Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

interneteconomist.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 507 posts

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#81

Post by vagrantJin »

nikanj wrote: post #8
discardable_dan wrote: post #2

I said this again recently, but it's worth repeating: Netflix is on the very fast downward slope. Their catalog is wilting, the space is heating up with well-established competitors moving in and serving the precise content that Netflix originally built their brand on, and their efforts to fund a new catalog with new IP (and taking ownership of old IP) is destroying the business model that made them so appealing in t…

Most of the competitors can lean on a decades long backlog of hits that attract people. Netflix needs to build everything from scratch, and the cost of creating TV series is ridiculously high nowadays

> the cost of creating TV series is ridiculously high nowadays

I disagree with this claim. Their problem is that they enjoy losing money - a fetish if you will - in an attempt to draw and cater to a very particular and very young crowd. Its like they forgot that somewhat mature people over 35 actually do exist and are usually the ones paying for the service.

Its a pity because with all that talent and resources - they should be well above everyone else of they werent so damn focused on everything but good storytelling. I've seen stick figures on youtube tell better stories than Netflix.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#82

Post by JKCalhoun »

markus_zhang wrote: post #70

I figured the best way to purchase is to subscribe for one month, watch all you want, and then stop. Repeat when new series that you are interested in show up again. Again I really think this business model is stretching for them. I would rather to subscribe on a full catalog of all classic movies and Documentaries before the year 2000 and I can subscribe that for many years.

Fast for a week, then hit an all-you-can-eat buffet.

It won't work for me because I loathe binge watching.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#83

Post by OskarS »

slibhb wrote: post #60
discardable_dan wrote: post #2

I said this again recently, but it's worth repeating: Netflix is on the very fast downward slope. Their catalog is wilting, the space is heating up with well-established competitors moving in and serving the precise content that Netflix originally built their brand on, and their efforts to fund a new catalog with new IP (and taking ownership of old IP) is destroying the business model that made them so appealing in t…

As far as I can tell they've succeeded at becoming HBO. I admire how the company has evolved over the years. It's cool that they distribute (and sometimes fund) movies made by excellent directors (Coens, Scorsese, Sorrentino). It does seem like a precarious business model: they have to keep picking or making winners but so far they're doing well.

> As far as I can tell they've succeeded at becoming HBO.

Have they? Have they really? As far as I can tell, nothing that Netflix has ever done in-house has ever come close to the best of the cable channels. Like, The Witcher is fine, but Game of Thrones it is not, neither in quality nor buzz/cultural significance. House of Cards is no Succession and Ozark is no Breaking Bad. Nothing they have could even come close to comparing to stuff like The Sopranos or The Wire in terms of cultural impact. The closest they've ever come, in my opinion, is probably with Making a Murderer, and they've spent the last couple of years churning out pale imitations that make Netflix look like "True Crime TV".

You're paraphrasing that quote from the Netflix CEO that goes like "We want to become HBO faster than HBO can become us". To me, HBO has won that race handily.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#84

Post by sct202 »

SayMyName wrote: post #32

This is showing basic cable in the 20-30 range? What company is giving out those prices? Even at promo prices, which are going go up like crazy once the promo period is over, basic cable is still higher, and they have added costs like local broadcast station charges.

Basic cable in my area is really just all the free over the air broadcast channels but with a reliable connection. Cable with all the channels you would expect (VH1, MTV, ESPN, Disney, etc) is $100 and HBO is still extra on top of that.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#85

Post by OskarS »

discardable_dan wrote: post #37
boardwaalk wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait, what Apple Arcade games have ads? Some of them have “formerly had in-app purchases” vibe, but no actual ads. I would guess Netflix’s stuff to be the same.

I'd have to look at my phone. I just know I installed some and got ads in the games, and it made me unsubscribe.

Apple Arcade games have neither ads nor in-app purchases, it's the whole point of the service.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#86

Post by JKCalhoun »

FactolSarin wrote: post #57

I often wonder why Netflix is willing to pay so much for the Office and Friends but isn't trying to make a new show like that. Every new show is an 8 episode season of "prestige" TV.

I think because we already have too many new shows. Name recognition might help make a sensible niche to own.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#87

Post by Mindwipe »

wdb wrote: post #7

It's all starting to get expensive. The content on Netflix keeps disappearing without warnings. Half the time you have subtitles in a limited number of languages. Also they now started adding games, why do I need to pay extra for games I never subscribed for or even want? Make it a add-on or something. For example, Netflix DE has subtitles but the Netflix UK won't have the same German subtitles available. Disney+ is…

> I can understand that dubbed audio might not be available on other country Netflix' but the subtitles?

Subtitles are absolutely limited by region by the studios as part of stopping people VPNing around to access titles that haven't been paid for in that region.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#88

Post by seneca »

MattGaiser wrote: post #45
stathibus wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Product managers don't build things.

Engineers have very little say in what to build.

> Engineers have very little say in what to build.

That entirely depends on the company. In my experience, the higher the quality of engineers a company hires, the more influence those engineers have.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#89

Post by lsrinivas »

discardable_dan wrote: post #2

I said this again recently, but it's worth repeating: Netflix is on the very fast downward slope. Their catalog is wilting, the space is heating up with well-established competitors moving in and serving the precise content that Netflix originally built their brand on, and their efforts to fund a new catalog with new IP (and taking ownership of old IP) is destroying the business model that made them so appealing in t…

It was Netflix's Chief Content Officer in 2013 who said 'The goal is to become HBO faster than HBO can become us.". I think this gent's now co CEO.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#90

Post by hnthrowaway0315 »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #82
markus_zhang wrote: post #70

I figured the best way to purchase is to subscribe for one month, watch all you want, and then stop. Repeat when new series that you are interested in show up again. Again I really think this business model is stretching for them. I would rather to subscribe on a full catalog of all classic movies and Documentaries before the year 2000 and I can subscribe that for many years.

Fast for a week, then hit an all-you-can-eat buffet. It won't work for me because I loathe binge watching.

Yeah I guess it depends. Most of Netflix movies and series are boring so I usually just want 1-2 of them. One month is too long for me already.
Post reply on HN