4 ms·

Netflix without their ingenious DVD distribution mechanism is just a Starlight movie player on top of S3. Yes, that is a gross oversimplification, I don't see w

Netflix without their ingenious DVD distribution mechanism is just a Starlight movie player on top of S3. Yes, that is a gross oversimplification, I don't see what's stopping somebody with deep pockets like Starz from coming along and building essentially the same thing. Why not cut out the middle-man?

buff-a 15y ago
Because unless those deep pockets actually release functioning players on Wii, PS3, XBox, iPad, OSX, Win 7, Samsung Blu-Ray players, then I wont be using their service. That's quite a barrier to entry. Not insurmountable, sure. Then they have to make sure I hear about it. Then get my credit card number. And you have to do all this in a recession when consumer sentiment is at an all time low. I'd love someone to do it, I just don't think its gonna happen. In contrast there's itunes, where in theory I can watch movies that aren't on Netflix. But I don't. I'm not buying an apple TV when my TV is already overloaded with input. And because I can't watch it on my TV, I've never bothered to figure out how to do it on my Mac or my iPad. I have watched plenty of Netflix on my Mac though. Unfortunately, a new release movie for $9.99 is just not that much better than an old movie included in my monthly fee. $9.99 to rent a movie? Fuck. No.
Locke1689 15y ago
Because people like us would go work for Netflix as developers because we know we'd be treated like first-class citizens. Starz? Who's leaving a job at Google to go work for Starz?
- Hovertruck 15y ago
  Hmm. I remember reading a lot of bad developer sentiment about the culture at Netflix. Any Netflix devs care to chime in?
  - trunnell 15y ago
    It really is just like the "freedom and responsibility culture" slide deck at http://www.netflix.com/Jobs http://www.netflix.com/Jobs That deck isn't just aspirational, it's how the company actually runs. So the answer is that Netflix is not for everyone. High performers and those who can take smart risks tend to like it. Those who prefer lots of process or are more risk averse tend not to.
trunnell 15y ago
I'm the engineering lead on the Silverlight player at Netflix. Honestly, I love it when people underestimate the complexity of the player. To me, it means we're doing a good job. 3+ years of releasing every 2 weeks and still no settings dialog. It always just does the right thing. Regarding S3, S3 is not a CDN. To your point about disintermediation, it's a good question. A direct to consumer play by the content owners would cut out Starz as well as Netflix. The last time the studios did that, it didn't end so well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Pictures#1941.E2.80.931950:_United_States_v._Paramount_Pictures.2C_Inc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Pictures#1941.E2.80.9.... I can think of a couple good reasons it wouldn't work out today, either. I'd predict that the business model of a content silo would be less profitable than the current system. Studios make more money when they have multiple distribution channels; distributing their own goods would give rise to conflicting incentives. Also, you need the DNA of a software company to compete in the streaming space. Studios are built to make movies; Netflix (and Amazon) are built to make software, and it's software that powers streaming. Even if that software is almost invisible.
- CamperBob 15y ago
  How come all of your objections (as well as US v Paramount) haven't applied to online game developers as well? Making movies is one hell of a lot easier than developing modern PC/console games, and the game studios are having no qualms with the direct-to-consumer model. Companies like Valve and EA were game developers and publishers long before they started offering services like Steam and Origin. Ultimately, the same Internet that will kill the cable companies will also kill Netflix. (I have more confidence in Netflix to reinvent itself when the time comes, of course, since you've already done it once.)
  - jamesgeck0 15y ago
    Valve and EA were software companies with experience delivering content over the internet before they started offering direct download services, though.
    - CamperBob 15y ago
rmc 15y ago
Yes, that is a gross oversimplification, I don't see what's stopping somebody with deep pockets like Starz from coming along and building essentially the same thing Less space than a Nomad, no wireless. Lame.

buff-a 15y ago

Because unless those deep pockets actually release functioning players on Wii, PS3, XBox, iPad, OSX, Win 7, Samsung Blu-Ray players, then I wont be using their service. That's quite a barrier to entry. Not insurmountable, sure. Then they have to make sure I hear about it. Then get my credit card number. And you have to do all this in a recession when consumer sentiment is at an all time low. I'd love someone to do it, I just don't think its gonna happen. In contrast there's itunes, where in theory I can watch movies that aren't on Netflix. But I don't. I'm not buying an apple TV when my TV is already overloaded with input. And because I can't watch it on my TV, I've never bothered to figure out how to do it on my Mac or my iPad. I have watched plenty of Netflix on my Mac though. Unfortunately, a new release movie for $9.99 is just not that much better than an old movie included in my monthly fee. $9.99 to rent a movie? Fuck. No.

Locke1689 15y ago

Because people like us would go work for Netflix as developers because we know we'd be treated like first-class citizens. Starz? Who's leaving a job at Google to go work for Starz?

Hovertruck 15y ago
Hmm. I remember reading a lot of bad developer sentiment about the culture at Netflix. Any Netflix devs care to chime in?
- trunnell 15y ago
  It really is just like the "freedom and responsibility culture" slide deck at http://www.netflix.com/Jobs http://www.netflix.com/Jobs That deck isn't just aspirational, it's how the company actually runs. So the answer is that Netflix is not for everyone. High performers and those who can take smart risks tend to like it. Those who prefer lots of process or are more risk averse tend not to.

trunnell 15y ago

I'm the engineering lead on the Silverlight player at Netflix. Honestly, I love it when people underestimate the complexity of the player. To me, it means we're doing a good job. 3+ years of releasing every 2 weeks and still no settings dialog. It always just does the right thing. Regarding S3, S3 is not a CDN. To your point about disintermediation, it's a good question. A direct to consumer play by the content owners would cut out Starz as well as Netflix. The last time the studios did that, it didn't end so well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Pictures#1941.E2.80.931950:_United_States_v._Paramount_Pictures.2C_Inc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Pictures#1941.E2.80.9.... I can think of a couple good reasons it wouldn't work out today, either. I'd predict that the business model of a content silo would be less profitable than the current system. Studios make more money when they have multiple distribution channels; distributing their own goods would give rise to conflicting incentives. Also, you need the DNA of a software company to compete in the streaming space. Studios are built to make movies; Netflix (and Amazon) are built to make software, and it's software that powers streaming. Even if that software is almost invisible.

CamperBob 15y ago
How come all of your objections (as well as US v Paramount) haven't applied to online game developers as well? Making movies is one hell of a lot easier than developing modern PC/console games, and the game studios are having no qualms with the direct-to-consumer model. Companies like Valve and EA were game developers and publishers long before they started offering services like Steam and Origin. Ultimately, the same Internet that will kill the cable companies will also kill Netflix. (I have more confidence in Netflix to reinvent itself when the time comes, of course, since you've already done it once.)
- jamesgeck0 15y ago
  Valve and EA were software companies with experience delivering content over the internet before they started offering direct download services, though.
  - CamperBob 15y ago

rmc 15y ago

Yes, that is a gross oversimplification, I don't see what's stopping somebody with deep pockets like Starz from coming along and building essentially the same thing Less space than a Nomad, no wireless. Lame.