Slashdot Mirror
Blockbuster Trying To Woo Disgruntled Netflix Customers
jfruhlinger writes "'Netflix Customers, Say Hello to Blockbuster' is the subject line of an email making the rounds trying to convince customers to switch services in the wake of Netflix's contentious price hike. The bankrupt video store chain is now owned by DirectTV and has its own streaming service. How did Blockbuster even get these email addresses? Are its services really going to be cheaper and/or better than Netflix's in the long run? Is 'You'll hate us less than Netflix' really a viable business model?"
Relatedly, reader assertation asks, "Can anyone suggest a streaming movie service that has a selection comparable to Netflix and will run on a computer using GNU/Linux?"
Can anyone suggest a streaming movie service that has a selection comparable to Netfix and will run on a computer using GNU/Linux?
No. There isn't one because Linux market share on desktop is so incredibly small that no one wants to put up with the cost of supporting those few users. Most normal people run either Windows, set-top box or some console like PS3. Even if someone were to make such service they would immediately get huge backslash for the need of DRM (demanded by copyright owners). Yes, continue to use Linux, I do too. But if you are not willing to come even a little bit forward (like, accepting DRM or closed binaries) don't cry about it when companies don't want to support it.
But it's not legal.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
disgruntled chrysler drivers are being chased by a zombie car salesman offering yugos and fiats.
Good people go to bed earlier.
Dish Network picked up Blockbuster. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/06/us-blockbuster-dishnetwork-idUSTRE7351VA20110406 Also note the "Subsidiary of Dish Network" part here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockbuster_Inc.
As an alternative, in some ways even better than Netflix, Blockbusters is a viable choice for DVDs by mail, particularly if you have a store that is (still) close to you (despite the massive store closures). But as a streaming service, no... BB streaming is still only a competitor to PayPerView, which is pretty much what BB's streaming service is... BB DOES NOT do streaming subscriptions, which is what Netflix is and really has no competition. With Netflix you give up new releases for a subscription that gives you unlimited viewing of admittedly older content that also doesn't match DVDs in breadth, but the price is right-ish. With BB, you get new releases for streaming at the high (to consumers, not to studios) prices. BB *will* have to change to compete... but its really all in the hands of the studios...
...from the roles of their customers who suddenly stopped coming in as Netflix' client base skyrocketed. I haven't gotten the email, but I know Blockbuster has it, and wouldn't be surprised if they figured out that my rental dollars were going to Netflix, not some little corner video shop. Especially considering most of those corner shops are out of business because of the likes of Blockbuster....
The CB App. What's your 20?
I'm too happy paying $16 for Netflix/Roku, as opposed to $50 for cable.
From the article the Blockbuster price is:
$9.99 a month for one disc at a time
The price for netflix is $7.99 for one disk a time.
Why would customers who are upset about a price increase leave Netflix for a service that charges even more?
Are its services really going to be cheaper and/or better than Netflix's in the long run? Is 'You'll hate us less than Netflix' really a viable business model?"
in a way this describes the model of Google+ compared to Facebook. so yes, this can be a successful basis
Relatedly, reader assertation asks, "Can anyone suggest a streaming movie service that has a selection comparable to Netfix and will run on a computer using GNU/Linux?"
Is this a serious question? Does the person asking think that any service with a video library as large as Netflix might somehow have escaped notice? Might not have been in the news like Netflix, Blockbuster, iTunes, Pandora, and other large streaming services? Might not have been extensively discussed on Slashdot already?
Really?
Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
"you'll hate us less than Facebook" is the Google+ slogan, right?
It's this year's marketing paradigm. You know, like how animals and pre-humans selling insurance became so popular last decade.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
I've never taken a business or economics class in my life, so maybe this is a dumb question, but why isn't DirectTV just spinning off the streaming portion of Blockbuster and letting the dead weight die, or at least changing the name? Are there really people who think "Ooh, blockbuster, now there's a name I know and DON'T associate with bad selection, higher than reasonable prices, and terrible service! Sign me up!"
