Well, this sucks!

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Yeah.. it will be just a matter of time before it out prices the average consumer and those that reap value from it today.



Take Google for an example.. they want they hands in everything.. scary what they "own" currently.

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This is nothing new, of course. As of March 2009, Youtube started blocking all music videos in Germany, because GEMA (the German equivalent to ASCAP and BMI) raised per-play rates over 1000 percent! Instead of ponying up the cash, which would have entailed Youtube losing money on every play, Youtube did the smart thing and simply implemented an across-the-board block. So now instead of getting less than they perhaps would have liked to, GEMA songwriters now get nothing. As aggravating as it is every time that damn message pops up, it feels me with a sense of pleasure to know that the big labels have screwed themselves yet again.

Frankly, I love it! Step by step, the major studios and labels are digging their own graves. Now they are prepared to jump in. When it all comes crashing down on them, we'll be the ones to throw the dirt in and stomp on it.

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Probably because the dude who worked inside of it got sick of it and quit.

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Must have been Seymour Parrish.

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Mrs. Z loves that movie so much she bought the DVD. Weird movie to love. (Robin Williams is one of her faves though).

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My wifie thinks it is too weird so she won't watch it and see.

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One Hour Photo was awkward and that's being nice.

I've been reading a few comments on this issue from other news sites and wow, people are pissed.

Trying to be rational about it, how many people stream consistently AND get DVD's consistently? I imagined a vast majority did one or the other substantially more.

Streaming only, $7.99/month.
Streaming WITH DVD's, $9.99/month.

Those were the only two options... now the options are...
Streaming only, $7.99/month.
DVD's only, $7.99/month.
Streaming WITH DVD's, $15.98/month.


So if ya only did DVD's or only streaming, it's not a big deal, but if you're sitting at the couch every night, streaming and popping DVD's ... well first you have too much time on your hands and I'm jealous ... then your price goes from $9.99/month to $15.98/month. Which sucks, especially considering Sony movies are being removed (or have been) plus they are going to lose Starz movies middle of '12.



I only stream LEGALLY from Netflix. Mainly because I think by the time a DVD came to me, I'd have lost interest in watching the movie. Before this happened, I preferred to hit redbox for DVD's. That won't change.

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I'm not huge on blindly trusting corporations but instantly assuming that they're being greedy when prices go up is kind of silly too. Factors:

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/03/15/netflix-future-contracts/ 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/netflix-criticizes-new-internet-billing-by-bits/2011/07/08/gIQA2sTi3H_blog.html 
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9NVP44O0.htm 

Bottom line: Netflix was way more popular than any of the studios though it would be, now that it's time to renew their deals Netflix will be paying more. In addition, there's increasing concern about how far ISPs are going to take bandwidth caps.

When the deals are renewed in early '12, that's when I expect another price jump.

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