If reported deals between Netflix and cable giants go through, the company’s streaming service will be offered as a bonus to cable packages. Netflix is said to be negotiating with several cable companies to add its service as a possible premium on-demand option. [More]
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Starz Movies Fall Off Netflix Streaming This Week
Your Netflix streaming queue is probably about to get a bit lighter. As we noted back in September, Netflix and Starz did not renew their deal, meaning about 800 movies will be leaving Netflix’s streaming service by the end of the week. [More]
Netflix CEO Will Take Pay Cut After Rough Year
Although the average CEO saw hefty pay increases this year, it’s a different story for Netflix honcho Reed Hastings. Following a year in which the company introduced a rate increase coupled with a short-lived decision to spin off the disc-rental division as Qwikster, causing an exodus of subscribers, Hastings will receive fewer gold coins to toss into his money bin. [More]
You Are Watching More TV And More Internet Video, Too
Americans spend 146 hours and 20 minutes parked in front of TVs, according to new data from Nielsen. And almost half of all consumers — 48% — now watch videos on the Internet. Typical Internet viewership is 4 hours and 26 minutes per month, up 15% from a year ago. [More]
Netflix: Restricting Streams To One Per Account Was A Glitch
Netflix continued its recent tightening and price-raising by making it so there can only be one streaming video feed per account. UPDATE: Netflix has clarified and said that all accounts can support at least two concurrent streams. The users who saw/heard that they could only have one stream were experiencing a glitch which Netflix is fixing. [More]
Netflix Emails 3% Discount To Apologize For Streaming Outage
To say sorry for a outage to their streaming service on Sunday night, Netflix sent around an apology email this morning with a link to click on to get 3% credit off your next bill. Reader Stephen says, “Interesting that Netflix is willing to offer the discount but only to those who open the email and click the link. Wouldn’t the right thing be to give the discount to everyone?” [More]
Android Market Starts Renting Movies On Devices
Those with Android tablets and smartphones can now look forward to renting movies, thanks to new functionality available on the Android Market that ties into Google-owned YouTube’s expanded rental service. [More]
Netflix Wants To Charge Extra For Multiple Video Streams, Swim In Piles Of Cash
Netflix was sitting around looking at its money when it realized that it didn’t quite have enough to do the whole Scrooge McDuck swimming maneuver, so the video giant has come up with an idea: “family plans” that allow you to stream more than one program at once. [More]
TV Execs Concerned Hulu Is Undermining Their Business Model
ABC, Fox and NBC created Hulu in order to get ahead in the web streaming game, but may have been too successful. Now that more viewers are becoming comfortable with catching their favorite shows online rather than through traditional means, Hulu may be hurting the companies’ bottom lines. [More]
YouTube Planning $100 Million Spending Spree To Compete With Cable
Google-owned YouTube is getting quite ambitious, not only aiming at more live sports broadcasts, but focusing on creating its own entertainment programming and shifting to a TV-like channel format to compete with cable and satellite companies. [More]
Netflix Locks Down Exclusive Streaming Rights To Mad Men
Netflix may not be interested in charging viewers extra to watch specific shows, but it appears very interested in paying companies to make sure it’s the only place you can find some programming. [More]
Disney CEO Declares DVDs Are Not Dead, They're Just Ignored
Interviewed on Charlie Rose, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the decline of one of the company’s former cash cows. The days of people collecting DVDs like baseball cards have apparently passed, but there’s still a little life left in the market, he says. [More]
Redbox Confirms Plans To Take On Netflix In Streaming Biz
Redbox wants to be the new Netflix, and the company is stepping into the realm of video streaming. [More]
Rhapsody Threatens To Pull Service From iDevices Over New App Subscription Model
Apple has this great new idea: App developers will pay the company 30 percent of in-app sales, including subscriptions. Also, Apple alone gets to keep the customers’ name and contact info, requiring third parties to ask users to opt in to sharing the info with them. Well, the initiative is great for Apple, but not so much for others who may see a hefty cut in their revenues. [More]
More People Stream Netflix, Fewer Subscribe To Premium Channels
There are only so many monthly fees people are willing to pay to watch movies at home, and Netflix’s options seem to be dominating those of premium channels. [More]
Netflix Has Another Streaming Outage, Apologizes With Credits
On Tuesday night Netflix suffered another temporary streaming outage. This late afternoon they once again apologized by sending out customers an email offering a 2-3% reduction off their bill or an extension of their free trial. You’ll have to click on the link in the email to claim the credit. Hey, if Netflix keeps going at this rate, soon we’ll end up with a free month! [More]
Redbox Will Stream Movies Next Year
Not content to beckon to you subliminally from its kiosks planted in heavily trafficked areas, Redbox’s corporate parent Coinstar announced it will launch a streaming service next year. Teaming with an unannounced partner, the instant rental service will go head to head with the Netflixes and Hulus of the world. [More]