(Full disclosure: Long ago, I worked at a Blockbuster. We did have a bad selection, the prices were higher than the mom-and-pop stores they were shutting down, and I did my part to ensure they had terrible service. I'm sure there were stores where the workers -didn't- hate their manager and -weren't- trying to sink the store out there somewhere, but I never saw them.)
FTFA
>>Both plans come with a 30-day free trial and include "unlimited in-store exchanges of by-mail rentals."
So the in-store exchange is back?
Bastards! I used to be a fairly happy Blockbuster customer until they cancelled in-store exchange. I moved to Netflix and, evidently, I was not alone. At the time, Blockbuster said stores were losing money because of this.
So why did they bring the plan back? Seems to me they tried to see just how much they could get out of their customers and miscalculated. Badly.
Of course, it's not the first time Blockbuster has made a dumb mistake. Remember the "No Late Fees" fiasco?
Relatedly, reader assertation asks, "Can anyone suggest a streaming movie service that has a selection comparable to Netfix and will run on a computer using GNU/Linux?"
Linux lacks a standard DRM solution. Thus, no company that is licensing content from movie studios is able to ship their product on non-closed (like Tivo or individual Android handsets) Linux platforms. Moonlight might be able to solve this, but it would involve Microsoft being willing to give Linux their DRM solution, which so far they are loathed to do.
I'm mentioning this because a lot of people forget that many public libraries have excellent video collections. It won't always be the latest and sometimes you'll have to wait for a popular movie, but most libraries also seem to share the same philosophy that GNU/Linux users share: the are advocates of freedom.
couldn't you VMware/virtualbox windows for that purpose?
Yes, at a cost of $200 per device for the Windows license.
'Marijuana is decriminalized up there, right?'
No :(
Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
Are you referring to Fiat licensing its platform to Zastava and later buying Chrysler?
I'm a Netflix user. Let's see what I think.
So I like Netflix, still hate BB, and I'm still mad at DirecTV. I think I'll stick with Netflix. Besides, if I really want it now, there's always RedBox.
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
And most heads of household that I've spoken to are too happy paying $50 for ESPN, something Netflix can't match.
BB's allows renting of new, new releases via mail, not wait for 30 days. Also in my experience, BB really doesn't throttle and you can, if you time correctly, get true new releases and a cycle in less than a week (complete mail cycle from receipt to send to next receipt, sometimes even in 4 days. What I hear of Netflix is that although it is good for depth, better than Blockbusters, it is often impossible to get the "new stuff" (new within the past couple months), and they throttle seriously, and of course no new releases (same timing as PayPerView). BB of course also does in store exchanges, which I like a lot... the real main reason I do BB...
I dropped Blockbuster and subscribed to Netflix last month, and in many ways, I'm regretting it. Netflix is good for streaming some TV shows (as long as you are OK with watching last year's episodes) and a few movies, but it is waaaaay behind in streaming worth-while New Film Releases, and their user interface is horrible. When you go to New Releases, it shows you anything new to THEM, not new to the market. Unless someone can tell me where it exists on NetFlix's site, one cannot just look for "movies released in the last week or last month or last year". It just shows everything that NetFlix added to its list. Makes it incredibly frustrating having to go to someone else's site to find movies that were released, then go back and search Netflix to find out that they don't even have it. And if you want the new releases, you can only get them in the mail, in which case, how is that better than Blockbuster? Some people probably like just browsing through B-movies, speghetti westerns, and 50s-80s flicks, but I watch a lot of movies and seeing the latest straight-to-DVD Val Kilmer movie isn't my idea of a Friday night. Blockbuster missed the boat when it came to streaming and NOT having a subscription streaming service left them sinking in their dingy. I have no interest paying per-movie. If Blockbuster offered subscription streaming, I'd probably dump Netflix, because they don't have the selection or the interface.
