Redbox Set To Compete With Netflix On Video Streaming 119
First time accepted submitter roc97007 writes "Looks like Netflix may be getting some much needed competition in the video streaming market. From the article: 'Later this month, Redbox will offer an unlimited streaming-video plan that includes movies from Warner Bros. and pay TV channel Epix, along with four nights of physical DVD rentals, for $8 a month, or $9 a month if customers want Blu-ray discs. The offering is a direct attack on Netflix Inc. and is priced even lower than the $10-a-month DVD and streaming plan that Netflix abandoned a year ago. The lowest price plan from Netflix that combines DVDs-by-mail and streaming is now $16 a month.'"
Linux? (Score:5, Insightful)
But will it run on Linux?
Only mainstream blockbusters? (Score:5, Insightful)
While the price and features of the Redbox service are similar to what's offered by Netflix, its library is smaller and focused mainly on the most popular Hollywood fare, which Strickland says are the movies that "really matter in the marketplace."
Well, that pretty much rules out my tastes, then. No thanks.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Easy to beat Netflix... (Score:5, Insightful)
I am reasonably sure Netflix would do exactly this - if the studios would let them.
Re:Easy to beat Netflix... (Score:5, Insightful)
The problem with the studios is that, frequently, their version of "enough" is "Tip consumer upside down and shake vigorously."
Re:Easy to beat Netflix... (Score:4, Insightful)
I have a feeling the "content owners" would never consent to this. They may put it on some kind of physical media that may or may not last 2 or 3 decades or more, but I have this gut feeling that they'll never put their stuff up for streaming "forever."
I am extremely distrustful of streaming. I don't believe for a second that a movie I like, and I mean really like will be available to stream 10, 20, 30 years after initial release. There's no permanence to streaming.
For that reason I prefer physical. I have many other reasons, but this one's probably the biggest one, right behind picture and sound quality.
Re:Easy to beat Netflix... (Score:3, Insightful)
It's sad the studios don't realize they face a Hobson's choice. Your shit is going online and that's the way it is.
Now, what they can control is if they choose to be paid for it. The price, however, isn't particularly negotiable. It's either cheaper than the pain of pirating, or it isn't. Netflix happens to have a sweet pricing point where I'd rather pay for it than put in the time and effort. Good on them for realizing this.
As it stands, studios have chosen door 3 which is to sell plastic to the dozen slashdotters that still think piracy is theft and sue every billionth person they find pirating. Oh well, they'll be out of business soon enough, and as I said, their shit is going online and I'll be enjoying it paid or unpaid.
Re:Easy to beat Netflix... (Score:4, Insightful)
The studies demand way too much money. Subscription fees would go up to $100/mo, not $8/mo.
I dont know if $100/mo is accurate, but I do know that if Netflix offered "nearly every movie ever made" for 24/7 on-demand streaming, that I would probably give them $100/mo for the service.
Obviously there will be some content that they just wouldn't be able to get at any price, but there are times when I am looking for a specific movie, and currently by me estimation Netflix streaming has fewer than 33% of the movies that I type into their search box.
In a recent slashdot story I showed that of the earliest 20 entries on wikipedia's list of dystopian movies, thats Netflix only offered 4 of them (a dismal 20%.) If they turned the experience around on its head, if 80% of the time when I search for a specific movie that its ultimately available immediately for streaming, then that $100 starts looking quite attractive.
Re:Hardly competition at least for now (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Hardly competition at least for now (Score:0, Insightful)
Meh. Unlimited DVDs from Netflix always averaged about 4 a month for me anyways.
And Netflix purposely slows shipment to ensure you don't exceed 4 per month. Sometimes you might score 5, but I was only able to get that to work once per year. Anyone who believes Netflix is unlimited is not dealing with reality. Netflix purposely delays shipment and blames the USPS for their failure to ship. I know this because I tracked via USPS, who confirmed shipments were after the dates Netflix claims. And claim from Netflix about unlimited, is fraudulent.
Re:Hardly competition at all! (Score:0, Insightful)
Yes, because stealing shit is always directly comparable to an actual business - who shockingly, actually pays for shit and contributes to society.
You have made the entire Internet dumber for your contribution. Idiot.