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Netflix Says People Watch Same Amount of Movies Regardless of Perceived Quality or Depth (news.com.au)

Posted by msmash on from the in-reality dept.

Two of the most common issues people have with Netflix is: the movie catalog is shrinking, and the quality of the movies aren't that great anymore. Netflix says it is aware of those issues, and it thinks, in reality, those factors don't really matter much as people end up watching the same amount of movies as they always have. From a report:According to the Netflix exec, subscribers spend about the same time watching movies on the service regardless of the depth or perceived quality of the movie library. "No matter what, we end up with about one-third of our watching being movies," he told the audience. Mr Sarandos cited two contrasting examples of the United States and Canada as proof of such behavior. In Canada, Netflix has five major deals with movie studios to use their content while in the US the company basically has none, with the exception of the recently signed Disney deal. Despite US subscribers having far less access to movies from big studios, both countries spend roughly the same proportion of their time on the service watching movies. Netflix believes that by the time many blockbuster movies make it onto the platform -- many months after being released in the cinema -- a majority of fans have already seen them. "If you were passionate (about a movie), you've already seen it," he said.

6 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. I beg to differ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I havent watched anything on netflix in weeks precisely because I cant find anything with any quality or depth.

    Am strongly considering cancelling my subscription.

    1. Re:I beg to differ by gfxguy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Agreed.... I think a lot of people watch stuff they wouldn't otherwise because they have some free time and say "let's watch a movie." Then, instead of picking something they really want, they look at what's available on Netflix and choose what they hope is the best option.

      When that best option turns out to be a pretty crappy movie, time and time again, it will cost Netflix customers in the long run.

      Indeed, bean counters are more focused on what will get them the next bonus than what will actually help the company in the long run.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    2. Re:I beg to differ by David_Hart · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I havent watched anything on netflix in weeks precisely because I cant find anything with any quality or depth.

      Am strongly considering cancelling my subscription.

      I dropped my Netflix subscription three years ago when they stopped getting new movies (dropped contracts with major movie studios). I enjoy movies and have no interest in watching old TV series.

      This study is poor. They are evaluating their current customer base. The problem with this is that the majority of movie fans have already left the service. What this means is that the majority using it today do so to watch TV shows and original content. The only reason why they use Netflix for movies is simply convenience.

      In other words, it shows Netflix who their current customers are but not the potential market. It's like Tesla saying that trucks are not needed beause all of their customers drive cars...

    3. Re:I beg to differ by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

      On smoggy days, people breathe just as much as on clear days.
      So the obvious conclusion is that people don't care about air quality.

  2. too much segmentation by anthony_greer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This ala carte thing is really backfiring - as much as I dislike Comcast, there is something to be said for getting everything in one bill. When you add up netflix, HBOgo, hulu, CBS, Amazon, and your choice of Directv NOW, Playstation TV, or that Dish/sling offering plus a decent internet connection, its already more than the tv+net package from the cable company and the content we want constantly disappears or has some goofy restriction placed on it. The media companies are making this WORSE...

  3. This is true, and disappointing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From personal experience, when we want to watch a movie on short notice we will go to Netflix first. We've generally got a pool of movies in mind we're meaning to watch. If Netflix doesn't have any of them (a situation which has become more common than not) we'll usually just pick one that is there out of convenience. "Lots of movies, just not the ones you want" is not a great situation for Netflix to be proud of or even satisfied with. It's like they're becoming the online video equivalent of the stereotypical used car salesman from old sitcoms hawking their huge fleet of trashy cars, and 38 rusty Toyotas is not better than the BMW you wanted.