Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

[redwein]

It seems that the studios are making things more difficult for even Netflix.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34731701...biz/?GT1=43001

It looks like they won't be able to send out new releases from WB until 28 days after they have been available in stores. Netflix expects other studios to follow. Seems like it's going in the wrong direction as far as the studios are concerned. But I guess it actually levels the playing field somewhat for Vudu and other VOD providers.

[aaronwt]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

It seems that the studios are making things more difficult for even Netflix.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34731701...biz/?GT1=43001

It looks like they won't be able to send out new releases from WB until 28 days after they have been available in stores. Netflix expects other studios to follow. Seems like it's going in the wrong direction as far as the studios are concerned. But I guess it actually levels the playing field somewhat for Vudu and other VOD providers.

This is actually an agreement that Netflix made with WB. And it actually benefits Netflix subscribers since they will get much more streaming content.

BURBANK, Calif. & BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced new agreements that will continue to make Warner Bros. new release DVD and Blu-ray titles available to Netflix members while adding to the selection of direct to video titles and Catalog movies available to be streamed instantly to TVs and computers.

New release titles on DVD and Blu-ray will be made available to Netflix members after a 28-day window, giving Warner Bros. the opportunity to maximize the sales potential of those titles and Netflix the benefits of reduced product costs and significantly more units and better in-stock levels four weeks after street date. At the same time, a renewed and expanded license for Warner Bros. streaming content will allow Netflix to offer its members more movies they can watch instantly.

"These new agreements build upon the strong relationship we have had with Netflix for nearly 10 years," said Ron Sanders, president, Warner Home Video. "The 28-day window allows us to continue making our most popular films available to Netflix subscribers while supporting our sell-through product."

"We've been discussing new approaches with Warner Bros. for some time now and believe we've come up with a creative solution that is a ‘win-win' all around," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix. "We're able to help an important business partner meet its objectives while improving service levels for our members by acquiring substantially more units than in the past after a relatively short sell-through window. At the same time, we're able to extend the range of choices available to be streamed to our members."

The agreement covering DVD and Blu-ray provides a means for Warner Bros. to continue to directly supply Netflix with new titles while establishing a schedule that allows Warner Bros. to get the most from the sales potential of those titles (75 percent of sell-through occurs in the first four weeks) and maximize VOD usage. Netflix benefits from reduced product costs and better availability of new releases. New releases from all suppliers account for about 30 percent of Netflix shipments.

[redwein]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

I'm thinking that there were many who complained here when they had to wait for new releases that were out on DVD already. I have to believe that the people who actually still rent DVDs are going to be mighty ****ed off. And it won't help them to go VOD because the new releases won't be made available their as early as they used to be on DVD. Of course making the VOD library bigger will be good for them but is that an exclusive deal?

[DaBigEZ]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

What about Blockbuster?

[NA9D]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

The interesting thing about this is that Warner Brothers was the FIRST major studio on Vudu to offer purchase AND rent on release day.

[aaronwt]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

I already see a couple of titles affected by this 28 day delay on Netflix.

The Invention of Lying and Whiteout.

But I have no problem waiting for these movies. And they aren't titles that are worth me paying $6 for to rent. And I'll probably just end up watching them on cable.

[vudu4me]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

The way I see it the more successful Netflix is at getting more streaming content available means the day will come when they will charge a fee for streaming movies in addition (or offer a separate package all together) to their DVD packages.

Right now vudu and Netflix complement each other more than compete against each other. Personally for me, if there's is a long wait on my Netflix queue I'll just watch the movie on vudu.

I try to limit my purchases on vudu as it gets prohibitively expensive over a month's time. As good as vudu is it can't compete with Netflix in terms of quality (a blu-ray disk still beats HDX) and choice (Netflix's DVD/blu-ray library is enormous).

Of course if there's a urge to watch a movie right away then there's vudu to meet my needs. And there are some movies available in the HDX format from vudu that are available only in the DVD format from Netflix. For me personally, these services compliment each other.

[vudu4me]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

"I already see a couple of titles affected by this 28 day delay on Netflix"

How is that? Without the agreement these movies may have never been available for streaming from Netflix.

[aaronwt]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

"I already see a couple of titles affected by this 28 day delay on Netflix"

How is that? Without the agreement these movies may have never been available for streaming from Netflix.

Those titles aren't available for rental even though the disc was released or will be released soon. I have no idea about streaming.

I have them in my queue. At one point they both listed a release date. Then they switched to Unavailable. And after looking further they were listed in a press release as the first couple of movies affected by this deal. Netflix is delaying the rental of these discs because of the agreement with WB.

[vudu4me]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

I misread the press release as I thought the agreement applied to streaming content. It's hard to feel sorry for these movie studios when it comes to piracy.

[bobpaule]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

Without Netflix streaming large segments of the US population would be unaware of independent and foreign movies that move and challenge and make some of the vast masses between the coasts shed the football/bible blinder set and start thinking a bit

[RonV]

Re: Warner Bros Adding Restrictions to Netflix, More Studios Likely to Follow

Without Netflix streaming large segments of the US population would be unaware of independent and foreign movies that move and challenge and make some of the vast masses between the coasts shed the football/bible blinder set and start thinking a bit

Are you stating that those of us that live in the Midwest are not "enlightened?" and don't "think?" For as many of the independent films I watch I don't think many of them really relate to the Midwest values system. Yes they were though provoking but not life changing.