Netflix Launches $2.8 Mobile-Only Monthly Plan in India (techcrunch.com) 49
Netflix has a new plan to win users in India: make the entry point to its service incredibly cheap. From a report: The streaming giant today introduced a low-priced mobile tier in the country that costs Rs 199 ($2.8) per month in a bid to take on Disney, Amazon and dozens of other aggressively priced competitors in the country. The new subscription tier from Netflix restricts the usage of the service to one mobile device -- and permits only one concurrent stream -- and offers the standard definition viewing (~480p). Users can also opt to the new plan on their tablets, but again, several features such as the ability to cast (or mirror) the content to a TV are restricted. [...] The announcement comes days after Netflix reported that it added 2.7 million new subscribers in the quarter that ended in June this year, far fewer than the 5.1 million figure it had projected earlier this year. Jessica Lee, VP of Communications at Netflix, said the company's recent performance in other markets did not influence its move in India.
They are preying on our imaginative species. (Score:1)
Humans are unique in that they imagine different worlds, and sometimes build what they see in their minds eyes.
Our world is being ruined by these vampires, who are using this unique ability against us for their own gains.
Quit wasting your life staring at a glowing rectangle depicting fake people doing fake things.
BUILD!
Build your life; build a family, build your community, build beautiful things that are real.
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Crewman Elizabeth Cutler: They don't have movies where you come from, do they?
Dr. Phlox: Well, we had something similar a few hundred years ago, but they lost their appeal when people discovered their real lives were more interesting.
Do you want to hear all about my real life? There is no action, no drama, no romance and it's not especially funny. Before you ask I don't want to hear about yours.
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The problem is we're treating boredom like it's something to be avoided. "I'm bored" is not something to be avoided, but something to be embraced. A kid quickly learns "I'm bored" means chores to d
Raise the prices! (Score:1)
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I already lost my unix tech job to india outsourcing. Punjab can afford the full price like everyone else.
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Learn some new skills Grandpa.
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Already did and now part of the exciting growth industry of telemarketing.
Most people need Microsoft support and everyone needs lower credit card interest rates.
Win-win, it's a no-brainer!
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This many:. https://webcache.googleusercon... [googleusercontent.com]
For those who can't read, or won't follow the link, Indians don't have desktops, but they do have phones.
I imagine that STB penetration is also poor, but 88% of Indian households have a cell phone. https://www.livemint.com/Polit... [livemint.com]
https://www.livemint.com/Speci... [livemint.com]
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All the restrictions seem reasonable with the exception of the lack of casting. That just sounds annoying more than anything.
Re: Raise the prices! (Score:2)
Some of the other restrictions are meaningless if casting is supported.
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How many actually will be forking up almost $3 a month for this service so they can watch Netflix shows on their mobile but unable to with anything else?
A lot. The rural population of India is big-really big (to shamelessly quote Douglas Adams). Not everyone has internet or TV, but everyone has mobile phones, because they can get the plans and phones cheap and the infrastructure for cellular is easier to built out than TV/Internet. There's a very good chance that their mobile phone is their only media consumption device.
Re: Raise the prices! (Score:3)
Indian salaries are growing more than 3% per year. And despite having relatively low income inequality, in a nation of >1 billion people, there are still going to be LOTS of people making much more than the average.
Re: Raise the prices! (Score:2)
I use Netflix on mobile most of the time anyway. I can definitely see the appeal for someone price conscious.
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I wouldnt want my home theater to be showing 480p too often, but for a phone the quality impact isnt nearly as noticeable, and jesus christ stop using the limited bandwidth of cell service for 4k.
Lonely (Score:3)
Re: Lonely (Score:1)
What do YOU do while shitting?
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I certainly don't take long enough to watch a show on Netflix. Maybe you should see a doctor.
Netflix on mobile? (Score:2)
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In most of the world, phones are people's only computing device. They don't have - or want - desktops and laptops, consoles, or settop boxes.
Don't imagine that what you do is representative of the majority. In India, almost 90% of the population has a phone. Only a few percent have a traditional PC.
Re: Netflix on mobile? (Score:2)
I don't know anyone who decided to get Netflix after getting a 4k TV. People subscribe to Netflix for convenience and content. 4k is a bonus that - for much of Netflix's existence - only applied to a very small part of the market.
Re: Business model? (Score:2)
It's quite possible they buy rights for an entire region for a set period of time regardless of the number of viewers. I don't know for sure, but tracking viewers is something only Netflix can do, so it doesn't seem like a metric a copyright holder would be interested in.
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In this country (Score:1)
In this country it is customary to write currency to two decimal places. $2.80
$2.8? WTF is that? (Score:5, Insightful)
Who writes $2.8? (Twice?)
Me: Yeah, I'd like a Big Mac and small fries.
Clerk: THAT WILL BE TWO POINT EIGHT DOLLARS PLEASE.
Re:$2.8? WTF is that? (Score:4, Insightful)
A Big Mac and small fries will set you back at least $5.3
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Not quite. Last time I spent five point 27 dollars, I gave them five point three, and they gave me back zero point zero three in change.
Re: $2.8? WTF is that? (Score:1)
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People who understand decimals, unlike those who write that hamburgers are .89 cents each.
"I'd like 100 hamburgers please. Here's a dollar."
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