Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

£5.99 per month for unlimited streaming from Netflix:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/n...paramount-and/

Currently £4.99 per month for unlimited streaming from Lovefilm.

I'm already a Lovefilm subscriber, Flimflex can't compare for value when its around £3.99 per film which explains why I haven't used it for over 3 years now.

PS: Where are the apps for these services on TiVo? Enough of the Harry Potter/Twilight apps please VM.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

According to this link its £9.99 for unlimited streaming ?

https://www.lovefilm.com/signup/3?promotion_code=

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

They've had a streaming only package for a while now called Lovefilm Instant, only £4.99

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Excellent

http://blog.lovefilm.com/uncategoriz...rice-4-99.html

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Well if people want access to the latest movies then Lovefilm & Netflix are no threat to Virgin at all. Until Lovefilm and Netflix can provide movie fans the latest blockbusters within 6 to 10 months of their cinema release then I'd say Virgin have nothing to worry about at all. Most of what you can stream from Lovefilm either has been or will be on terrestrial TV at some point over the next 6 months anyway.

I'd say Lovefilm & Netflix are a threat to PictureBox at this time but nobody else really.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Thats sounds good.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I had a trial of lovefilm over christmas and I'm glad to admit that it got cancelled before it converted a paid account. A lot of the films are either old, straight to VHS/DVD or as one film turned out to be a 4:3 VHS (150line) conversion.. I don't expect that from a service (even for a 1960's film) especially when it is available on 16:9 dvd remastered on their own service)

Perhaps in the future they'll get better contracts as most rentals go the way of streaming and the new £4.99 streaming only package hopefully is a sign of that..

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Personally, I would love to see either Lovefilm or Netflix on VM. Even if all their films are not brand spanking new something like this would be a welcome addition. The reasons I don't subscribe to Cinemoi - much as I love French cinema - is that it is too expensive for such a limited choice of films (likewise Picture Box) and what films they have are not in HD. An almost unlimited choice of streamed films for £4.99 or £5.99 really gets my attention.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

They're not to sports customers. £5 or £6 for a certain batch of movies or £7 more on your bill for Sky Movies. I don't like Sky but their selection of movies is pretty great and all in "sparkling" HD.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I agree Kymmy, I too took the 30 day trial offer and streamed the films I watched through my xbox. Was not impressed with the quality nor the titles on offer. Cancelled the trial after a week and only 2 films watched.

Until I can stream in HD it's not for me.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

One thing l love about Netflix: Complete or near-complete series are available to watch, take 24 for example:

VM: Days 7 & 8 of 24 available
Netflix: Days 1 to 4 of 24 available

All episodes of Prison Break are on there as well. Impressed so far.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I loved Prison Break :)

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I've heard many people complain about the quality of Lovefilm's streaming.

Not tried it myself (used a free trial long before they had console apps for streaming), but I have used Netflix and it looks very good.

Plus also seasons 1-3 of Breaking Bad :)

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

What's stopping you from getting another free trial to try it again?
I'm currently coming to the end of my third Lovefilm free trial ..and got paid a twenty quid amazon voucher to boot :D (sixth free trial if you count 'Lovefilm Partners')

..but like I said in another post here, the Lovefilm [streaming] library is rubbish

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Nothing as long as you can register a new account probably with a new card..

I watched about 5 films through my sony Blu-ray player and thought that a usenet subscription combined with my DLNA server was a lot better monthly option ;)

(just don't tell Mr. Angry :PP: )

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Great show, I miss T-Bag. Evil bugger but so much fun to watch. :D .....when he wasn't erm, killing people. :erm:

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

May not be streaming but LoveFilm is the cheapest way of watching HD blu ray movies £2.50 a rental and how much is FilmFlex again £4.99

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

With superior AV quality as well compared to anything Flimflex offers, especially when comparing the bitrate to Blu Ray.

