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Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

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Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#251

Post by sp332 »

nickjj wrote: post #198
TeMPOraL wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a workaround, but it's still making streaming feel more like cable TV, since now you again have to watch shows according to a schedule. The core selling point of streaming movies and shows is the "on demand" part. It removes an entire dimension from the problem of planning movie nights or your personal entertainment. If a show is available on the service you're subscribing to, you can watch it any time you want.…

> It's a workaround, but it's still making streaming feel more like cable TV, since now you again have to watch shows according to a schedule. This already happens now if you're only subbed to Netflix. They are constantly removing titles. It definitely starts to feel like a schedule because now it's like "I have to watch this before October 1st otherwise it'll be pulled". The worst is when you deal with series too. L…

Several sites have regular articles on what's leaving Netflix. e.g. https://netflixupdate.com/leaving-netflix/

Edit: I don't think this is a positive thing for Netflix. And trying to keep up with it probably would just give customers anxiety. But it's a constant reminder that you don't really get to watch what you want with Netflix, which I think is useful to be reminded of now and then.

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#252

Post by ekianjo »

sbarre wrote: post #6

"May" drive them back? This has already happened in my circles.. People who had cut the cord but all but walked away from casual piracy and signed up for Netflix and HBO (and probably Prime Video because they had Amazon Prime already) are openly talking about the fact they're definitely not signing up for more streaming services, and are seeking out torrenting again for the stuff that's being pulled from Netflix (esp…

> I feel like there's a business opportunity for a meta-service that automatically manages monthly subscriptions for you on different services

The better model would be to have all video providers make streaming available thru a common standard API, and let other companies compete on front-end/store and features instead of having ever single provider re-inventing the wheel behind walled gardens over and over again.

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#253

Post by nesadi »

sbarre wrote: post #6

"May" drive them back? This has already happened in my circles.. People who had cut the cord but all but walked away from casual piracy and signed up for Netflix and HBO (and probably Prime Video because they had Amazon Prime already) are openly talking about the fact they're definitely not signing up for more streaming services, and are seeking out torrenting again for the stuff that's being pulled from Netflix (esp…

Seems to me like everybody here is out of touch. It's not the 2000s anymore. Torrenting isn't the only option, or even the best option anymore. There's a crazy amount of great non-legit streaming sites where you have access to probably every movie or series you'd ever want to watch. No need to subscribe to 5 different services for 50€, I can go to one site and watch everything for free in a convenient, simple way. Everybody I know does it, especially now that Netflix is a husk of what it used to be content-wise and how terrible it's become usability-wise.

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#254

Post by epanchin »

draugadrotten wrote: post #174
AnIdiotOnTheNet wrote: post #159

No shit. Valve worked out the key to combating piracy in the early 2000s. To quote Gaben himself: "We think there is a fundamental misconception about piracy. Piracy is almost always a service problem and not a pricing problem. If a pirate offers a product anywhere in the world, 24 x 7, purchasable from the convenience of your personal computer, and the legal provider says the product is region-locked, will come to y…

Valve is right. I haven't pirated a single game since I started using Steam, and I have spent dollars on games I will never ever have time to play. There is no way I will subscribe to 10 different movie streaming services. I want it all in one client. If they want to charge me 50 dollars for the latest movies, so be it. I just want the convenience of one single source available 24x7 wherever I am. Until then, /r/usen…

Spotify also nailed it, haven’t pirated a single song in years.

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#255

Post by laumars »

40acres wrote: post #232

I don't think this is as big a threat as these comments make it seem. For the tech savvy, setting up a Plex server or whatever can be done in an afternoon's time. The majority of consumers won't go through the "hassle" of setting up their own infrastructure and will make judgement calls on what platforms align with their interests. I'd bet on Netflix (incumbency), Prime (bundling), Apple (integration with iPhone) and…

You don't need a dedicate Plex server to pirate. Any bittorrent client will do and people might just be happy using a built in media client. Plus often people are happy to buy systems pre-built (remember the "Kodi Box" craze?). Piracy is a service problem not a price problem so people are willing to pay for systems like this if it's easier than managing subscriptions to multiple services (and the fact it usually works out cheaper to pirate is an added bonus).

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#256

Post by marcosdumay »

Snoddas wrote: post #140
lucasverra wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

simpler method trick 1) Create virtual card 2) Switch payment method to new card 3) Delete virtual card 4) Cha ching !

In Sweden at least "non payment" is not a valid way to cancel a service. You could end up with late fees and debt-collectors after you instead.

Well, I bet that if you are able to show in a small damages court that unsubscription was made unreasonably hard, you'll get them not only to throw away your debt, but also get some nice amount from the company as image damage reparation.

It's a hassle, but this makes companies not willing to go after the debt.

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#257

Post by sp332 »

personlurking wrote: post #48
hunta2097 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there is a model for rotating streaming provider. You can easily watch a year's worth of a provider's [good] content in 3 months. Just change provider every 3 months to a different one, then binge it all. Maybe a service that automatically deactivates your account at the best point in the billing-cycle? If you could do it without too much overlap you could actually do it on a monthly basis: Jan - Netflix Feb…

Though unrealistic, all things considered, there needs to be a single site for everything (akin to pirated tv/film sites, incidentally). The user would go to a central place where all streaming options are available to be browsed and watched. The point of differentiation would be at payment, as the cost to the user, for whatever they just selected, would go to those who own the rights. No walled gardens, everyone win…

https://www.justwatch.com/us at least lets you search across lots of services. Also if you haven't cut the cord, your cable company's portal page might let you search streaming content that's included with your subscription, e.g. https://portal.metrocast.net/video/details/category/episode/... shows "Food Network - Subscription" and links me right to it.

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#258

Post by AimForTheBushes »

navigatesol wrote: post #202
throwaway2048 wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I somehow doubt that streaming platforms will finally be the ones to end piracy once and for all via lawsuits.

There's a difference between pirating something, and distributing pirated content, both ethically and legally.

You mean like the pirate bay?

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#259

Post by toxik »

mratzloff wrote: post #119
toxik wrote: post #10

Streaming "choices"? It's fragmentation and rent-seeking behavior. It is simply a case of the supply not meeting the demand at a reasonable price point, when there is an alternative.

Yes, rent seeking by creating original content. A nefarious twist on the concept of rent seeking.

I'm not sure if you're trying to be sarcastic, but yes, rent seeking is different from selling a product. In this case, the copyright holders would rather you pay for _temporary access_ to their libraries, rather than actual ownership -- a tradeoff that is (somewhat sadly) acceptable to many when it's a single, cheap subscription, no fuzz, and critically, no ads.

Re: Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy

#260

Post by lostgame »

ImprovedSilence wrote: post #210
sbarre wrote: post #6

"May" drive them back? This has already happened in my circles.. People who had cut the cord but all but walked away from casual piracy and signed up for Netflix and HBO (and probably Prime Video because they had Amazon Prime already) are openly talking about the fact they're definitely not signing up for more streaming services, and are seeking out torrenting again for the stuff that's being pulled from Netflix (esp…

I agree with you here, to a degree. It seems the model of “one place” for all movies would be (and has been) a huge boon for viewers. But eventually I think that “one source” would become monopolistic, and we would see consumer abuse and degraded service. If you doubt it, Who would of thought anyone would abuse their monopoly on search? Or social? Or online retail? I guess I don’t know the best long term solution....

No - we had this in the past - it was a thing called 'television'.

What we need is a universal platform for all of these streaming services, one app that streams Netflix, Hulu, et cetera - and, ideally - the ability to 'rent' movies or shows from the services without having to pay for a whole month.

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