Since when is a marketing tactic the same as a business model?
No. That is not a viable business model. It is, however a viable marketing ploy if the cost of sending the message is less than the benefit received having sent it, which is likely given the low cost of email marketing (leaving room, of course for knowing how much that email list cost).
Netflix charges an extra $3/mo for Blu-Ray while BB does not. Combine that with the ability to swap in store with BB (one about a mile away from me) and BB is cheaper with an extra feature.
This sig is exactly seventy characters long and a real waste of space!
If you have an Blockbuster store nearby each mailed rental you turn in at the store is a free rental. You also get two coupons per month for in store rentals. At least that's how it used to work
IF BB offered subscription streaming...
Netflix has poor new release selection...
You've answered your own question here... the REASON that BB doesn't offer subscription streaming is that it would have to GIVE UP good new release offerings. And the reason for that is that the STUDIOS will not allow cut rate, unlimited streaming of new releases at a cheap price. If BB offered subscription streaming WITH new releases, the cost would be easily $100/mo or MORE.
This is the choice... pretty much controlled by the studios, not BB or Netflix. Now maybe BB could do something clever, like old stuff for $10/mo and 4 new ones a month for an add'n $10/mo. Otherwise, this is why DVDs are still relevant, as they are the ONLY way that studios have let consumers view new stuff at the $1-2/view or $10/mo "unlimited" (actually 4-6/mo given mail delays). And Redbox fought a HUGE battle to keep the $1/day pricing (the studios sued), the compromise being, no truly new stuff, must wait 30 days.
The answer to your question, that which blocks what you want to happen, is at the studios and their revenue stream business models...
"IF BB offered subscription streaming...
Netflix has poor new release selection..."
You've answered your own question here... the REASON that BB doesn't offer subscription streaming is that it would have to GIVE UP good new release offerings. And the reason for that is that the STUDIOS will not allow cut rate, unlimited streaming of new releases at a cheap price. If BB offered subscription streaming WITH new releases, the cost would be easily $100/mo or MORE.
This is the choice... pretty much controlled by the studios, not BB or Netflix. Now maybe BB could do something clever, like old stuff for $10/mo and 4 new ones a month for an add'n $10/mo. Otherwise, this is why DVDs are still relevant, as they are the ONLY way that studios have let consumers view new stuff at the $1-2/view or $10/mo "unlimited" (actually 4-6/mo given mail delays). And Redbox fought a HUGE battle to keep the $1/day pricing (the studios sued), the compromise being, no truly new stuff, must wait 30 days.
The answer to your question, that which blocks what you want to happen, is at the studios and their revenue stream business models...
I would use Blockbuster if they accepted payment in Bitcoin.
Democracy Now! - your daily, uncensored, corporate-free
I dropped Netflix mail DVDs after waiting 4 months for a "newish" DVD. The price was OK, but if you can't get anything remotely new, it is not worth it. I recently dropped Netflix streaming as well. Stuff in my queue kept disappearing. A TV series disappeared in the middle of watching a season. The price was OK, but when even the very limited content disappears so quickly and randomly, it is not worth it. That makes it more like watching broadcast without a DVR: catch it while you can because who knows if it will be there tomorrow.
They doesn't make sense. If they don't care about streaming, then they would just cancel it and get the DVD-only option from Netflix. All the subscribers got emails telling them about this new option, so it's not like anyone would be unaware of it.
The people that only care about streaming or DVDs aren't upset about the recent price changes (or shouldn't be) - their prices decreased compared to when the services had to be combined. It is the people who care about both that are upset, and Blockbuster isn't any cheaper for them. Their DVD plan is more expensive than Netflix. Their streaming is pay-per-view which quickly adds up to be more than Netflix and is almost always more expensive than Amazon's pay-per-view.
If people switch it is because they think Blockbuster has better service of some sort (probably selection), or just because they are pissed, not because it is cheaper.