I can't see how the likes of Flimflex can continue to charge those kind of prices. OK, you get the 1st run films on there but for the price of one HD film, you can get a month's worth of unlimited streaming from Lovefilm OR almost 2 Blu Ray rentals.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I signed up for netflix free trial on my ps3, some decent stuff and shows not shown before, also 24 is in hd for the seasons it broadcasted in that format, would be great to see this on TiVo, but with many of these shows already on ondemand I wonder if virgin would consider it.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Maybe VM will launch Lovefilm and Netflex via Tivo in the near future, so it is possible to stream shows via your Virgin STB

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I signed up to netflix free trial last night and my initial reaction, which might be unfair, was that I was disappointed with the quantity, and age, of the content. I'm all for making it available as a Tivo app to give customers more choice, but I can't yet see that it's much better than a well managed suggestions folder coupled with Virgin's already very good on demand offering. If anything, I think it would be a reasonable companion for freeview or free sat customers-certainly not an obvious threat to three pay TV platforms.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I think one of the problems here is that people think that subscribed (and not PPV) content will be all new releases, Just look though at Lovefilm.. the latest films added (Dark Knight, Gran Torino and The Hangover are at very least 30 months old.. Lovefilm does have newer films including HD streaming of the new films but this isn't covered by the subscriptions.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Signed up for the month free trial, got it on the PS3 so streaming very simple.

Looks good from 1st look through the content :)

Hopefully VM will release a TiVo App soon

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Yes this a threat to Virgins tv market there broadband market will continue for the forseeable future to be unaffected. I am close to cutting my TV service off the only thing stopping it is sport. Movies and tv shows are covered by either neflix/lovefim or buying of itunes or the DVD box sets. A legal way for sport is the killer until this resolved for the most part Virgin and Sky will be sheltered. If the rumoured news that Apple and Google looking at the streaming rights of games then are in trouble.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

If Netflix vastly up the amount of content over time anyone with VM BB wanting to stream Netflix HD will probably need at least 50mb to avoid falling victim to traffic management at certain times. Could be an area where VM will see profits rise.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Did an article on my blog last night about this (points at signature). VM are missing a great, great opportunity here! They have the only PVR with its own cap-free, STM-free, broadband connection. No other platform/PVR has this.

VM should be pushing TiVo as the best PVR for movie-lovers:

• Access to Sky Movies? Yeah.
• Access to Sky Anytime Movies on Demand? Yep!
• Access to Filmflex? OK.
• Access to Netflix? Yep.
• Lovefilm? Of course.
• Need an existing broadband connection? LOL, don't be silly!
• Bandwidth capped while watching any of this stuff? Hell no!
• STMed while watching any of this content? Nope!

I sincerly hope we don't get an endless drip of promotional apps instead of apps for Lovefilm, Netflix and other VOD services, we have plenty of promotional tat already in TiVo's app page (Sky Movies/Sports, Harry Potter, Twlight, VM Shorts).


True, but Lovefilm's recent 2nd pay TV deals (I think one of them is an exclusive with Warner Brothers) means this situation will improve. Even more so if OFCOM grow a pair and break Sky's hold of the UK movie market.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Which is the only reason why they have Dark Knight and Hangover but they are still 2+ years old. For newer films you'd need a combination of Netflix, Lovefilm, Video Unlimited (Sony's PPV system now called Qurocity) and probably a few others to get a decent range.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Worked out the other day that if I stayed on my Lovefilm package (3 Blu Ray rentals + 2 hours of steaming per month) + Netflix, that would come to just under £11. £2 more if I added unlimited streaming from Lovefilm. I could live with that, that would be less then watching 3 HD movies from Flimflex in a single month.

For anyone interested in who's got what:
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-n...uk-pricepoint/

• Netflix says it has film and TV from All3Media, BBC Worldwide, CBS, Channel 4’s 4oD, Disney UK & Ireland, ITV, Lionsgate UK, MGM, Miramax, Momentum Pictures, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox and Viacom International Media Networks.
• In the pay-TV movie window, Sky Movies currently has exclusive deals with Hollywood’s six largest studios (Sony, Disney, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Warner Bros. & Universal) for linear and SVOD via subscription.
• In the second pay-TV movie window, Lovefilm has exclusive deals with Sony Pictures and Warner Bros., as well as delas with Entertainment One, Studio Canal (formerly Optimum Releasing), Disney, Lionsgate and Momentum. In TV, Lovefilm just signed deals to add archive ITV and BBC Worldwide shows.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Virgin is more of a Internet company than a TV company anyway, this could mean the end of sky, also, I better get my Apple HDTV soon then!

