Thread: OT Blue
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Old March 23rd 17, 07:30 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Mayayana
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Posts: 6,438
Default OT Blue

"Char Jackson" wrote

| Video streaming is one of those things where, once you get a taste of
| it, you wonder why you waited.
......
|I'd say video streaming is
| a game changer, and is hastening the demise of physical video media.
|

I got curious about this and did some looking around.
It turns out that Netflix numbers are now about 95M
streaming and 4M+ getting DVDs. Many articles about
Netflix actually talk about streaming without noting
the distinction. Like you, they assume DVDs are in the
past.

It turns out there are some interesting wrinkles. The
best numbers I can find for DVD selection vs streaming
selection is 90,000 DVDs vs 4K+ streaming titles. Almost
the reverse of subscriber numbers.

https://netflixupdate.com/netflix-up...x-dvd-service/
(That link says 90,000, as have other sources. I never
found a specific report comparing the two options.)

Streaming options have been steadily dropping, from
6,400 to 4,300 in the year up to 3/2016:

https://www.allflicks.net/netflixs-u...han-2-5-years/

One problem is that DVDs can be rented as copyrighted
property, like a book. Streaming requires a deal with the
provider. Netflix can only middleman the streaming service.

The article above speculates that with more streaming
competition, Netflix just can't afford the licensing fees
for so many movies.

One intriguing theory is that Netflix are coming up with their
own programs in order to transition to being more like a
broadcast station and lower their total cost of streaming.
(If more people watch more Netflix shows then Netflix
pays less per customer in movie fees.)

Meanwhile, new services are popping up to offer more
specialized streaming selections.

So far I'm very happy with Netflix DVDs, but if they
eventually stop the service I may just stick with broadcast
TV and the library. I could almost do that now, if I were
willing to wait longer for movies. I wonder if it might end
up like radio, with people subscribing to their favorite
stations for particular styles. That seems counter-intuitive.
Why not all streaming services just offer all selections?
Apparently the market is not likely to make that feasible.

Then, of course, there are the rural people who don't
get decent high-speed. They tend to be forgotten by
urban dwellers who assume high-speed Internet and
cellphone service everywhere. Many people in less
populated areas still don't have either.


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