6 ms·

And not only that, but also removing their existing collections of videos and replacing it with their "Made by Netflix" shows that mostly amount to shovelware.

by kefka 10y ago

And not only that, but also removing their existing collections of videos and replacing it with their "Made by Netflix" shows that mostly amount to shovelware. I'm about ready to drop them, just like they've dropped MASH, soon to be X-Files, and many many movies.

xatan_dank 10y ago
Same. They dropped Peep Show and that was about the only show I Liked that was still on. Plus King of the Hill and Spongebob, but they took those off ages ago.
rampage101 10y ago
Why are they dropping shows? Does it save them money somehow?
- dghf 10y ago
  Lots of assumptions, presumptions, guesses and maybes here, but: - Netflix's licences to stream shows are presumably for a limited period of time. - There's only so much money in the pot, and they want to spend it on the renewals and new acquisitions they think mostly likely to retain existing subscribers and attract new ones. - Sometimes the rights owner may not want to renew Netflix's licence: they may strike an exclusive deal with another platform, or may feel that having the show on Netflix is cannibalising their DVD sales.
- garethsprice 10y ago
  They originally negotiated licenses super cheap as the studios thought they were just some niche upstart. Now they're eating the market the studios are realizing their mistake and either not renewing licenses or jacking the rates up massively - hence the move into original content which can't be taken away.
FussyZeus 10y ago
I read something (on HN actually) awhile ago about how Amazon seems to be actively trying to kill Netflix, not by going after subscribers but by going after licenses for programming by over-bidding. I think Netflix though is making more off of their in-house produced content these days so I wouldn't say they're in danger, they just might look quite different in a few years.
- dominotw 10y ago
  I use amazon channel instead of Netflix now. I subscribe to channel for a while and watch their content exclusively till I am ready to move on. I am currently watching the excellet Xive Tv channel on amazon [1]. Netflix is waay overhyped for what they actually have in their catalog. https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Video/b?benefitId=xivetv&node=2858778011 https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Video/b?benefitId=xivetv&node...
  - FussyZeus 10y ago
    They used to have more. As they've built up their own programming they've been losing a lot more of the other content, but like I said, I think they're doing it out of necessity.
- empath75 10y ago
  The way amazon is competing against one of their largest customers should be concerning for anyone on aws
dominotw 10y ago
> but also removing their existing collections of videos and replacing it with their "Made by Netflix" shows that mostly amount to shovelware. You are not wrong "US Netflix offers only 31 of IMDb's top 250 movies, study shows" "David Wells, Netflix’s chief financial officer, was quoted by Variety stating that the company wants half of its content to be original productions over the next few years." [1] RIP Netflix! 1. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/oct/14/us-netflix-imdb-top-250-movies https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/oct/14/us-netflix-imdb...
- obmelvin 10y ago
  Netflix vs non Netflix content aside, the low amount of movies is a direct result of viewing data. TV shows are shorter so can be squeezed into smaller spaces for viewing and have longer plot lines to hook viewers. Can't blame them for putting there money where people waste their time.
- surge 10y ago
  They're becoming their own content creator...like HBO, and thus reducing their dependence on often hostile networks for content and able to offer more content to more international markets, there is nothing wrong with that. I find myself watching more of the stuff they've produced then the licensed content, so for me, it's been an improvement. If I run out of things to watch, maybe I'll care then, but at least I'm not tied to a cable contract, I can just switch to another streaming provider until they fix that issue. At this point though, I can't keep pace.
talmand 10y ago
Sigh. Why do so many not seem to understand that, in most cases, Netflix is likely not "dropping" anything? Netflix does not own the rights to the content and the owners can decide on the terms of the agreement on how long the content will be on Netflix. People threatening to leave, or actually leaving, lowers Netflix's leverage to try to get and keep the content in their system. This is why Netflix is creating their own content and bringing in content that's not normally within your area. So they can keep it up longer and have more control over their own destiny.
- kefka 10y ago
  I really don't care how they run their business. Not my problem. What is my problem is: I started watching X-Files for the first time (yeah, never go around to it for the initial airing). Started watching in late February. And starting March 1st, is a warning on the upper left of my monitor saying "Show will be removed April 1". From my viewpoint, I'm paying the same, and getting less. Not only less, but specifically something I'm trying to watch. And yes, I tried watching that psychic alien abducted Netflix show. The sex scene at ep1 annoyed me, and had no interest still in ep3. Boring is putting it mildly.
  - imron 10y ago
    > "Show will be removed April 1". Don't worry, the show goes downhill after the first couple of seasons, so it's probably for the best.
    - TallGuyShort 10y ago
      I watched until the T-1000 showed up. Can't see him as an organic lifeform. But in all seriousness it's a huge UI improvement that they give you a few weeks heads up now. I've narrowly missed the ending to some damn good shows and all I needed was a few days to get to a spot with some closure. I get that the rights aren't entirely in their control, so at least it's something.
  - talmand 10y ago
    I'm just pointing out that such complaints are aimed at the wrong target, that's the way it shall be with any service as long as people don't complain to the companies that control the rights to such content.
surge 10y ago
I'd hardly call most of their shows shovelware. A great deal of them are at least decent or comparable to top shows on TV. Also, you do realize they don't set prices on licensing and probably drop the shows after people already went through them or stopped watching them. If you like a show, watch it while its still on there, don't put it in your queue for 2 years then get mad when it disappears before you got around to it.
lotsofpulp 10y ago
I support Netflix out of philosophy. I want to support media which is offered without restriction and most importantly without advertisement. Netflix goes out of its way to make sure it's as watchable as possible (sans being able to download their stuff without DRM, but I can't blame them for that, it's too risky for their business). I have similar reasons to support HBO. However, I will not send money towards FOX/Comcast/Disney/Viacom because they still want to restrict their content and make it as hard as possible to watch it. Of course, the danger is they could just start introducing advertising again by way of product placement in the story itself, but if it goes too far, I guess I'll cancel then.
- massysett 10y ago
  After you hand Comcast your money, you can also watch their content on your phone or tablet, anywhere, both live and on-demand. You can also use the phone or tablet to access what's on your DVR. Comcast is actually doing a good job of making it quite easy to watch the content on any device.
  - lotsofpulp 10y ago
    I haven't looked it up in a long time, but I don't think it's as easy as Netflix. Also, I want zero ads, not just the ability to stream. It's a business model problem, and the entertainment model media providers offer is just not comparable to what is available on the internet. Currently, I don't think the interest of Comcast's shareholders is the same as mine, they want to protect and grow their existing revenue streams, which depend on ads and outdated licensing contracts. My interest is to watch what I want, when I want, with as little friction as possible. Netflix and HBO provide that, none of the other big media companies do. Also, Comcast has an interest in opposing net neutrality and providing a shitty internet experience so as to support their dying ad and TV business, so I also don't wish to support them for those reasons.

by kefka 10y ago

xatan_dank 10y ago

Same. They dropped Peep Show and that was about the only show I Liked that was still on. Plus King of the Hill and Spongebob, but they took those off ages ago.

rampage101 10y ago

Why are they dropping shows? Does it save them money somehow?

dghf 10y ago
Lots of assumptions, presumptions, guesses and maybes here, but: - Netflix's licences to stream shows are presumably for a limited period of time. - There's only so much money in the pot, and they want to spend it on the renewals and new acquisitions they think mostly likely to retain existing subscribers and attract new ones. - Sometimes the rights owner may not want to renew Netflix's licence: they may strike an exclusive deal with another platform, or may feel that having the show on Netflix is cannibalising their DVD sales.
garethsprice 10y ago
They originally negotiated licenses super cheap as the studios thought they were just some niche upstart. Now they're eating the market the studios are realizing their mistake and either not renewing licenses or jacking the rates up massively - hence the move into original content which can't be taken away.

FussyZeus 10y ago

I read something (on HN actually) awhile ago about how Amazon seems to be actively trying to kill Netflix, not by going after subscribers but by going after licenses for programming by over-bidding. I think Netflix though is making more off of their in-house produced content these days so I wouldn't say they're in danger, they just might look quite different in a few years.

dominotw 10y ago
I use amazon channel instead of Netflix now. I subscribe to channel for a while and watch their content exclusively till I am ready to move on. I am currently watching the excellet Xive Tv channel on amazon [1]. Netflix is waay overhyped for what they actually have in their catalog. https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Video/b?benefitId=xivetv&node=2858778011 https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Video/b?benefitId=xivetv&node...
- FussyZeus 10y ago
  They used to have more. As they've built up their own programming they've been losing a lot more of the other content, but like I said, I think they're doing it out of necessity.
empath75 10y ago
The way amazon is competing against one of their largest customers should be concerning for anyone on aws

dominotw 10y ago

> but also removing their existing collections of videos and replacing it with their "Made by Netflix" shows that mostly amount to shovelware. You are not wrong "US Netflix offers only 31 of IMDb's top 250 movies, study shows" "David Wells, Netflix’s chief financial officer, was quoted by Variety stating that the company wants half of its content to be original productions over the next few years." [1] RIP Netflix! 1. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/oct/14/us-netflix-imdb-top-250-movies https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/oct/14/us-netflix-imdb...

obmelvin 10y ago
Netflix vs non Netflix content aside, the low amount of movies is a direct result of viewing data. TV shows are shorter so can be squeezed into smaller spaces for viewing and have longer plot lines to hook viewers. Can't blame them for putting there money where people waste their time.
surge 10y ago
They're becoming their own content creator...like HBO, and thus reducing their dependence on often hostile networks for content and able to offer more content to more international markets, there is nothing wrong with that. I find myself watching more of the stuff they've produced then the licensed content, so for me, it's been an improvement. If I run out of things to watch, maybe I'll care then, but at least I'm not tied to a cable contract, I can just switch to another streaming provider until they fix that issue. At this point though, I can't keep pace.

talmand 10y ago

Sigh. Why do so many not seem to understand that, in most cases, Netflix is likely not "dropping" anything? Netflix does not own the rights to the content and the owners can decide on the terms of the agreement on how long the content will be on Netflix. People threatening to leave, or actually leaving, lowers Netflix's leverage to try to get and keep the content in their system. This is why Netflix is creating their own content and bringing in content that's not normally within your area. So they can keep it up longer and have more control over their own destiny.

kefka 10y ago
I really don't care how they run their business. Not my problem. What is my problem is: I started watching X-Files for the first time (yeah, never go around to it for the initial airing). Started watching in late February. And starting March 1st, is a warning on the upper left of my monitor saying "Show will be removed April 1". From my viewpoint, I'm paying the same, and getting less. Not only less, but specifically something I'm trying to watch. And yes, I tried watching that psychic alien abducted Netflix show. The sex scene at ep1 annoyed me, and had no interest still in ep3. Boring is putting it mildly.
- imron 10y ago
  > "Show will be removed April 1". Don't worry, the show goes downhill after the first couple of seasons, so it's probably for the best.
  - TallGuyShort 10y ago
    I watched until the T-1000 showed up. Can't see him as an organic lifeform. But in all seriousness it's a huge UI improvement that they give you a few weeks heads up now. I've narrowly missed the ending to some damn good shows and all I needed was a few days to get to a spot with some closure. I get that the rights aren't entirely in their control, so at least it's something.
- talmand 10y ago
  I'm just pointing out that such complaints are aimed at the wrong target, that's the way it shall be with any service as long as people don't complain to the companies that control the rights to such content.

surge 10y ago

I'd hardly call most of their shows shovelware. A great deal of them are at least decent or comparable to top shows on TV. Also, you do realize they don't set prices on licensing and probably drop the shows after people already went through them or stopped watching them. If you like a show, watch it while its still on there, don't put it in your queue for 2 years then get mad when it disappears before you got around to it.

lotsofpulp 10y ago

I support Netflix out of philosophy. I want to support media which is offered without restriction and most importantly without advertisement. Netflix goes out of its way to make sure it's as watchable as possible (sans being able to download their stuff without DRM, but I can't blame them for that, it's too risky for their business). I have similar reasons to support HBO. However, I will not send money towards FOX/Comcast/Disney/Viacom because they still want to restrict their content and make it as hard as possible to watch it. Of course, the danger is they could just start introducing advertising again by way of product placement in the story itself, but if it goes too far, I guess I'll cancel then.

massysett 10y ago
After you hand Comcast your money, you can also watch their content on your phone or tablet, anywhere, both live and on-demand. You can also use the phone or tablet to access what's on your DVR. Comcast is actually doing a good job of making it quite easy to watch the content on any device.
- lotsofpulp 10y ago
  I haven't looked it up in a long time, but I don't think it's as easy as Netflix. Also, I want zero ads, not just the ability to stream. It's a business model problem, and the entertainment model media providers offer is just not comparable to what is available on the internet. Currently, I don't think the interest of Comcast's shareholders is the same as mine, they want to protect and grow their existing revenue streams, which depend on ads and outdated licensing contracts. My interest is to watch what I want, when I want, with as little friction as possible. Netflix and HBO provide that, none of the other big media companies do. Also, Comcast has an interest in opposing net neutrality and providing a shitty internet experience so as to support their dying ad and TV business, so I also don't wish to support them for those reasons.