---------- Post added at 12:53 ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 ----------

I hope we do get Neflex and Lovefilm soon on VM

---------- Post added at 12:53 ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 ----------

Do you if Amazon will buy Netflex?

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Yet each film is available to rent from your local blockbusters for 99p each as they're not new releases..

Lovefilm may improve but atm it's not worth a constant subscription

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I don't "think" that subscribed content will be new, rather that I would require it to be for me to consider this service value for money when I take into account what I already pay for TV. Taken in isolation it's a good product and, I believe, an ideal companion for those who don't have pay TV or have the smaller TV packages without any on demand options. For me, already paying out for xl TV and with subscribed access to on demand programming as well as hundreds of suggested programs on my Tivo I'll need more from netflix than what I've seen so far to convince me to pay another 5.99 per month for TV.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

If Netflix and Lovefilm both had a pretty decent collection of films and both were available in HD I would get rid of Sky Movies today , Im glad Netflix has launched competition can only be a good thing. I notice Sky are a content partner for Youview can you see a time when Sky themselves launch a streaming product on a multitude of devices or would this dent subs on their own platform to much.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

5 films for 99p? Just under £5. I'd rather pay the pound or so extra and stream those five and plenty more from Netflix (like episodes of 24 last night), while saving the 1.5 mile drive to my local Blockbusters.....assumming its still there.

My local video store went out of business last year. Says it all really. :erm:

Even this morning on the drive into work, the DJ on the radio was joking about how his missus wanted him him to goto the local video store, "Bugger that, I don't need the excerise, what's on Sky Anytime?"

---------- Post added at 13:06 ---------- Previous post was at 13:02 ----------

No chance, not now.

There is some talk of Yahoo (of all people) buying Netflix, but for now its just talk.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

How long before all 3 films are likely to be on FTA/FTV channels? Prince Caspian/Bolt from that year is already shown this Christmas. I think that lovefilm will be seen as an excuse by distribution companies to delay TV launches and try to get more money from old releases..

---------- Post added at 13:13 ---------- Previous post was at 13:09 ----------

You would be perfectly correct except for December the only decent new releases on the subscription package were those 3 films in SD mode only.. Personally I was dissapointed, but at that point there was no streaming only package so the drop from 9.99 to 5.99 for those only wanting to stream I suppose is a step in the right direction.

Only time will tell..

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Why would Yahoo! buy Neflex, they do have much in common, Amazon on the other hand owns lovefilm, but the opeats only in the UK and the nodic regions, buying Netflex would create a worldwide media streaming company!

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I used to have Sky Movies, now on Lovefilm unlimited £9.99 pm through my samsung blu ray and their discs.

There's no way I would consider Sky movies again because it's not value for money. I'm sure through time netflix and love film will make a substantial hit on sky's profits to the extent that they may have to reconsider having exclusive deals with holywood.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

If anything, I'd say that Netflix (and Lovefilm if they get their act together) will help Virginmedia when it comes around to renegotiating their deal with BSkyB for the Sky Movie channels

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

....which would attact attention from competition authrories worldwide. That would probably be worth it just to see Sky complaining about a UK streaming monopoly. :p:

Amazon spent £200 million to buy Lovefilm. Why spend another few million on Netflix and then spend even more money rebranding and merging the 2 companies (and their related device apps, content delivery networks, streaming rights etc)?

If the merged company was called Netflix then Amazon have just wasted money on a truckload of Lovefilm TV adverts.

I'm not saying it won't happen (what do I know? :p:), I just personally think that Amazon have got bigger fish to fry (like their Kindle readers, don't be surprised to see a Lovefilm app for the Kindle Fire).

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Netflex have only just launched, so they do not have much of a streaming monopoly in the UK, also, Lovefilm operates mainly in Europe and Netflex operates in North and South Americas, so there should no no cometition isues there, Even after Netflex/Lovefilm merger, they can still call it Loverfilm over here and Netflex in North America!

