Are Lovefilm & Netflix a threat to Virgin?

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

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.

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.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

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.

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.

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

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

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.

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 ----------

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

Do you if Amazon will buy Netflex?

No chance, not now.

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

[Kymmy]

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 ----------

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

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.

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..

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

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.

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.

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!

[naeskydish]

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.

[v0id]

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

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

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!

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

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? ), 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).

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

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

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? ), 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).

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!

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

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)?

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.

[Helix]

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

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!

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.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

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.

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.

[HDFootyMan]

Originally Posted by Jameseh

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.

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

[muppetman11]

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.

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

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

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