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Thursday, August 30, 2012

TV / Film / Teh Internets Netflix and the Battle of the Major Digital Multimedia Distribution Services

Posted by on Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 11:42 AM

Last week brought the news that Amazon and NBCUniversal had struck a deal to add more shows to Amazon's Prime Instant Video service, including past seasons of Parks and Recreation, Parenthood, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, and the 2004-2009 Battlestar Galactica series. It's the latest move in the battle of the major digital multimedia distribution services—iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Hulu, and the embattled Netflix (remember Qwikster?), which at least for now has rebound to boast the number one market share position on a revenue basis. Last year also "marked a sea change ... a shift from a DVD-like transactional model to more TV-like subscription approach," according to the research firm IHS iSuppli, who also noted:

Netflix and the subscription market at large shouldn't expect more years of banner revenue growth, noting that "Netflix's customer transition is now complete."

Netflix's new problem could lie in that its streaming catalog now feels stagnant compared to that of its mail-order library, which in turn feels stagnant compared to pay-per-view services like Google Play and Amazon Prime, who are now featuring titles while, or in some cases even before, they're in theaters. But that's by design; Netflix sees itself as a compliment to pay-per-view, a legacy service that fills out your back-catalog wants. It's beneficial for them because the licensing is cheaper.

The company has upped its new-content game of late with original series like Lilyhammer and the upcoming Orange Is the New Black, a comedy from Jenji Kohan, the creator of Showtimes’s Weeds, and last year's acquisition of the forthcoming Arrested Development revival. But these investments are costly and time-consuming measures in a rapidly-developing market that's now in the process of going international.

Netflix and Hulu are both subscription-based services. Like iTunes, Amazon Prime is a hybrid, charging $79 a year for unlimited streaming of some titles and additional rental fees for premium content. Google Play charges for rentals. Then I'm sure there's at least one service I'm forgetting. Assuming a normalization of the market, everyone's prices will eventually fall into line with demand, so as the big players carve out their more permanent share, the real question becomes one of programming. There are other considerations, of course: iTunes is favorable to Mac users, each service is tied to its corresponding cloud service, there are mobile considerations, music, books, and even magazines available, all of which brings us to the inevitable scientifically ironclad Slog poll:

 

Comments (49) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
SchmuckyTheCat 1
No option for "I get everything from quasi or straight out illegal torrents."
Posted by SchmuckyTheCat on August 30, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Zebes 2
Steam.
Posted by Zebes http://www.badrap.org/rescue/index.html on August 30, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Graham 3
TORRENTZ.
Posted by Graham on August 30, 2012 at 11:57 AM
very bad homo 4
I love Netflix & still get most of the movies on DVD rather than watching them online.
Posted by very bad homo on August 30, 2012 at 11:58 AM
5
INTERNETZ.

Also broadcast TV.
Posted by Sam O. on August 30, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Cato the Younger Younger 6
10% cable, 60% Amazon and 25% Netflix and 5% AEBN *ahem*
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on August 30, 2012 at 12:03 PM
7
I go to the library and if they don't have what I want I go to the video store.
Posted by noname8888888 on August 30, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Soupytwist 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.
Posted by Soupytwist http://twitter.com/katherinesmith on August 30, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Griffin 9
Direct TV, Amazon Prime, iTunes, YouTube, Family Video (because it's there) and reading dead tree editions of things.
Posted by Griffin on August 30, 2012 at 12:19 PM
DowntownTaylor 10
Cable, Netflix streaming, iTunes store.
Posted by DowntownTaylor http://www.digitaltaylor.com on August 30, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Westlake, son! 11
SPL
Posted by Westlake, son! on August 30, 2012 at 12:21 PM
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.
Posted by ellarosa on August 30, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Keister Button 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.