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Because in the UK LoveFilm is the brand whereas Netflix has the technology. Merge the two and you have a great service that people know about.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Amazon already offer a streaming service under the Amazon Instant Video brand in the US, the main reason they purchased Lovefilm is so that could be extended into Europe without them needing to start from scratch. They would probably have rebranded Lovefilm into Instant Video if Lovefilm wasn't so well known.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Totally agree.

I've noticed that the majority of posters in this thread either have V+, TiVo or SKY+. If people take time out, and review the week ahead on free to air TV, they can record plenty of quality films which will certainly surpass the content on Picturebox and will really give Lovefilm and Netflix a run for their money. I don't understand why people would pay to watch movies that are no better than those offered on free to view TV. I can understand about TV boxsets on Lovefilm and Netflix but not the limited selection of movies.

Here's a list of what you can watch / record from free to view TV between the 14th and 20th January. This isn't everything but a selection of the best free to air movies over a 7 day period.

Saturday 14th:

The World's Fastest Indian - BBC2
Step Up - ITV
Jurassic Park - ITV
Fantastic Four 2 - Channel 4
Blade Trinity - Channel 4
Along Came Polly - Channel 5
Garfield 2 - ITV2
About A Boy - ITV2
Casper - ITV2
Bridget Jones 2 - ITV2
The River Wild - ITV2
The Living Daylights - ITV4
The Dam Busters ITV4
The Accused - More4
Big Momma's House - E4
The Parent Trap - Film4
17 Again - Film4
Daredevil - Film4
Jeepers Creepers 2 - Film4

Sunday 15th January:

Catwoman - ITV
Entrapment - Channel 4
The Reader - Channel 4
Underworld - Channel 4
The Pink Panther - Channel 5
Talladega Nights - Channel 5
Ace Ventura - Channel 5
Hellboy - Channel 5
Not Another Teen Movie - Channel 5
The Borrowers - ITV2
Happy Feet - ITV2
The Holiday - ITV2
The Wedding Planner - E4
The BFG - ITV3
Watership Down - ITV3
Falling Down - ITV4
The Return - ITV4
Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves- 5*
Rat Race - Film4
He's Just Not That Into You - Film4
Chain Reaction - Film4

Monday 16th January:

You, Me And Dupree - ITV
Notting Hill - ITV2
The Whole Ten Yards - ITV2
Unforgiven - ITV4
Midnight Run - ITV4
Vantage Point - 5*
Role Models - Film4
Underworld 2 -Film4

Tuesday 17th January:

Eyes Wide Shut - ITV
The Bucket List - ITV2
American History X - ITV4
The Exorcist - ITV4
Muriel's Wedding - Film4
Showgirls - Film 4

Wednesday 18th Janaury:

The Outlaw Josey Wales - ITV
Sleepy Hollow - E4
Rush Hour 3 - Film4

Thursday 19th January:

Deep Blue Sea - ITV2
The Life Of David Gale - ITV3
Sex And The City - Film4
Friday The 13th - Film4
District 13 - Film4

Friday 20th Janaury:

Jaws - ITV
Sideways - Channel 4
Miss Congeniality 2 - ITV2
Empire Of The Sun - ITV3
The Quick And The Dead - More4
The Howling - ITV4
The Replicant - 5USA
Sexy Beast - Film4

That's a list of 70 films not including all the old black and white movies I've left off the list. The majority of the above films are also available in HD. Over the 7 days that's on average 10 decent films per day. Over a month you're looking at almost 300.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Ok, you lend Amazon the money to buy them too, OK? :D

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

A top post from Chad , the main reason I'll give Netflix a go is for the TV Boxsets some of which I haven't seen , Breaking Bad as an example.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I'd rather give Amazon my money to buy them on DVD and Blu-ray so that I own the content.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Breaking Bad is fantastic

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I regard the Lovefilm streaming content as an extra freebie to my Blueray rental.

For 9.99, I get 2 bluerays at home at any one time. Their turn around is very quick, so in theory, you could possibly get 4 films a week, so, 16 HD films with HD audio, a month for 9.99

HD films from sky, is very expensive in comparison and for me, just not worth the extra cost.

Netflix looks interesting; they don't have as much streaming content as Lovefilm, but my initial thoughts is that netflix has better content, with some in HD and 5.1 audio.

