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Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

#81

They're losing subscribers, because of multiple reasons, most of which are their own fault: - Subscription prices keep rising, and they were already very high. - Libraries decreasing as they lose the licensing to other streaming services. - Originals are hit and miss, mostly miss, and get cancelled constantly after 1 season. - Crackdown on VPN and password sharing. - COVID lockdowns are mostly over in Europe, US and…

This is good list. I'd also call out the common complaints I see about the recommendations. Further, it seems like there are a number of people unhappy with the homepage UI, which may be tangentially associated to recommendations. When the same things keep getting recommended in multiple categories for several months, it gives the impression the library is even smaller than it actually is. Personally, in terms of UI,…

The most annoying part of the UI for me, and netflix isnt alone in this, is that the last thing I was watching is not the most easily accessible content after i sign in. I have to scroll down through 2-3 categories to get to "continue watching" . . it's like something out of a comedy skit

Am I crazy, or should it be expected behavior that if I click nothing but "ok / enter" after opening the app that I should end up on the last thing I was watching?

Also it's always making noise or doing something and the only way to shut it up for a minute is to play something and pause it

Re: Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

#82

They're losing subscribers, because of multiple reasons, most of which are their own fault: - Subscription prices keep rising, and they were already very high. - Libraries decreasing as they lose the licensing to other streaming services. - Originals are hit and miss, mostly miss, and get cancelled constantly after 1 season. - Crackdown on VPN and password sharing. - COVID lockdowns are mostly over in Europe, US and…

> We pay for 2 or 4 simultaneous streams on Netflix I was under the impression that you're paying for "household access", up to a limited number of simultaneous streams; where household means the people that live with you. Does the agreement wording you accept when you sign up say otherwise?

my household is in the metaverse, we share a common chatroom

Re: Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

#84
I wouldn't be surprised if more people are starting to rotate between streaming services. All of my favorite content that used to be on Netflix is now split between several services (Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Disney+). At one point I paid for all of them, but I found myself only having the time to use 1-2 per month. Some I wouldn't touch for months but was still paying for.

Now I pay for 2 services/month, watch something new, and then the next month rotate my subs to something else.

Keeps the content fresh and price down.

They're simply too expensive for what you get unless you have 10 hours a day to watch TV/movies and you like everything on the platform. I was tired of throwing away money.

Re: Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

#85

I wouldn't be surprised if more people are starting to rotate between streaming services. All of my favorite content that used to be on Netflix is now split between several services (Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Disney+). At one point I paid for all of them, but I found myself only having the time to use 1-2 per month. Some I wouldn't touch for months but was still paying for. Now I pay for 2 services/month, watch somethi…

Inevitably that will lead to cable style 24 month contracts.

Re: Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

#86

They're losing subscribers, because of multiple reasons, most of which are their own fault: - Subscription prices keep rising, and they were already very high. - Libraries decreasing as they lose the licensing to other streaming services. - Originals are hit and miss, mostly miss, and get cancelled constantly after 1 season. - Crackdown on VPN and password sharing. - COVID lockdowns are mostly over in Europe, US and…

This is good list. I'd also call out the common complaints I see about the recommendations. Further, it seems like there are a number of people unhappy with the homepage UI, which may be tangentially associated to recommendations. When the same things keep getting recommended in multiple categories for several months, it gives the impression the library is even smaller than it actually is. Personally, in terms of UI,…

How about it recommending shows/movies you’ve already watched? Or not allowing the auto-removal of items from your list after you’ve watched them?

Re: Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

#87
post #80

For me, Netflix needs higher quality content. More creative risky shows like the OA, Altered Carbon, Love, Death & Robots, Black Mirror and more old HBO style content… quality vs factory cookie cutter produced stuff trying to satisfy the lowest common denominator, because then you will satisfy no one. Maybe they have good shows I just don't know about. Their recommendation system seems to be crap. I browse for 20 min…

>Basic only gives you SD quality, which I'm OK with but only allowing one device at a time is taking the p!ss. Really? There's only one of me but I've had 1080p+ TVs for something like 20 years now. SD is complete BS for any modern content.

I don't watch on big screen - mostly on a laptop or iPad, hence why I don't mind SD. I'm probably an edge case.

Re: Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Originals are hit and miss, mostly miss, and get cancelled constantly after 1 season. The latter thing is precisely what causes the most "misses". Hard to get invested even despite minor issues when you know it will get cancelled anyway. Also means no one will produce or buy merch aside from coffee mugs, further cutting into profits. > Libraries outside the US are a fraction of the size of the US library, some legi…

I wonder how many people on HN would be okay if the government forced open software to be licensed for use in a way that was contrary to the way that authors wanted? Would regulation also set prices for how much license holders can charge? Should the latest Marvel movie be licensed for the same amount as an indy film?

We're already having precedence for enforced FRAND licensing with patents relevant for standards (particularly in the telephony, networking and codec world). It should not be too hard to adapt these as regulations for the media world, especially when anti-trust regulations come into play - and given how much control Big Mouse has, it's time to do so.

Alternatively, break up Big Mouse or force them to divest from certain assets to make sure there is room for healthy competition. Currently, Big Mouse can pump out massive amounts of work that drown out indy filmmakers - people only go to cinemas four, five times a year, and when all of that is reserved for the MCU and Harry Potter (which is about the only major franchise that Big Mouse does not yet own) and cinemas are forced to extend runs for their movies despite almost no audience left simply because Big Mouse demands it by threatening to cut off cinemas from future blockbusters, who is left to watch movies by other studios?

Re: Netflix hints at password sharing crackdown as subscribers fall

#90
post #20
post #14

> The streaming giant estimates more than 100 million households are breaking its rules by sharing passwords. Someone elsewhere rephrased this as "Netflix estimates that 100 million households don't think Netflix is worth its price." which I think is very apt.

It's not clear your logic actually follows, presumably some fraction of those 100M would pay if sharing passwords wasn't an option.

I imagine you're probably right but I don't think it'll be the case for me. I upgraded because my parents and in-laws were using it on occation so I needed more concurrent streams on my package. If they crack down, I'll downgrade immediately and I doubt my parents and in-laws would want to start paying for it, they only use it on rare occasations it just so happens that tended to cross over with me and my wife who are heavy users.

I think they'd probably get a net loss from me and my family if they cracked down.

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