Relatedly, reader assertation asks, "Can anyone suggest a streaming movie service that has a selection comparable to Netfix and will run on a computer using GNU/Linux?"
Actually, since Roku (and the new Roku2 as I understand) are powered by Linux, then yes, you can stream Netflix on Linux.
If that doesn't work for you (and I wouldn't be surprised if "buy new hardware" isn't advice you want to follow), it looks like Boxee can run on Ubuntu, and can also stream Netflix. So, now the answer is "yes, but you need to add HTPC software to your computer to do it".
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
Even if someone were to make such service they would immediately get huge backslash for the need of DRM (demanded by copyright owners). Yes, continue to use Linux, I do too. But if you are not willing to come even a little bit forward (like, accepting DRM or closed binaries) don't cry about it when companies don't want to support it.
Whether it's part of the base Windows distribution or not, a user will end up installing/updating Silverlight or Flash before watching Netflix, Hulu, or youtube.
The community of *nix users so ideologically averse to proprietary binaries and DRM is very small. I'm sure that any *nix user that wants to use Netflix watch-it-now would set-aside his desire for a fully open-source desktop and install whatever browser plug-ins to get it to work. After all, there are a lot of *nix users out there using proprietary video drivers from nVidia. There's just no real reason not to.
I'm also a happy Netflix customer, and will remain so - as long as the math works out. For me, it's a math problem: We dropped cable TV a year ago, subscribed to Netflix, and use Amazon Instant Video for current shows.
The math:
Cable TV in my area ... about $80 per month, for the channels I'd want to watch.
Netflix (new price) ... $16 per month. We watch movies and catch up on some TV series (that we didn't watch the first time around) using Netflix. Streaming is great for shows and some movies, but they don't have everything available on streaming, so the "DVD + streaming" plan is a must-have for us.
That leaves $64 per month to spend on Amazon, before we break even with cable TV.
TV on Amazon ... $2 per episode. Assume a weekly show gives 4 episodes per month, so $8 per month per show. That works out to 8 shows per month until we break even with the cost of cable TV. That's a lot of TV, and we just don't watch that much TV.
I tried Netflix before...I was able to fake the browser User Agent & OS, then Netflix video successfully streamed...perhaps it'll work for Blockbuster or whatever too. I can not remember the Firefox addon I used, perhaps this one...use it until it displays Windows or MAC OS...maybe it'll still fool into streaming. https://code.google.com/p/randomuseragent/ cheers!
If not Linux, the Android is just fine, too. Practically any HW running Linux can instead run Android. Google TV is Android, and is HW designed for exactly this kind of app. And it's cheap and relatively easy for just TV/movies/websurfing.
So how about a streaming movie service with as good or better a selection as Netflix (which might be hard, but not impossible)?
--
make install -not war
https://thepiratebay.org/
There. All the movies you might want.
Archive.org has over 2600 feature films in addition to many more other kinds of videos. All public domain, all $free, to their webpage embedded player or download as MPEG4, Ogg Video or WMV.
Donate to this 501(c)(3) nonprofit and deduct the gift from your taxes.
--
make install -not war
How about if we're going the other way, and want all of Netflix, Blockbuster, Amazon Prime streaming subscriptions, even at the crappy total price of all of them per month? Is there a single app that runs on Linux or Android (Google TV) with a consistent GUI that's TV-easy (or close), even if each remote library has its own "style" of presenting titles (but all in-movie controls are the same)? That combo would seem to be worth dropping cable TV, especially when cable TV costs $50+ and doesn't have nearly as much worthwhile (and certainly not on demand) content included at that price.
--
make install -not war
If you want to "rent" a movie to stream, its $1.99 and up. PER FILM. Or you can "buy" them. If you "rent" a streaming movie, its one of those 24 hour windows. Nice catch, assholes.
