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amfuller · 28-06-2009, 20:28

I recently wrote to the Virgin on Demand people, as well as FilmFlex:

"This is not so much a suggestion towards a new service, but more of an
enhancement to an existing one; Virgin Media provide movies on demand
- movies are charged per viewing - via a third party, you, FilmFlex. It
seems to me that Virgin and you are missing a trick here: Netflix (of the US)
provide streaming movies (from a catalogue of 12,000, as opposed to
your 500) on demand at a fixed monthly cost (you can watch the same
movie as many times as you like, for example). Netflix has signed
deals with the likes of Samsung, whereby Samsung, via a firmware
update to their ethernet compatible blueray players (the P6000 or
P6050 in the UK) can include Netflix with their blueray players,
built-in.

Now, although Netflix is not here in the UK, I believe they will be
soon, and then all Samsung need do is update the firmware of their UK
version blueray players; I have one of these players and I must admit
that as soon as this service is here in the UK, I'll be signing up to
their monthly subscription.

Why do you not, say, partner with LoveFilm to provide a catalogue
similar in size to that of NetFlix (or, indeed, one similar in size to
that of Lovefilm's DVD rental service)
to provide streaming movies for a fixed monthly fee; I believe Virgin
Media and you need to move away from the dated movie rental format and adopt
the subscription format (which provides much better value).

It seems rather silly (considering Virgin's - in my opinion - superior
infrastructure to that of the States) that a streaming, on-demand
Netflix-like service is not here in the UK, on Virgin;
http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyD...nkctr=nmf_nfrd
and http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyD...lnkctr=nrd-l-n
make interesting reading - mainly the second link.

Me and the other half (the lover) find lots of independent films (you
know, the arty kind) are only available from the likes of LoveFilm: 1.
My life as a dog 2. Hero 3. The Barbarian invasions 4. Before Sunrise
5. Before Sunset 6. About ******* 7. Latter Days 8. Another Country 9.
Igby goes down 10. Party Monster 11. Anything Else 12. La mala
educacion 13. Motorcycle diaries 14. All about my mother 15. Angels in
America 16. Happy Together 17. The safety of objects 18. Kolya 19.
Central Station 20. Spirited Away 21. Tea With Mussolini 22. Goodbye
Lenin! 23. Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amelie) 24. Les Temps Qui
Rest (Time to leave; in english -- or at least i think it is) 25. The
Page Turner.

I'd happily pay what i'm paying to lovefilm to Virgin (you) instead -
and a little more, too, for the convenience for having it piped direct
to my living room; your independent movie selection is rather limited,
I feel. This £3-odd for a movie to have for a limited time is
disappointing, to say the least."

I wondered what you chaps (ladies too) thought?

28-06-2009, 20:28	#1
amfuller Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 24	FilmFlex alternative I recently wrote to the Virgin on Demand people, as well as FilmFlex: "This is not so much a suggestion towards a new service, but more of an enhancement to an existing one; Virgin Media provide movies on demand - movies are charged per viewing - via a third party, you, FilmFlex. It seems to me that Virgin and you are missing a trick here: Netflix (of the US) provide streaming movies (from a catalogue of 12,000, as opposed to your 500) on demand at a fixed monthly cost (you can watch the same movie as many times as you like, for example). Netflix has signed deals with the likes of Samsung, whereby Samsung, via a firmware update to their ethernet compatible blueray players (the P6000 or P6050 in the UK) can include Netflix with their blueray players, built-in. Now, although Netflix is not here in the UK, I believe they will be soon, and then all Samsung need do is update the firmware of their UK version blueray players; I have one of these players and I must admit that as soon as this service is here in the UK, I'll be signing up to their monthly subscription. Why do you not, say, partner with LoveFilm to provide a catalogue similar in size to that of NetFlix (or, indeed, one similar in size to that of Lovefilm's DVD rental service) to provide streaming movies for a fixed monthly fee; I believe Virgin Media and you need to move away from the dated movie rental format and adopt the subscription format (which provides much better value). It seems rather silly (considering Virgin's - in my opinion - superior infrastructure to that of the States) that a streaming, on-demand Netflix-like service is not here in the UK, on Virgin; http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyD...nkctr=nmf_nfrd and http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyD...lnkctr=nrd-l-n make interesting reading - mainly the second link. Me and the other half (the lover) find lots of independent films (you know, the arty kind) are only available from the likes of LoveFilm: 1. My life as a dog 2. Hero 3. The Barbarian invasions 4. Before Sunrise 5. Before Sunset 6. About ******* 7. Latter Days 8. Another Country 9. Igby goes down 10. Party Monster 11. Anything Else 12. La mala educacion 13. Motorcycle diaries 14. All about my mother 15. Angels in America 16. Happy Together 17. The safety of objects 18. Kolya 19. Central Station 20. Spirited Away 21. Tea With Mussolini 22. Goodbye Lenin! 23. Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amelie) 24. Les Temps Qui Rest (Time to leave; in english -- or at least i think it is) 25. The Page Turner. I'd happily pay what i'm paying to lovefilm to Virgin (you) instead - and a little more, too, for the convenience for having it piped direct to my living room; your independent movie selection is rather limited, I feel. This £3-odd for a movie to have for a limited time is disappointing, to say the least." I wondered what you chaps (ladies too) thought?