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Randomly Disappearing Titles

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    Randomly Disappearing Titles

    I've started to notice some titles disappearing from the HDX listings. I tried to rent Be Kind, Rewind and it was missing in action. I'm guessing this the release window bull****, where I'm expected to either buy the disc or change cable companys if I want to watch a film in HD.

    I checked the DVD release date for that movie, it was June. Looking at some other releases around or before that time (Rambo, Bucket List, Semi-Pro) and yes, they are also no longer available to rent. It looks like six months is the magic number before we can expect to see the availability of titles disapparing. Add to that the standard one month embargo on rentals and that gives only a five month window before stuff disappears. Is it even worth encoding them for just five month of rentals?

    Looking at some of the older releases that I've requested for HD rental (Sunshine, There Will Be Blood, No Country For Old Men), these are all early 2008 releases with no indication of when they will be available again. Hell, Hot Fuzz was released mid 2007! So I guess we expect to see up to a year and a half before any of these films are returned to the rental catalouge? Kind of takes most of the steam out of the whole 'rent what you want, when you want' model.

    These release windows are going to kill Vudu and the other services before the studios ever make any real money from them. Something big needs to be done with the future contractual terms for Vudu, AppleTV, XBL, et al. Be creative, if the cable companies ask for exclusivity in the PPV realm, then reclassify Vudu as an 'Internet Delivery Mechanism' rather than a PPV box. Offer higher rental margins if you have too. Basically, if Vudu wants to succeed then it needs to show some initiative and get this fixed!

    #2
    Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

    I thought I came across No Country For Old Men yesterday as I was in "Explore Genres"...

    -- Greg

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

      Probably for purchase, not to rent.

      Incidentally this is one of the few newer releases available on netflix watch instantly.

      bald

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

        I am finding the same thing. All the "Oscar" candidates from last year: No Country, There Will be Blood, etc. are all SD purchase only. Rambo is SD purchase only now. There is now a large segment of my wish list that I had wanted to watch in HD/HDX or even rent in SD that are now purchase only. Vudu and the studios are losing money here because I won't purchase these but if they were rentable, I would rent them...

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

          Agreed. I'm just not interested in purchasing standard definition copies. That's not why I purchased a HDTV. It quite maddening that the studio are turning away my money, you don't see them pulling DVDs from the shelves to appease HBO so why are screwing services like Vudu.?

          I hate to say it, but it's behavior like this that encourages people to go the bit torrent route.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

            Originally posted by Citizen Erased View Post
            I hate to say it, but it's behavior like this that encourages people to go the bit torrent route.
            I'm ignorant.... What's bit torrent?? Sounds a little like the "old" Napster.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

              Originally posted by HeadHodge View Post
              I'm ignorant.... What's bit torrent?? Sounds a little like the "old" Napster.

              It's where people steal music and movies because the content owners are to stupid to open up the legal channels.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

                I see Bucket List has been running on one of the Premium Pay channels recently. So that is probably why it dropped off the HDX list.

                Of course I sat down and watched almost half the movie off that channel, even though I have the Blu-ray Disc sitting in my cabinet somewhere.

                Originally posted by Citizen Erased View Post
                I've started to notice some titles disappearing from the HDX listings. I tried to rent Be Kind, Rewind and it was missing in action. I'm guessing this the release window bull****, where I'm expected to either buy the disc or change cable companys if I want to watch a film in HD.

                I checked the DVD release date for that movie, it was June. Looking at some other releases around or before that time (Rambo, Bucket List, Semi-Pro) and yes, they are also no longer available to rent. It looks like six months is the magic number before we can expect to see the availability of titles disapparing. Add to that the standard one month embargo on rentals and that gives only a five month window before stuff disappears. Is it even worth encoding them for just five month of rentals?

                Looking at some of the older releases that I've requested for HD rental (Sunshine, There Will Be Blood, No Country For Old Men), these are all early 2008 releases with no indication of when they will be available again. Hell, Hot Fuzz was released mid 2007! So I guess we expect to see up to a year and a half before any of these films are returned to the rental catalouge? Kind of takes most of the steam out of the whole 'rent what you want, when you want' model.

                These release windows are going to kill Vudu and the other services before the studios ever make any real money from them. Something big needs to be done with the future contractual terms for Vudu, AppleTV, XBL, et al. Be creative, if the cable companies ask for exclusivity in the PPV realm, then reclassify Vudu as an 'Internet Delivery Mechanism' rather than a PPV box. Offer higher rental margins if you have too. Basically, if Vudu wants to succeed then it needs to show some initiative and get this fixed!

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

                  Yeah, this sucks but the bottom line is that studios make a lot more from exclusive deals with cable channels. For longer version, read this CNET article -- http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10119509-93.html

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

                    Originally posted by Rusdude View Post
                    Yeah, this sucks but the bottom line is that studios make a lot more from exclusive deals with cable channels.
                    More money per transaction or just bottom line? If pure volume is the issue then the VOD market will never grow beyond shoddy cable PPV services. To say internet delivery needs wider adoption for the exclusive cable deals to be dropped (as the article states) is a catch-22.

                    I guess in the mean time I'll stick to getting those rentals for as part of my netflix plan (which I keep anyway for the online service). It's not hindering me that much and I'm actually saving money that would be going to the studio but I gotta say, the shear ****ing stupidity of it all really annoys me.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

                      Originally posted by Rusdude View Post
                      Yeah, this sucks but the bottom line is that studios make a lot more from exclusive deals with cable channels. For longer version, read this CNET article -- http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10119509-93.html
                      Thanks for the link....I had missed that one!

                      I went ahead and posted up a comment asking if the writer had ever heard of Vudu since he harped on Netfilx and AppleTV who don't compare to Vudu. Hopefully it will help get Vudu some attention and respect from some of the press.

                      If you are a Vudu believer, you might consider commenting whenever they fail to mention Vudu. I have done this on several industry newsletters too as getting the word out will be key to their success!

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

                        Originally posted by htheater View Post
                        Thanks for the link....I had missed that one!

                        I went ahead and posted up a comment asking if the writer had ever heard of Vudu since he harped on Netfilx and AppleTV who don't compare to Vudu. Hopefully it will help get Vudu some attention and respect from some of the press.

                        If you are a Vudu believer, you might consider commenting whenever they fail to mention Vudu. I have done this on several industry newsletters too as getting the word out will be key to their success!
                        That's a great idea. Back when Vudu was first launched, there were a number of us that were like a "hit squad" that would do exactly this all in coordination. We'd particularly comment on reviews and so forth. That has since fallen by the wayside, but I would encourage anyone and everyone to do just this as it is a good way to get the word out.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

                          Argh. I was going ot rent mongol and I notice its completely gone from Vudu. I wish if you put a film on your wishlist, if the expiration of the title was known it would tell you "available for rent for 18 more days" or something. Netflix does this in their instant queue.

                          bald

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

                            That's a good feature for the wish list and in browsing the catalog in general. If a movie is expiring w/in 30 days, then it should show that in the wish list. It shows the time remaining when you actually rent the movie but that's the only place...

                            Good idea!

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Randomly Disappearing Titles

                              What happens if you 'purchase' a movie and Vudu later loses the rights to it? Are you still able to play it, do you get a credit towards another movie, or are you just out of luck?

                              This is why I don't plan to stop collecting physical media any time soon- once it's mine, it's MINE!

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