Posted by Keister Button on August 30, 2012 at 12:22 PM
ScienceNerd 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.
Posted by ScienceNerd on August 30, 2012 at 12:26 PM
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.
Posted by keshmeshi on August 30, 2012 at 12:27 PM
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.
Posted by neo-realist on August 30, 2012 at 12:30 PM
17
Where is the iTunes choice in your poll?
Posted by DAT on August 30, 2012 at 12:31 PM
biffp 18
Cable, SPL, Redbox and Internet.
Posted by biffp on August 30, 2012 at 12:31 PM
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.
Posted by pussnboots on August 30, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Captain Wiggette 20
Long live Scarecrow video!!
Posted by Captain Wiggette on August 30, 2012 at 12:37 PM
Grant Brissey, Emeritus 21
@17: Gak! I spaced it. Write in!
Posted by Grant Brissey, Emeritus http://www.grantropolis.com/ on August 30, 2012 at 12:40 PM
22
OTHER.....I do not use ANY of them. Masturbation is more entertainment, 'specially if you invite friends over.
Posted by SamWayneSmith on August 30, 2012 at 12:47 PM
yelahneb 23
Torrents, torrents, torrents.
Posted by yelahneb http://www.strangebutharmless.com on August 30, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Original Andrew 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!
Posted by Original Andrew on August 30, 2012 at 12:57 PM
care bear 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.
Posted by care bear on August 30, 2012 at 1:05 PM
internet_jen 26
Commercial free Star Trek? Netflix! Netflix! Netflix!
Posted by internet_jen on August 30, 2012 at 1:08 PM
lizlemon 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.
Posted by lizlemon on August 30, 2012 at 1:08 PM
Tiffany 28
Cable, Hulu. Netflix, Usenet (much more private than torrents).
Posted by Tiffany http://www.facebook.com/tiffany98122 on August 30, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Grant Brissey, Emeritus 29
@ 28: The Usenet phenomenon is the subject of the next post.
Posted by Grant Brissey, Emeritus http://www.grantropolis.com/ on August 30, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Supreme Ruler Of The Universe 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.
Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe http://www.you-read-it-here-first.com on August 30, 2012 at 1:29 PM
31
Torrents and switching (back) to Usenet soon. I just find the implementation and DRM of services too annoying.
Posted by Large Hardon Colluder on August 30, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Gurldoggie 32
Torrents.
Posted by Gurldoggie http://gurldogg.blogspot.com on August 30, 2012 at 1:48 PM
33
SPL
Posted by aiff on August 30, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Xenos 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...
Posted by Xenos on August 30, 2012 at 3:49 PM
TVDinner 35
Yeah, I don't understand why more people don't use Usenet. Way easier and less traceable than torrents.
Posted by TVDinner http:// on August 30, 2012 at 3:53 PM
TVDinner 36
Also: faster. Way faster.
Posted by TVDinner http:// on August 30, 2012 at 3:54 PM
Xenos 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?
Posted by Xenos on August 30, 2012 at 3:54 PM
singing cynic 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.
Posted by singing cynic on August 30, 2012 at 5:16 PM
39
secure newz services and other secure video uploads
Posted by somewhereelse on August 30, 2012 at 5:40 PM
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...)
Posted by Leoba on August 30, 2012 at 5:40 PM
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.
Posted by sisyphusgal on August 30, 2012 at 5:52 PM
threnody 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...
Posted by threnody on August 30, 2012 at 6:19 PM
sirkowski 43
Bittorrent.
Posted by sirkowski http://www.missdynamite.com on August 30, 2012 at 7:36 PM
Sandiai 44
Antenna TV, baby! Also, Netflix DVDs.

Jen, @26, You have excellent taste!
Posted by Sandiai on August 30, 2012 at 8:01 PM
45
basically torrents as streaming sites are blocked in Australia
Posted by mambopoa on August 30, 2012 at 8:19 PM
46
@45--but i heard that streaming torrents were allowed in australia as long as their breasts weren't too small.
Posted by ellarosa on August 30, 2012 at 10:34 PM
47
Torrent, with a bit o netflix when it actually has something I like
Posted by lemonrose on August 30, 2012 at 11:01 PM
persimmon 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.
Posted by persimmon on August 31, 2012 at 7:51 AM
ScienceNerd 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...
Posted by ScienceNerd on August 31, 2012 at 5:39 PM

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