Netflix kills Quikster- thank god

[fatpat268]

The multiple "oops we were wrong" emails have made them seem like a 2nd-rate company. It's pretty embarrassing, but the service is still fine for me.

Yea. As a company, you can have one of those type of flip flop decisions and I won't think any differently. Because hey, sometimes new stuff just doesn't go well.

But we've experienced this 2-3 times now over the span of a few months? Give me a break. Sounds like they don't have a fucking idea what to do with the company anymore, and I wouldn't be surprised if more investors don't jump ship.

 

[FoBoT]

too late, i already cancelled , burn in hell Reed Hastings

 

[SagaLore]

I am not going to read through the posts.

They probably are trying to sell off the dvd portion. So it makes sense to separate out first

If they really wanted to do that, they're best off partnering or merging with another successful dvd outlet company, like Red Box.

 

[mizzou]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6BHYETdLJYU#t=34s
:rofl:

lol

 

[airdata]

Netflix : How to kill one of the most successful companies in recent memory. A memoir.

 

[mizzou]

Why is it netflix seems so determined to erase their hedgemony? Shit, streaming only content will never work as the #1 form for a variety of issues out of their control.

Biggest onew

#1 bandwitdh and video/audio quality, including data rate fee caps
#2 gathering legal rights to stream movies

Edit: i mean RIGHT NOW, not never period

 

[mizzou]

Fyi i canceled netflix completely after finding a great substitute in amazon prime

 

[manly]

Even if the idea itself was great, the name they picked for the service doomed the entire project to failure. Who the hell came up with Qwikster? I hope they fired that person and everyone who agreed to go with it.

it was a terrible mea culpa by Hastings to "explain" why they had to raise the 1 DVD+streaming price by 60%. Almost seems like the pierced stock bubble led to an artificial, clumsy attempt to support the stock price.

Why is it netflix seems so determined to erase their hedgemony? Shit, streaming only content will never work as the #1 form for a variety of issues out of their control.

Biggest onew

#1 bandwitdh and video/audio quality, including data rate fee caps
#2 gathering legal rights to stream movies

Edit: i mean RIGHT NOW, not never period

Since when does never = right now?

#2 is a serious issue and I don't know if Netflix can gather enough non-TV deals to grow quickly enough to pay for content. Their biggest competitor isn't Amazon, but the movie studios.

#1 assumes bandwidth doesn't get cheaper quickly enough over time, and I don't think that's a real concern. Nobody expects a new disc format to succeed Blu-ray's 1080p, but Netflix already envisions streaming to hit 1440p and 2160p within a decade (conservatively). Caps remain a big limitation, but even those will go up once VZ and AT&T build out their 4G networks.

 

[Reckoner]

Streaming still has a LONG way to go. I didn't pay all that money for my Sammy tv and ht setup for subpar audio/video streams.

 

[fatpat268]

Caps remain a big limitation, but even those will go up once VZ and AT&T build out their 4G networks.

What do caps have to do with mobile broadband?

A couple of broadband providers, notably comcast and some markets of twc, have started to put bandwidth caps on users. It has nothing to do with 4G and all that.

Everyone loves to talk about a video streaming, onlive game streaming, cloud based future... but it's not going to happen until nearly everyone has access to truly high speed reliable and unlimited broadband. And the telecom industry doesn't seem to be interested in heading that direction.


The broadband industry in a lot of places have stagnated due to local monopolies. My own broadband from TWC has only roughly doubled in speed in the 9 years I've had them. I've went from 8mbps to ~15-16mbps. And even at the so called 15-16mbps, it's barely adequate for stuff like Onlive (i know it's unrelated to netflix, but still).

 

[manly]

What do caps have to do with mobile broadband?

A couple of broadband providers, notably comcast and some markets of twc, have started to put bandwidth caps on users. It has nothing to do with 4G and all that.

Everyone loves to talk about a video streaming, onlive game streaming, cloud based future... but it's not going to happen until nearly everyone has access to truly high speed reliable and unlimited broadband. And the telecom industry doesn't seem to be interested in heading that direction.


The broadband industry in a lot of places have stagnated due to local monopolies. My own broadband from TWC has only roughly doubled in speed in the 9 years I've had them. I've went from 8mbps to ~15-16mbps. And even at the so called 15-16mbps, it's barely adequate for stuff like Onlive (i know it's unrelated to netflix, but still).

The cable companies didn't institute any caps until the wireless companies set the precedent. The current cable ISP/wireless caps will not remain at today's levels indefinitely. The point is that once VZ and AT&T spend the billions on their new networks, they won't feel forced to ration them as much as they are now with 3G.

TWC has gone to 50 Mbps in select markets. Within a decade (yes, a long time) that will be a basic broadband offering unless you're a rural customer.

 

[Gunslinger08]

The cable companies didn't institute any caps until the wireless companies set the precedent. The current cable ISP/wireless caps will not remain at today's levels indefinitely. The point is that once VZ and AT&T spend the billions on their new networks, they won't feel forced to ration them as much as they are now with 3G.

TWC has gone to 50 Mbps in select markets. Within a decade (yes, a long time) that will be a basic broadband offering unless you're a rural customer.

