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NPD: More People Buy DVDs Than Watch Netflix Streaming (1 Viewer)

David Weicker

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What the proponents of streaming seem to forget is that it is built on the back of Physical Medium. Although there are a few rare cases where there is a streaming content without a corresponding physical disc, most streaming comes from the work already done to create a physical disc (the major exception is brand new TV content). There are many, many downsides to the current streaming model. First, an almost complete lack of 'extras' - whether that be commentary, deleted scenes, making-of features. These are simply not available in most cases. Second, most of the streaming content is offered at a one-price gets all, so good movies are available at the same price as bad movies. Although this is good for the consumer in the short run, it provides zero incentive for a studio to continue to restore new releases. In fact, under the current price model, I can't foresee ANY new catalog content becoming available. If there is an unreleased Bob Hope, or Chaplin, or Hitchcock, or ... and the owners (studios) get no additional money to make it available, why would they? Out of the kindness of their hearts? To ensure its place in history? Third, physical medium prices have been coming down - and once its bought, its bought. Streaming is in the hands of the internet providers, where the monthly cost NEVER EVER EVER goes up. While I have many other problems with streaming - picture/audio quality, continued availability, etc., most of those may become non-issues as technology improves. David
 

David Deeb

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Interesting article & discussion. But more interesting is the quote which supports what I've thought for the past few years: “The truth is that [movie quality] won’t just be a physical-media problem,” Crupnick said. “Consumers won’t pay for weak titles through video on-demand either. They’ll exhaust saved programs on their DVR or watch ‘Mad Men’ on Netflix.” With so much at our disposal - Blu-rays, 300 channels of cable TV, the Internet, streaming media on a multitude of platforms and from a multitude of sources - and more - - - why bother with the 2nd rate movies that used to fill up the shelves at rental stores. People used to pay for stuff simply because they had an hour to fill and a machine to feed and other titles weren't available. The consumer doesn't have that problem now. When people have the chance to get either premium entertainment they haven't yet seen, or to get narrowly targeted media of their own tastes (ie: golf shows for golf fans, cooking videos for cooking enthusiasts, etc.), then the lesser tier stuff will struggle to find an outlet.
 

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