Netflix Is Becoming Just Another TV Channel

An anonymous reader writes: Netflix revealed in a blog post that it will not renew its contract with Epix, meaning you won't be able to watch movies like The Hunger Games and World War Z through the service anymore. With the increase in cord-cutters and more original content, Netflix is positioning itself to be like any other TV channel (one that owns its own distribution model) and is betting that customers won't miss the Epix content. Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos says, "While many of these movies are popular, they are also widely available on cable and other subscription platforms at the same time as they are on Netflix and subject to the same drawn out licensing periods."

Comments

I don't want a fucking TV channel!

[Chas]

I want something that allows me to watch movies and/or episode-based content AS *I* want.

Their offerings of content have continued to get slimmer in the recent couple of years. And I'm finding myself using them less and less.

If Netflix stops delivering that content altogether, I stop subscribing.

And, if we start seeing ADS attached to the content, I'm fucking outta there so fast the wind of my passing will bowl you over.

Re: I don't want a fucking TV channel!

[mark-t]

They can get cancelled even if you *DO* contribute to their ratings...

Anecdote:

I was in a Nielson household once... from about '99 to '04. When a show that I really *really* liked ended up getting cancelled after barely more than half a season, despite me and my wife and 4 kids watching it every single week starting with the pilot, I ended up cancelling our participation in January '04, and had them take their equipment back. I know that it's not Nielson's fault that the show got cancelled, of course.... but that experience with trying to participate in their ratings program, and *STILL* seeing a show that I really liked get cancelled before it could even get started was very discouraging, and I kind of stopped seeing the point.

Idiots.

[gfxguy]

"While many of these movies are popular, they are also widely available on cable and other subscription platforms at the same time as they are on Netflix and subject to the same drawn out licensing periods."

The reason we can be cord cutters is because we get netflix, so you're suggesting I go back to doing both? %#!# you. #@# you very much.

Re:Idiots.

[Phoenix Rising]

This. I get Netflix so I can "rent" movies. While I've liked some of the Netflix original content, what I really want is a super video rental store.

Re:Epix was one reason they were forced to stream.

[bobbied]

Seriously 160 kbps connection? Dude, you need to subscribe to the "We will mail you the disk" part of Netflix and just forget this video streaming idea. Trust me, they can turn a disk around in the mail faster than you can download the movie..

kept my Netflix dvd subscription

[Dan667]

Looks like the netflix dvd model is coming around to be in vogue again.

You're opening the door to your competitors...

[thedarb]

Taking away popular movie titles is only going to give your competitors an in. I didn't have to go see films at the theatre if I didn't want. It would end up on Netflix. I didn't need Comcast, it would end up Netflix.

Simply put, if things stop coming to Netflix, so will the viewers. We aren't locked in to 2 year contracts, so we can come and go as we please. Maybe, Netflix, you should continue to court us.

Re:You're opening the door to your competitors...

[c]

Simply put, if things stop coming to Netflix, so will the viewers. We aren't locked in to 2 year contracts, so we can come and go as we please. Maybe, Netflix, you should continue to court us.

You sound like believe this is something Netflix is doing on purpose. Given the business environment they're operating in and how content licensing works, it's just as likely that someone in the industry is jerking them around.

Re:Epix was one reason they were forced to stream.

[bobbied]

> Seattle...160 kbps

That isn't too bad. You can download a 700 Mbyte movie in only ten hours. With my 56k modem (because stupid Comcast despite having the government-granted monopoly over most of Seattle, still doesn't offer service to their entire monopoly area), I can download that in 30 hours. That's not too bad. I can leave the download running while I'm at work and at night and then have two movies to watch over the weekend. I really do hope they add a download option.

So a DVD will take 10 hours and a Blu-Ray will take days to get... Go with the Netflix disk delivery option and it takes about three days to turn around ANY title they have, which is just about any title you could want, plus you can save that internet connection for something else, like browsing Zillo for houses OUTSIDE of Seattle that you can afford...