I'm pretty sure that Comcast implemented their bandwidth cap before AT&T Mobile. Mobile bandwidth also really has nothing to do with cable/DSL/fiber. And finally on the mobile front, I seriously doubt they're going to give up the ability to charge you extra based on data usage without government intervention. Caps and tiers are here to stay.

I think you're overly optimistic. A lot of areas basically have 1 company that can provide broadband and the barrier to entry is enormous. That means no real competition for a lot of people. It's going to take a massive change in the average consumers daily life to force new competition to emerge - most people just don't consume that much data and won't until they're forced to. By forced to, I mean pay TV and telephone service completely switching to IP based systems that use your bandwidth. Joe Consumer doesn't stream 100 hours of HD video a month and never will until it's the standard.

 

[dwell]

So word on the street is that Netflix planned the split to be acquired by Amazon but the deal fell through. Expect Amazon to spend that cash on acquiring rights to a lot of content.

 

[hellfreeze]

I wonder if a "Qwikster" envelope will become collectible?

Perhaps if it was a desired service, which I don't think applies.

 

[Doppel]

Netflix has no idea what it's going anymore. It's like the CEO is just doing 8 balls and then coming up with an idea without any dissenting views. I would not want to own their stock at this time. Even ignoring the obvious, real, objective market forces they have to fight against now we have proof their board has twice within three months acted in ways that show they are losing touch with the market. 1) No idea how severe the backlash would be at the 60% price increase, 2) an idea so poorly received they have to back it out.

No idea what they are doing.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

What do caps have to do with mobile broadband?

A couple of broadband providers, notably comcast and some markets of twc, have started to put bandwidth caps on users. It has nothing to do with 4G and all that.

Everyone loves to talk about a video streaming, onlive game streaming, cloud based future... but it's not going to happen until nearly everyone has access to truly high speed reliable and unlimited broadband. And the telecom industry doesn't seem to be interested in heading that direction.


The broadband industry in a lot of places have stagnated due to local monopolies. My own broadband from TWC has only roughly doubled in speed in the 9 years I've had them. I've went from 8mbps to ~15-16mbps. And even at the so called 15-16mbps, it's barely adequate for stuff like Onlive (i know it's unrelated to netflix, but still).

15-16mbps? I wish.. Try a shaky at best 2.5mbps dsl line with my only other alternatives being satellite Internet.
Hell I get giddy when I can get a hd feed from Netflix.

 

[amdforever2]

I haven't felt this happy since my first child was born.


It's truly a miracle.

A sign that god still loves and watches over us.




This symbolizes the triumph of the human spirit.



Not since 1945 has the world been rid of such an evil.

 

[ShawnD1]

I don't even think its a video quality issue for most people. A lot of DVD titles aren't available for streaming.

I really don't care about video quality. Does anyone? I grew up watching VHS tapes and analog TV. Lack of selection is the only problem.

 

[Doppel]

I really don't care about video quality. Does anyone? I grew up watching VHS tapes and analog TV. Lack of selection is the only problem.

People care, but it's secondary. Even when I had a physical disk account at Netflix I found the $2/month wasn't worth it for BR. I just didn't give a sh*t. Content is 90% and netflix streaming doesn't have it. That's why people make fun of it/don't have it, quality is a distant second, IMO.

 

[xSauronx]

I only use the crappy quality, limited selection streaming service for children's programming and for times when I'm without a physical disc.

my kids have been bitching about the meh selection from netflix lately, saying they want to stream this, that and the other but netflix only has it on dvd

i have been a netflix customer for years, and switched to streaming only months ago because i dont have time to watch movies. i might think of getting dvds for the kids...but really ill probably just take them to the library again, which we did last weekend.

its not netflix's fault, for the most part, but what assholes want them to pay for streaming rights that only last a limited amount of time. its annoying as hell.

 

[fatpat268]

The cable companies didn't institute any caps until the wireless companies set the precedent. The current cable ISP/wireless caps will not remain at today's levels indefinitely. The point is that once VZ and AT&T spend the billions on their new networks, they won't feel forced to ration them as much as they are now with 3G.

I'm not buying that for one second. Besides, and lets just say your theory is true, there's no way that Verizon and ATT will open their bandwidth when they build out their network. They may slowly lower prices or slowly raise the cap, but they're going to do everything in their power to keep it at status quo.

15-16mbps? I wish.. Try a shaky at best 2.5mbps dsl line with my only other alternatives being satellite Internet.
Hell I get giddy when I can get a hd feed from Netflix.

Yea. And that's kinda my point. My 16mbps connection feels inadequate at times, and there's a vast section population who can't even get DSL. To say we're going to go streaming only is practically a slap in their face.

I must point out, that the reason why 16 mbps feels inadequate, is because the speed is nowhere near stable. It dips at times, and that's really only the peak. I've talked to a few buddies who live across town, and they pretty much all have similar experiences.

 

[FoBoT]

this is funny, SNL skit that was cut due to time from Oct 1 show

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/Netflix-Apology/1359563

 

[TwiceOver]

Your thread reminds me of why I knew it was going to fail. You spelled it wrong, everyone does. It was a stupid name that nobody understood or could spell. And they didn't secure all the possible misspellings of the domain name...

 

[Arcadio]

Good news. As a film fanatic, I still like Neftlix and I still consider it cheap.

 

[Ichigo]

You guys really aren't angry at the right people.