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Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

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Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#151
post #119

Something I’ve found interesting with cable vs. streaming services is that when cable was the only option, people didn’t like that you had to get the sports package to somehow get the history channel. In addition to this, it’s extremely difficult to turn on and off access to certain cable packages because you’d need to call them. Now though, we have the content split up very piecemeal and I now hear complaints that “…

I think the ideal setup from a user-convenience standpoint is where you just pay a monthly subscription to access everything and the money is distributed across whatever you watch the most. Though obviously that has a lot of logistical issues, like how you could get all these competing companies onboard with something that takes so much control out of their hands. And also the fact that watch time isn't a great metri…

>That's basically what happened on YouTube, with the weird auto-generated algorithm/SEO-optimised children's content.

That was so weird. Like if I'd read that in a sci-fi book back in the 90's I'd have derided it as a ridiculous idea.

And yet it actually happened.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#152

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.

They tried with Space Force. A workplace comedy starring Steve Carrel created by Carrell and Greg Daniels, who was the original show runner for the Office and also helped create Parks and Rec. It had a great cast. It just wasn’t very good sadly.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#153

Why doesn’t Netflix explore adding ads to their viewing experience? Yes, I wouldn’t like ads, but cable’s revenue model is subscription plus ads, so I’m curious why Netflix thinks their optimal revenue model would be any different?

The moment I see an ad on Netflix is the moment I unsubscribe. I’d rather spend time digging through sketchy torrents than watch ads in something I paid for.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#154

Canceling is so easy. This future is the one I wanted.

As long as cancelling remains easy, I will continue being a subscriber.

Bit of a Schrodinger's cat situation isn't it? If it became difficult to unsubscribe, you would only find out when you attempted to do it, not at any time before.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#155
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…

It can get a bit impossible. I recently wanted to watch Don't Look Up with Croatian audio (am Croatian, I know it's stupid but I thought it would be funny) and Chinese subtitles (because that's my GF's first language), but it is not possible. If I am on my Croatian profile I can use Croatian audio but not Chinese subtitles. If she is on her profile she can use Chinese subtitles but not Croatian audio.

I get that it's a UX thing because most people aren't interested in Swahili subtitles, but it would be nice to have an option to expand the list since I know they have the data.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#156

Netflix is part of the FAANG acronym because they have all these highly paid engineers. Presumably those people have been doing something for the past 5 years in anticipation of being disrupted by Disney/HBO/etc. besides maintaining their CDN and tweaking recommendation engines, but it's not clear what - the product is more or less the same as it always was.

At least for me, Netflix consistently has the fewest problems (failing to load, apps crashing, buffering on a 900 mbps connection, etc) of any streaming service I use. So the engineering is working in that regard.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#157

> But Netflix’s quarterly subscriber growth is now slowing in spite of spending more money than ever on content To me the problem is the content. They now seem to produce shows for particular niches that are never my niche. Some of these extremely expensive shows are laughably low quality on all fronts: story, acting, stylistic choices, cinematography/direction... everything. Take the new Cowboy Bebop: it's obviously…

> Half the tentpole movies of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s were my niche, so it's not as though I'm a difficult audience.

I know what you mean - but is that Hollywood, or is it us becoming grown-ups?

I mean, it's possible all movies are aimed at the tastes of teenagers, and the reason Terminator 2 and Robocop and Die Hard seemed like great movies is because I saw them when I was a teenager.

The innumerable superhero movies we have nowerdays may seem like a snoozefest in comparison - but maybe that's just because I'm no longer a teenager.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#158
post #116

The golden age of Netflix was when it had a full library of other networks' shows. It was completely unsustainable at $8.99/mo or whatever it was back in 2013-15. The price of the brick went up each time renewal discussions happened, and the rights holders were planning to set up their own networks anyway. What I didn't anticipate was how fast Netflix would dump AAA content and replace it with a deluge of B and C gra…

The scary thing for me is what is the outcome of a generation that has watched nothing but pure mental junk food like the Netflix top 10 list is?

Idiocracy is the outcome

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#159

Yarr harr fiddle dee dee… I canceled Netflix years ago on the heels of a previous absurd price hike. Somehow I still am able to watch all the shows I want. Weird!

OK I'll say it.... What are you going to watch when no-one bothers to make good TV anymore, because people like you don't pay for it, but watch it anyway? I'm sure you are employed also, so how about I say 'hey I'll take and use your output, but I won't pay you for it' ? You'll be fine with that, right? Pirating TV/Films that you can legally watch in your country is immoral, and left unchecked will lead to the overal…

I am not worried, they will never run out of people like you who will keep paying no matter how high the prices are.

Re: Netflix’s Prices Are Rising Faster Than Cable

#160

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…

While I don't entirely agree with you I do think the price of Netflix is getting a little higher than the value we personally get out of it. Our personal breakdown this year (in the UK): Adults in the house, we are quite picky but if we love it then we will keep watching: Netflix @£9.99: 2 tv shows, 4-5 films Apple TV+ @£4.99: 3 tv shows, 2 films Disney Plus @£7.99: 1 tv show, Loads of movies Amazon Prime @£7.99: 3 t…

I'm surprised YouTube isn't on your list. We having streaming services, but my kids mostly watch YouTube.
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