So, it may be $9.99 to have one out at a time, but if you switch to blockbuster and you want to stream video, you are going to pay through the nose. (unless you torrent)
I'll still stick to Netflix cause for the price you can't beat it.(except for pirating) $7.99 for one disc at a time, compared to $9.99 @ BB, $7.99 for unlimited streaming compared to $1.99 (AND UP) to "rent", after 4 of those I'd be over the price of Netflix and I'd have to keep paying to watch more. No thanks, I watch 2 or 3 episodes of TV shows on Netflix per day, and usually a documentary or a movie 2 or 3 times a week. I'd pay 4 times as much with blockbuster and have to torrent all the TV shows I want to watch, which doesn't sit well with me.
I'd still say netflix is the much better deal
I considered Blockbuster and went to check their prices. When I reached their site, they had a big block teasing Netflix and inviting me to join. I spent 20 minutes trying to find how much it would cost to use Blockbuster. I couldn't do it.
So while I hope Blockbuster will turn a new leaf, I'm guessing that it wasn't an accident that prices were obscured. Come on Vice Presidents of Big Companies, the rules have changed!
BB throws in Blurays, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 discs for that price and if you happen to live next to one of the last dozen BB stores you can exchange your discs there as often as you like.
On top of that the issue for most folks, myself included, wasn't the cost, it was that the cost was being increased for no particular reason and there wasn't even an attempt to placate the subscriber base. On top of that they made disrespectful comments about how it was only the cost of a couple lattes during a down economy and have so far completely refused to even acknowledge that they insulted their subscribers.
i have to pay for the package for the wifes cooking channels
Can you DVR the cooking shows on your local PBS station? WFWA (the PBS affiliate in Fort Wayne) carries Create TV on a subchannel.
and to get speedvision network.
So you pay $50 for Speed.
My DSL company has a deal with ESPN and I get ESPN3 online
Does it include Monday Night Football? And how much does a device to watch ESPN3 cost, compared to the monthly rental of a cable box?
But really what's the point of TV news and it's sensationalism when you can just read news online sooner?
Because some people don't like to get their news by reading. They want to sit on a sofa and watch, or stand in front of an ironing board and listen, instead of sitting at a computer desk and reading. If they wanted to read, they'd open the newspaper.
What other live events do you miss?
Hardball with Chris Matthews, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, and The Rachel Maddow Show.
For reference, the only way to cancel your account, without paying for extra membership time that you're not able to use, is to cancel your account ON THE REBILL DATE but BEFORE THEY REBILL.
Yeah, I was a little surprised about that when I canceled. I'd be curious about the legality of it, but honestly I'm too lazy to care at this point.
At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend I don't care that you're not here with me
"You'll hate us less than Facebook" seems to be working for Google+.
"Can anyone suggest a streaming movie service that has a selection comparable to Netflix and will run on a computer using GNU/Linux?"
Hulu. See here:
http://www.hulu.com/labs/hulu-desktop-linux
But that's all you're gonna get. Clearly calling it gnu/linux when it's just linux, shows you're part of the stallman army. No it won't be open sourced. Yes it will be a binary that you'll get.
This is because of the cluster fuck that linux is with its development tools. There is no standard libraries ever. No version that all distros stick with. That's why all of them have vast repositories of software that they need to compile for their distro. You can't ever compile once and give that out.
You wanted choice? Fine. But software development requires some kind of consistency. If you can't provide that, then you get what you get.
For months I've been reading how great this Netflix thing is, unlimited movies, TV series, for just a few bucks a month, it'll do away with piracy, blabla.
So I arrive at a place that has Netflix, through a Roku box - quite nice, and find that the movie selection is... well it's a bit like U.S. TV channels isn't it? There's hundreds of titles, but none of them you feel like watching at the time.
