I have been a Netflix customer for a number of years. Primarily for the streaming service, but every once in a while there is that movie that I cannot get through the Netflix stream and then only have a few options on obtaining that recent released movie.- Add the DVD option for Netflix.
- Go to the local video store.
- Pay to watch the recent release for 24 hours through Dish, iTunes, Amazon, etc.
- Go to the not so legal side of sites to watch the movies.
To this point, I have primarily targeted options one, two, and three above. We have actually used option three a number of times through the past few years. It is easy and quick to get that recent release and watch it when we want. The problem is that usually just for that one movie it is easily $5.99 (or more) to rent that movie. Paying for the convenience and so that whomever is selling it to you can give it to you is why they are so expensive.
So, every now and then I get the idea to pay for DVD delivered to the home from Netflix. Or, sometimes we get the idea to go to our local video store and pick up a DVD. Sure, the prices are cheap to go to the local video store, but usually the recent movies are picked over. Netflix has a descent selection of movies, but even those you have to wait for to get if they were just released.
OK, so why the post? Yes, I was wondering the same thing about this point. My point is why do we still have DVD or BlueRay discs? Nothing is more frustrating than to get that perfect movie for movie night, pop it in the player, press PLAY, and 30 seconds into the movie it pauses... or it just stops playing... or jumps to the end of the movie. Seriously? We have a old DVD player and have not given any thought to buying a BlueRay device. Why would we when it is frustrating to watch movies that pause, jump, or stop playing and get the same problems with BlueRay too?
So the discs are easy to produce and easy to use. Easy for the stores (video store, Netflix, etc.) to be able to distribute to their customers. Bottom line is that the discs are easy to track. It seems that other than going to the illegal area of streaming that it would be possible to distribute a code that would change each time the "disc" is rented to someone new that would allow that person to watch the video through a streaming service. Thinking of Netflix, it seems this could be done with a code that is sent through email and entered on streaming device to watch the new release. A one-time code that would allow access to the movie.
I have read numerous articles regarding Netflix and that they still have millions of customers that subscribe to their DVD service. I understand that there are a lot of people that do not have Internet or only have means to watch movies on their physical player requiring a disc. Or, maybe those individuals just like the old school way of watching movies.
Netflix DVD membership has dropped to 5.3 million subscribers (see 4 Reasons Netflix DVD Rental Isn't Going Away) and that number will likely continue to drop. I have not read anything about a new model of delivering new content from Netflix or other services other than what some are already doing with paying $5.99 or more to rent the movie.
For now, I will go back to streaming only from Netflix and it will likely be a while before I get another DVD from a store either. I will continue to rent recent releases from iTunes, Amazon, or Dish. I will be interested to see how Netflix will work into their service to be able to watch those new releases without having to get DVDs.
I would love to hear your comments regarding your experiences with streaming new movies or trying to watch DVD or BlueRay movies.
Enjoy your streaming shows and movies....