On Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 8:42 PM, David Lynch <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 21:01, PGage <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I don't know how this will work out for them - the point is that they are >> placing a bet - a pretty big one. >> > > I wonder if they haven't underestimated the number of people who are > content to pay for the option to watch an occasional stream alongside their > regular DVD by mail or watch a stream or two a week while paying for the > privilege of letting a red envelope sit on top of their DVD player gathering > dust, but won't see it as worth it when it turns into two separate queues to > manage on two separate sites sending two separate bills. Most of the outrage > I've heard on social media today is people feeling like Netflix, Inc. is > forcing them to pick one or the other with this move--and that they'll pick > the DVDs and go with streaming from another provider, which they're > basically trying to get away from because physical media and perhaps the US > Postal Service are going the way of the dinosaur. > Again, I think Netflix is looking down the road a bit further than that. There may be people today who would rather stream from another provider (I don't think there is a better one even now, but these are marginal differences). But if Netflix is successful, they will be offering a streaming package in a few years that will be more attractive to most people. If they are not successful in getting these online deals, then they are screwed anyway. I think their judgement is that the DVD mail order business had a very short horizon (in his email to subscribers the ÇEO made the analogy to AOL hanging on too long to its dial-up model). If Netflix fails, it won't be because they alienated DVD customers, or because they pissed off streamers by raising their price a few bucks. It will be because other companies, with deeper pockets, outbid them for the major online distribution deals. I think Netflix knows they might get outbid, but they want to give it their best shot. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
