs didn't exist, and no one had cordless phones let alone cell phones?

OMG OLD LADY RANT...
I got my first cell phone two years after I graduated from high school. I was the coolest girl in school because I had a pager. My neighbor had a car phone that took up the entire space between the front seats, and I used to drive his car and pretend to talk on it so I looked super cool. I didn't have an email account until I was 20! :-O

Ok...sorry... I'm not old though...
ScienceNerd on August 31, 2012 at 5:39 PM Report this

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