Netflix inching closer to streaming only business model

By on Oct 23, 2010 at 9:52 PM
General October 23, 2010

A couple days ago, Netflix’ CEO Reed Hastings reiterated the company’s intent to switch their business model from a mail-order service to a streaming-only service. The company has just taken their first step in an attempt to gauge feasibility of such a system. Netflix’ landing page now details a $7.99 monthly plan that will allow you to stream an unlimited number of movies to your PC, Mac or TV. The ‘baller’ in you might want to pony up an extra $1 to receive an unlimited number of DVD’s in the mail (albeit, one at a time). Netflix is moving in the right direction though, in what appears to be the next logical step; something a certain rival of their’s failed to envision.

[Via Engadget]

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31 Comments

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  • castlerock611

    Well,how about that android app,netflix???

    • ImpressMe

      I hear there will be a windows phone 7 app.

    • Peter Martin

      Well, Android sucks will get apps months, maybe years after iOS does. Second rate OS gets second rate apps.

      • Electrofreak

        Keep tellin’ yourself that. It’s all about who courts the developers, and Apple had the head start.

        Despite that, Apple is losing market share to Android, which is seeing its market grow at an exponential rate.

        Recent polls also have Android coming out ahead of iOS in terms of developer popularity. Developers don’t like Steve Jobs telling them how they should write their applications. Android is gaining momentum; it’s a fact that people like you are going to have to come to terms with.

  • Max Sandoval

    For $1 more, I’ll keep my 1 DVD @ a time for new releases not available for streaming…

    • Zack

      Thats my beef with Netflix right now. No where near enough movies available for streaming to become a streaming only company. I wanted to watch Hurt Locker, which has been on DVD for almost a year now and it’s still disc only! WTF Netflix. More streamy less slacky please!

      • Electrofreak

        Agreed. I’m tired of seeing “DVD Only” whenever I look something up.

        Example: today I wanted to watch The Terminator.
        DVD Only. Seriously?!

      • KFS

        Exactly! I love Netflix but HATE the “wait for the mail” business model that appears to hail from 1997. No thanks.

        When I get an hour or two to sit down and enjoy a movie I want to watch what I feel like watching – not some old movie, TV show, or what Netflix sent me on DVD a week ago.

  • Mike

    If this was not a buck difference from the current plan, I’d see the viability of the plan, make it 4.99 and maybe. Otherwise why would I or mr customer care.

  • Chris

    really? a whopping one dollar off?

  • Captain Download

    If they want me to switch to a streaming only account, offer the new releases on my streaming account and I’ll jump on it. Otherwise I’ll pay the extra buck like Max stated.

  • Big Papi

    I applaud them for their continued innovation. Innovation spurs competition and better pricing strategies. I have yet jumped on the Netflix bandwagon, but I’m inching closer

  • Superonyx

    I wont jump on the netflix bandwagon until they can stream in HD all the movies I want to see. If I have to rent a bluray to watch a newer release then I will just avoid netflix altogether. I dont need to see the movies i passed on from 3 years ago in standard definition.

    Life is so busy I only have so many hours to watch movies. And when I do i want to be able to watch new movies in HD. If usenets and torrents can get the programs to me for free then netflix better be able to match their selections. I want a one stop shop and then I will shop.

    • Consumer

      Well aren’t you a bitch.

  • SMART-IPHONE

    Netflix is still better than Hulu!

  • MacMan

    Netflix rocks.

  • CAS

    What’s the difference from current plan? Its 8.99 per month with unlimited streaming and unlimited DVD’s (1 at a time!)
    No difference I feel. If Netflix offers everything streaming for all movies would have been awesome!

    • BackInAction

      If you go with the plus $1 for one DVD, there isn’t a difference. They just re-worded their sales pitch (it use to be $8.99 for 1 DVD plus unlimited streaming).

      Though, I guess now you can get streaming only for $7.99 which wasn’t available last week.

  • brswa

    This is pretty weak considering that Canada gets to stream everything. Including the new releases.

  • bml

    but like 60% of the things I watch are on DVD only netflix. The day when they get a reasonable streaming catalog is the day I go streaming only. But for now it sucks!!

    • Jayanthi R

      I’m pretty much in the same boat. Until they bring their “back catalog” online in more comprehensive fashion, I still need the DVDs. I wouldn’t say it sucks, but I just picked my top 10 movies of the last 25 years, and only 4 of them are available for streaming.

  • http://estudiog.wordpress.com/ estudioG design

    That would be a nice model, as long as new releases were released within a week after they come out on DVD. I have an appleTV (1st gen) and it’s ok, but some movies are not available for rent soon after their DVD release which can be rather annoying.

  • http://www.worsttech.com Mansoor

    Is there any Android app for Netflix?

  • Gordo

    no android app, but would great if they had blackberry app.

  • Mike

    The problem with netflix streaming on my iphone is my LIMITED data plan. So really its only useful in my house where my computer is anyway

  • treydiz

    The mail is for old people. Stream! Stream like the wind!

    • KFS

      My 80 year old Grandmother who is NOT tech savvy and who only accepted a microwave and NOT being a ‘tool of the Devil’ like five years ago was listening to us pitch Netflix to her and even SHE said “so they can send any movie I want to my TV?” and when we said no, she’d have to wait for many of them to come in the mail, she snorted and laughed “the mail? No thanks! I can drive to the library and pick up a free DVD quicker.”

      So when my 80-something “grammy” is laughing off your business model, something’s got to change!

      Put it all on streaming like yesterday. Please!

  • JP

    I just don’t see why they don’t stream the new releases (DVD only now) but maybe limit it to 1 per week. They will save so much on shipping, envelopes, handling, DVD inventory, lost/damaged discs, etc.. Dvd’s can still be an option for old or technically challenged people. This way everyone wins!!

  • Platypus

    One would have to assume Netflix understands the desire to have new releases available for streaming and is planning to accommodate. This will soon be the only way to rent films.

  • Seth H

    As stated many times before: REALLY beef up your streaming selection (including New Releases) and I’ll subscribe. I’m sure you’ll get plenty of others too.

  • ja2bk

    Hello people, they can’t bring new releases until the studios agree to allow them to do so. It is not Netflix that is the reason for this. The studios were working to stop Netflix from getting recent DVD releases via their previous distribution avenues. The studios now allow them to do so, but only after 28 days. It isn’t Netflix holding back new releases.

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