If I'm lucky, the title is available through Amazon - and preferably in SD because the HD prices are ridiculous for renting - but more often than not, it's not there either.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect every single title listed on IMDB to be available on demand via Netflix (how cool would that be, though?), but right now for example they offer X-Men 3, but not X-Men 1/2. Cube 2 is on there, but not the original nor the later prequel. All Star Trek series are on there, but not DS9 (news articles announcing Trek coming to Netflix included DS9, but apparently that has moved down to October 1st).
On the other hand, it does have 'gems' like "Run! Bitch Run!" and "Battle of Los Angeles". No, not the already underperforming 'blockbuster' without the "of", the mockbuster version.
Now it does have good movies on there, but it's hardly the panacea that some comments here have made it out to be.
I'm not a fan of pirating, but I can see the hiccups in available services that make people a little more inclined to go that route.
... thanks to Chome OS.
Netflix has comitted support to Chrome OS. Chrome OS is simply Linux. In fact there is a Netflix Chrome plugin floating around in the wild right now that supposedly works.
Microsoft has been using background processes to audit home users since day one of Windows Genuine Advantage.
Netflix does not throttle. They never have throttled. The reports of "throttling" by Netflix were universally people using a definition for "throttle" that does not exist in the English language.
If you want to see throttling. Sign up for Gamefly.
Zediva provides current movies for $1.99 or 10 for $10. Uses Adobe Flash. Works on Linux and everything that is supported by Flash. Quality is ok but not great.
It's not all you can eat like Netflix, but the movie selection is comparable to a Redbox as are the prices.
http://www.zediva.com
Link without waitlist for up to 10 people. However, I get up to 10 free movies if it is used by 10 people.
http://www.zediva.com/user/register/UgtMeX4btz
From what I see, people who still rent at only blockbuster are the ones that get their computer and tech advice from Best Buy/Geek Squad. There is always a market niche for the uniformed.
Windows assumes you are an idiot...Linux demands proof.
Yes you can get several options for Linux. The first point about not having DRM support on Linux is complete crap. The idea that Linux users won't pay for closed source programs is also complete and total crap that people just make up with no evidence to support it. If you have any doubt about that look at the Humble Indie Bundle and see how Linux users pay more per user for closed source games than Linux or Mac by a large percentage. There are multiple set top boxes running Linux that offer DRM movie and video streaming without any problems. So it isn't an issue of a technical problem. It's an issue of a political one with companies. You have Roku, Tivo, Neuros, Boxee, MeeGo, Videoscape, WD Live TV and the list just keeps on going. So clearly streaming movies/video even DRM videos on Linux is possible and is done all the time.
If you want to look at your current options under Linux. You can look at Hulu, Hulu Plus, Crackle, YouTube Movie rentals, WB tv show site, Slash Control, Veoh, CBS, NBC, ABC, TNT, Zediva, SyFy, Cartoon Network, South Park, usanetwork.com, tvland.com, jaman.com, Fear.net, PBS Frontline, Uncle Earl's Classic Television, Shocker Internet Drive-In, mevio.com, mylifetime.com, Free Film Source, MGM.com, asiapacificfilms.com, current.com, movieflix.com, cinemanow.com, joost.com, truveo.com, vudu.com, documentarystorm.com, blinkbox.com, mubi.com, ireel.com, and memocast.com just to name a few of the options out there.
amazon prime ~ $80/year has a fairly good selection (not as much as netflix) and works fine in Linux. It also gives you free second day shipping on most of the stuff shipped by amazon.
Blockbuster was recently purchased by Dish Network, not DirectTV.
http://investor.echostar.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=562197
paying for operating systems is for suckers.
Now back to the subject of the article: Is renting movies online also for suckers? Because Netflix chooses not to serve users of free PC operating systems, in either sense of the word free.
Netflix was the one demanding DRM for `Sita Sings the Blues', which ultimately kept the film out of the `on demand' line-up even though it's in Netflix's DVD-rental library.
When Netflix approached the author (and copyright-holder) and asked for a streaming deal, the response they got was `yes, but only if there's no DRM'. Netflix wouldn't budge.
-rozzin.