If I contiue with netflix after the free trial, as well as Lovefilm, it's stil a lot cheaper than Sky movies.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Netflix and Lovefilm have deals for the 2nd Pay-TV windows. As such, new films would arrive on those services before Terrestrial TV.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Not necessarily for all movie studios. You'll also find that the 2nd pay TV window will only give Netflix and Lovefilm between 60 & 90 days of exclusivity prior to the film arriving on terrestrial TV. It's interesting as just like SKY the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 have pre-existing deals with the various movie studios for content.

Here is a list of the current studio deals, according to various threads on Digitalspy.

BBC - Ardman Animation, BBC Films,Dreamworks, Dreamworks Animation, Walt Disney (inc. Disney Channel Original Movies, Pixar, Touchstone)
ITV - 20th Century Fox (pre 2009, repeat rights retained), Universal Pictures, Warner Bros.
Channel 4 - 20th Century Fox (post 2009), Film 4 Productions, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures, StudioCanal, Summit Entertainment
Channel 5 - Sony Pictures

I still don't see the appeal of this for "movie fans". If a movie fan didn't go to the cinema to watch a new film at release, didn't download it illegally, didn't buy it on DVD, didn't rent it from the video shop, didn't purchase it on Filmflex, didn't watch it on SKY Movies or catch it on SKY Anytime why would they then pay Netflix or Lovefilm to stream it almost 18 months later? Can't they just wait another month or two to catch the movie on terrestrial TV?

I know it comes across that I'm just knocking the service but I simply don't see the appeal. For TV boxsets both seem to offer a good service but how can paying to watch 18 month old movies be appealing?

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

You're right, WB 2nd-TV window is exclusive to movie studios. I should have mentioned that last night but I was tired. :)

At the end of the day, I welcome the choice Netflix and Lovefilm potentially offers. If I want to want to watch say, The Expendables tonight in HD, I can. I don't have to search TV schedules for when its on Terrestrial TV. Sure, I could wait.....but why should I when there's a choice not to?

And lets not forget, quite a few movies available on Flimflex are old as well (and cost almost the same as an equivalent Lovefilm streaming only sub when watched in HD).

Horses for courses I guess :). There's loads of other potential VOD apps which VM could be offering on TiVo, there's around a dozen such apps on my Sammy TV alone, along with apps on Xbox, PS3, Boxee, WDTV, Apple TV etc. TiVo shouldn't be standing still compared to devices like that.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

If they work for you then got for it buddy. I'm not sold just yet. One potential bonus is a price war on streamed content. The winners here are people with an appetitie for streamed services.

If Netflix or Lovefilm can grab a few 1st pay-TV window deals from SKY, game on!

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Hopefully the Competition Commission will break up that Sky Movies Monopoly, no-one can compete with them when they have Exclusive 1st Pay Window/Subscription VOD TV deals with all six major Hollywood studios.

Cheaper movies for everyone I say, regardless of what platform or provider they're with. :)

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Totally agree with that , just wish I'd confidence in regulatory intervention.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I thought Warner Brothers Owned New Line (NLC), this wolud mean the rights to NLC films came with WB film and yet WB films are on ITV and NLC films are with C4

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I've signed up to the Netflix 1 month trial and was browsing the films last night on my PS3 app. I have to say, it is pretty impressive for £5.99 a month. And if their promise of more content is true it looks to get even better. I started watching the film "The Contract" last night. This was in HD (720p I believe) with 5.1 surround sound. The quality was easily on par with a Sky Movie HD channel. Very impressed. Just needs more content.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Yes l agree as its so long winded and Sky always seem to throw obstacles in the way to hold up and disrupt regulatory proceedings.

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

An interesting read
http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419...-gains-favour/

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Doesn't help the cause. CC should stand firm against the studios.

This is good, but price bidding wars always increases end user pricing

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I also got the 1 month trial on my Xbox and I'm also very impressed with the quality.If the collection of films gets bigger and widens in scope I'll be happy. :)

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

I was love film I thought their streaming awful Netfilm is better quality and is cheeper....

Re: Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?
 

Hmm. I wonder what Sky would rather give up, Sky Movies' brilliant content or access to Sky Movies from other sources? (No sarcasm)