5 ms·

Now that net neutrality is history doesn't it seem like netflix (and by extension Amazon) extremely vulnerable to the lack of competition in the ISP space in th

by zantana 10y ago

Now that net neutrality is history doesn't it seem like netflix (and by extension Amazon) extremely vulnerable to the lack of competition in the ISP space in the US? Google at least had something of a workaround with their various efforts to provide access, but I don't see how they are going to circumvent the tollbooths which are popping up on the last mile.

flukus 10y ago
If anyone throttles netflix then they can put up a message telling their users that their ISP is responsible, similar to youtube.
notatoad 10y ago
Netflix addressed this in their recent earnings call: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/netflix-is-so-big-that-it-doesnt-need-net-neutrality-rules-anymore/ http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/netflix-is-so-big...
yen223 10y ago
On the flip side, is no one worried about the seeming lack of a viable competitor to Netflix?
- RhodesianHunter 10y ago
  Amazon Prime, Hulu, Google Video, HBO is online now, Vudu... I'm not sure what you're saying.
  - donarb 10y ago
    And CBS now has "All Access", $9.99/mo commercial free, includes broadcast shows, NFL football as well as exclusive content.
  - phaemon 10y ago
    > HBO is online now Sounds good! <goes to Google> > "HBO GO. It's HBO. Anywhere." Awesome! > "To access HBO GO℠, you must reside within the fifty states of the United States of America." Oh. That anywhere.
    - dagw 10y ago
      You can also get HBO online in Sweden and Norway for example, but branded as HBO Nordic. So it's not only in the US, but for some reason they're not using the HBO GO branding outside the US.
    - Crespyl 10y ago
      My problem with HBO GO is that it apparently requires you to have a cable subscription that includes HBO. Fortunately they finally came to their senses and now offer HBO "Now", which is a separate, online-only, offering that doesn't require cable. I wouldn't be surprised if Now is still geo-blocked though.
- pgwhalen 10y ago
  Lack of competitors? Now that Netflix has seemingly accepted having a terrible selection and is focusing on producing their own content, they're just one of many. Their distribution mechanism isn't even that unique (subscription over the Internet) with the likes of HBO, Hulu, et al.
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    Netflix's main advantage is that they have by far the best UX of any of the streaming services, but that's unlikely to be a particularly durable advantage, and probably not what many people make decisions based on.
    - flukus 10y ago
      The netflix UI is terrible, if that was there strength they wouldn't have lasted this long.
      - donarb 10y ago
        Poster mentioned UX, not UI, meaning it's very easy to fire up the app and be watching something in less than a minute.
        flukus 10y ago
        Time to watching something is good but everything else about the experience I find aggravating. They got rid of the "click to continue" after a couple of episodes feature for instance. So now a series will play all the way through and drop off the continue watching list.
      - Mao_Zedang 10y ago
        You should really try the competition, while Netflix might have "terrible" UI, that would make alternatives horrific.
        flukus 10y ago

by zantana 10y ago

flukus 10y ago

If anyone throttles netflix then they can put up a message telling their users that their ISP is responsible, similar to youtube.

notatoad 10y ago

Netflix addressed this in their recent earnings call: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/netflix-is-so-big-that-it-doesnt-need-net-neutrality-rules-anymore/ http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/netflix-is-so-big...

yen223 10y ago

On the flip side, is no one worried about the seeming lack of a viable competitor to Netflix?

RhodesianHunter 10y ago
Amazon Prime, Hulu, Google Video, HBO is online now, Vudu... I'm not sure what you're saying.
- donarb 10y ago
  And CBS now has "All Access", $9.99/mo commercial free, includes broadcast shows, NFL football as well as exclusive content.
- phaemon 10y ago
  > HBO is online now Sounds good! <goes to Google> > "HBO GO. It's HBO. Anywhere." Awesome! > "To access HBO GO℠, you must reside within the fifty states of the United States of America." Oh. That anywhere.
  - dagw 10y ago
    You can also get HBO online in Sweden and Norway for example, but branded as HBO Nordic. So it's not only in the US, but for some reason they're not using the HBO GO branding outside the US.
  - Crespyl 10y ago
    My problem with HBO GO is that it apparently requires you to have a cable subscription that includes HBO. Fortunately they finally came to their senses and now offer HBO "Now", which is a separate, online-only, offering that doesn't require cable. I wouldn't be surprised if Now is still geo-blocked though.
pgwhalen 10y ago
Lack of competitors? Now that Netflix has seemingly accepted having a terrible selection and is focusing on producing their own content, they're just one of many. Their distribution mechanism isn't even that unique (subscription over the Internet) with the likes of HBO, Hulu, et al.
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  Netflix's main advantage is that they have by far the best UX of any of the streaming services, but that's unlikely to be a particularly durable advantage, and probably not what many people make decisions based on.
  - flukus 10y ago
    The netflix UI is terrible, if that was there strength they wouldn't have lasted this long.
    - donarb 10y ago
      Poster mentioned UX, not UI, meaning it's very easy to fire up the app and be watching something in less than a minute.
      - flukus 10y ago
        Time to watching something is good but everything else about the experience I find aggravating. They got rid of the "click to continue" after a couple of episodes feature for instance. So now a series will play all the way through and drop off the continue watching list.
    - Mao_Zedang 10y ago
      You should really try the competition, while Netflix might have "terrible" UI, that would make alternatives horrific.
      - flukus 10y ago