../../../..//2008/03/25/netflix-has-been-asking/
Netflix has been asking its members about their Xbox 360 usage habits as it considers whether to stream movie rentals over the device. Are you a Netflix subscriber who owns a 360? Were you surveyed?
netflix
IFC Seals Devilish Pact With Blockbuster
By 3.11.08
IFC has inked a “devilish” multi-year exclusive distribution deal with Blockbuster, says Chicago Sun-Times blogger and editor of RogerEbert.com, Jim Emerson.
Netflix Goes Blu-Ray Exclusive
By 2.11.08
Another nail in the coffin of the format war: top DVD rental service Netflix has announced that they will be going Blu-Ray exclusive.
"Why Blockbuster Will Never Survive"
By 1.18.08
Reader and commenter Salviati writes in to share his personal experience with Blockbuster and his theory for why they will never survive fierce competition from Netflix and the new Apple video rentals.
Researches Claim To Reverse Netflix's Anonymization
By 1.15.08
Researchers from Department of Computer Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin say they can reverse Netflix’s anonymous data (which was released in to the public as part of a contest to see if someone could design a better rating system) by comparing it to only a few ratings on IMDb. The result? Specific users can be identified and linked to their (ostensibly) private ratings.
Releasing the data and just removing the names does nothing for privacy,” Shmatikov told SecurityFocus. “If you know their name and a few records, then you can identify that person in the other (private) database.”
By 12.6.07
../../../..//2007/12/06/is-netflix-costing-the-post/
Is Netflix costing the post office millions of dollars with its poorly-designed DVD mailers? Um, sort of. [Machinist]
NBC Cuts A Deal With Netflix
By 11.30.07
NBC has but a deal with Netflix that will let its users stream episodes of “Heroes” the day after they air. The deal will also provide access to past seasons of NBC shows, says a Netflix press release.
Blockbuster Total Access Fails, Netflix Wins
By 11.1.07
We’re ready to call Netflix the winner of this battle of the video war, based on Blockbusters remarkably sad third quarter numbers and the flood of pissed off emails we’ve been getting from Blockbuster’s (former) customers.
Time To Offer Flexible Magazine Subscriptions
By 10.28.07
Taking a page from Netflix, Time is developing a service that will let customers pay a single monthly price for up to seven rotating magazine subscriptions. Dubbed Maghound, the service is Time’s attempt to augment the yearly subscription model by embracing the internet.
A Plague Of Cracked Blu-Ray Discs From Netflix?
By 10.10.07
Grant is having a problem renting blu-ray discs from Netflix.
Netflix Restores Confidence, Bank Account
By 9.16.07
Reader Josh sent us an account of Netflix’s pro-consumer, ‘just-say-yes’ customer service that we have lauded in the past. Josh had asked to suspend his account until September 18, but Netflix unexpectedly reactivated his account on September 11, sending his bank account into overdraft. Josh called customer service to ask for an explanation and a refund. He writes:
The Ace Up Netflix's Sleeve: Excellent Customer Service
By 8.19.07
Netflix is investing in superior customer service to differentiate themselves from Blockbuster as the two rental giants remain locked in a vicious price war. The company has completely shunned email-based support, instead relying on 200 friendly Oregonians to answer calls around the clock. Netflix CSRs, unlike most, are not given target call durations, and are encouraged to “err on the side of generosity” when dispensing compensation. They have one shockingly simple goal: satisfy the customer.
Netflix Aims To Destroy Blockbuster, Drops Prices Yet Again
By 8.16.07
Netflix has dropped the price of their 3 movie at a time service… again, says Consumerist’s sister site Gizmodo. We don’t really know what else to say about it because it was only a few weeks ago that we posted the last Netflix price-cut.
Blockbuster Tries To Thwart Netflix, Gobbles Up Movie Download Service
By 8.10.07
Blockbuster has purchased Movielink, an ailing movie download service cobbled together by film studios to combat online piracy. The deal will give Blockbuster access to movies from Sony, Universal, Paramount, MGM, and Warner Brothers. Netflix’s download service, by contrast, offers a limited selection of mostly older movies. The deal is the latest salvo fired in the consumer-friendly war of the movie rental services. No word yet on how long hackers might take to crack the new download service.
Blockbuster Raises Prices, Gives You Until Yesterday To Change Your Plan
By 7.27.07
Blockbuster would like you to know that you are a valued customer… and that you have until yesterday to change your plan before the new pricing goes into effect.
By 7.24.07
../../../..//2007/07/24/craigslist-netflix-and-several-other/
Craigslist, Netflix and several other websites are down following six successive power outages in San Fran’s SOMA ‘hood. [Boing Boing]
Netflix Sticks It To Blockbuster, Cuts Prices Again
By 7.24.07
The consumer-friendly price war between Netflix and Blockbuster rages on this week as Netflix cuts the price of its two most popular subscription plans by $1. The cost of Netflix’s 3-DVD plan will drop to $16.99, while the 1-DVD plan will fall to $8.99. The price drops will make Netflix plans $1 cheaper than comparable Blockbuster plans featuring Total Access. Both retailers slashed the price of their 2-DVD options last month to $13.99. The latest move from Netflix is meant to drain much-needed cash from Blockbuster. From the Chicago Tribune:
Stepping up its attack on Netflix also has been hurting Blockbuster, which has had to spend more heavily on DVDs to ensure sure its stores have enough discs to keep up with the additional demand from its roughly 3 million online subscribers. The company lost $49 million in the first quarter.
Netflix Lowers Costs As Blockbuster Prepares To Raise Prices
By 6.29.07
Netflix has reduced the cost of its 2-DVD plan by $1 to $13.99, matching a move made by Blockbuster earlier this month. Blockbuster had expected to be dancing triumphantly atop the battered and bankrupt corpse of its rival by now, but Netflix’s staying power is causing Blockbuster to re-think its strategy. By the end of the year, Blockbuster will raise the price of its Total Access service, which allows subscribers access to its retail locations.
The company said in the filing that it planned to modify its popular Total Access plan before the end of the year to “strike the appropriate balance between continued subscriber growth and enhanced profitability.”
Netflix’s email to subscribers, after the jump:
