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It might not be a zero sum game for them, but it definetely is a zero-sum game for me. When I want to watch something, I just want to click it and watch it. Thi
by fluffything 7y ago
It might not be a zero sum game for them, but it definetely is a zero-sum game for me. When I want to watch something, I just want to click it and watch it. This is the API that my torrent tracker gives me for free (Airplay to Apple TV works great for this).
I'm willing to pay for a service that I use a lot and gives me an API that's at least as good as this. But it doesn't make any sense for me to pay for 5 services that combined give me a much worse API. Having to use 5 crappy apps typing in 5 crappy search boxes until I find what I want to watch is quite frustrating.
We started 2019 with Amazon Prime and Netflix, but when Netflix dropped support for streaming from iOS to Apple TV using Airplay, we dropped it (having to use the Netflix Apple TV App was worse than using torrents). Last month, we noticed that most of our torrent streaming is HBO content, and we subscribed to HBO instead. We've been torrenting The Mandalorian from Disney+ recently, but right now that's not remotely close to enough to make us actually want to subscribe to Disney+.
Who ever thinks that requiring people to subscribe to more services is going to actually make them do that, when there is a hassle free, simple, reliable, and cost-free alternative, is delusional.
- cyborgx7 7y agoI'm still baffled by the reasoning that leads to all the DRM theater. It does nothing. the moment a piece of content reaches streaming apps, it's on every torrent and free streaming platform.[1] All it does is that it makes the user experience of paying customers worse. Can't use their preferred video player. Can't use a frontend that puts all the content together. Can't save it for later to watch online, unless the platform has that functionality built in, usually in a restrictive and clunky way. [1] I'm, of course, talking about platforms that aren't as aggressive about getting rid of copyrighted content as youtube.
- smileybarry 7y agoIt really is just security theater so they can shrug & say "we did the thing" if (when) it gets pirated. Modern game DRM/anti-tamper like Denuvo (as horrible as it is) at least has a realistic goal of "delay piracy past the release week".
- tguedes 7y agoAt least in Netflix's case, some of it makes sense because of how much work they put in to their website. Almost everything on their homepage is personalized based on what they think will get you to watch that movie/show. From the pictures, summary description, and video preview, that's all customized to get you to watch more.
- cyborgx7 7y agoWouldn't they make more money by you watching less? Also, there is no reason they couldn't have a decent website, just because they also didn't have DRM.
- kipchak 7y agoMaybe the approach is the more people watch, the more they talk about the (Netflix exclusive) shows with others who don't have Netflix and they hopefully buy in?
- thatcat 7y agoThey show you what they want you to watch, which is mostly netflix produced content that minimizes the per view overhead for them.
- yegle 7y agoFWIW, the Google Play Movies (yes, the app on Android) provide an aggregated search based on the service you subscribed to. You can simply filter free TV/movie to see what's available to you, so you don't need to deal with 5 apps if you have 5 services.
- fluffything 7y agoGood to know. Sadly, Apple TV doesn't have this yet.