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A large amount of content is available, but it's mostly the second string. Movies I actually want to watch are unavailable on Netflix and Amazon because the stu

A large amount of content is available, but it's mostly the second string. Movies I actually want to watch are unavailable on Netflix and Amazon because the studios won't license them for streaming. Earlier analysis of this phenomenon on HN explained it by saying that once something is on Netflix, all hopes of making money on DVD sales are gone. Hollywood wants to sell physical media because that is what it knows how to do and has always done. Therefore, movies will only be released to Netflix, Amazon, etc. if the studio is particularly forward-leaning or (more likely) evidence suggests that it's made all the money it's going to make in physical media distribution so there's no harm in offering it up for streaming. If I recall correctly, Netflix's catalog improved substantially for a good while, but then large portions of it were retracted. That's another thing that has to stop before legitimate digital distribution is "good enough" - studios need to stop pulling movies every time they feel like it. It pretty clearly demonstrates an attitude that digital distribution channels are toys to be put away at any time rather than a core component of their business.

dangrossman 13y ago
Virtually all "first-string" content is available on Amazon/iTunes/Play/VOD for purchase or rental. Wanting new releases to be available on $8/month streaming services is just not a realistic expectation. What major studio is refusing to sell digital copies?
- opendais 13y ago
  All of them. Try watching A Knight's Tale on Netflix streaming. It is an average movie from over a decade ago. There are a ton of average movies from 3+ years ago that I cannot get streaming, that was just the first one that came to mind. So please, please stop using such arguments when 25% of the time I can't find the movie streaming when I look for it. EDIT: I probably should add they also revoke access [e.g. the Disney Christmas movie story from a week ago] to stuff that was specifically purchased, not merely bundled with a streaming service. So, as a group, they are pretty uncooperative because they don't want to have to follow the radio model of pricing/licensing which is what they should be doing [especially for movies over a decade old!]
  - zwily 13y ago
    You're mixing up "streaming" and "Netflix streaming". Pretty much any modern movie is available to stream.
  - dangrossman 13y ago
    A Knight's Tale can be streamed on: * HitBliss * XFINITY Streampix It's available for digital rental on: * Amazon * iTunes * Google Play * YouTube * Sony Entertainment Network * HitBliss It's available for digital purchase on: * Amazon * iTunes * Google Play * Vudu * Redbox Instant It's available On-Demand with an Encore subscription. There's no ethical reason to pirate this movie in the US. "Cannot watch it now without paying for it" is NOT the same as "cannot get streaming".
awj 13y ago
It sounds like your idea of content is "things on Netflix or free on Amazon". No, you will not get new releases there and in my opinion it is unreasonable to expect that. I was honestly surprised at how quickly The Avengers found its way to Netflix streaming. I figured there was still enough money to be made off iTunes/Amazon/etc rentals and purchases to preclude giving it away that cheaply.
- boyaka 13y ago
  Maybe they made plenty off of it, and wanted to promote their other movies (hint: Thor 2). I personally contributed $20 in movie tickets to the Avengers (saw it twice). I also went and saw Thor 2.
- canvia 13y ago
  That's because Disney is trying to ingrain their brands into pop culture. Modern Marvel movies can't stand on their own merits so Disney has to give them away in hopes of getting people to see future movies in the franchise. It's manipulative bullshit marketing to cover up the poor writing, bad cinematography, overused CGI and post production added 3D effects. Since Disney bought Marvel in 2010 that's what has been produced. There is no vision beyond maximizing their ROI (selling made in China toys and clothes to children, etc.) and setting up future installments in the franchise. It is dishonest and I hope they fail miserably. Do you want to see a real super hero film? Go watch Nolan's Batman series.
- chaz 13y ago
  Fans of The Avengers fans are probably the ones most likely to pirate the movie after a minute's worth of inconvenience. Meanwhile, Disney can take away a purchased movie from Amazon because the parents probably (a) already have the Disney channel, and (b) are willing to pay for it. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6911944 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6911944
  - kbenson 13y ago
    I find it extremely disturbing that I haven't been able to find a single major news outlet covering this. Hopefully I'm just failing at searching.
cylinder 13y ago
Do you remember how new releases were $5 at Blockbuster? In the 1990s? I don't see why you expect unlimited new releases to now stream to you for $8/month. If you want to stream a new movie, you have to pay for it. The physical DVD wasn't the expensive part of the $5, it was the content.
- GFischer 13y ago
  Netflix already has my credit card, why not Netflix "on demand" for U$ 5 for new releases?
  - jalada 13y ago
    I can't believe they're not trying to secure this already.
- joezydeco 13y ago
  Near the end, Blockbuster was getting the new release DVDs literally for free from the studios in return for a piece of the revenue. New Release rentals became another line item in a movie's total income.
- CamperBob2 13y ago
  If you want to stream a new movie, you have to pay for it. How exactly do I do that?
  - Selfcommit 13y ago
    To take this further... Why are we stuck in this business model?
  - res0nat0r 13y ago
    By paying more for it than all you can eat for $8/month on Netflix. Want a brand new movie that just came out on DVD via streaming tonight? Pony up and pay $15 to buy it digitally, or $8 to rent it via on demand etc. IE: Brand new content is more expensive and always will be.
scott_s 13y ago
Amazon allows you to purchase recent movies individually for both "buying" and "renting."
vermontdevil 13y ago
That was due to the Starz agreement. Now you can find them at obscure websites like: http://www.starzplay.com http://www.starzplay.com http://instant.warnerarchive.com/ http://instant.warnerarchive.com/ etc. All not exactly well-crafted and promoted as a new source of revenue. Meanwhile Netflix beats on and is hitting all-time highs in the stock market.
- gcb1 13y ago
  yeah, as the grandparent post said, they still have their heads up their %%% lets see: pirate sites = i can watch the movie anywhere. cost some time. netflix, amazon, hulu = i can watch on windows, android, ios, wii, xbox, several set top boxes such as roku, smart tvs. cost 10 to 200 per month. that aberration you linked = i only get a single image telling me to download the ios app. im not even sure how much it costs or what they have available.

dangrossman 13y ago

Virtually all "first-string" content is available on Amazon/iTunes/Play/VOD for purchase or rental. Wanting new releases to be available on $8/month streaming services is just not a realistic expectation. What major studio is refusing to sell digital copies?

opendais 13y ago
All of them. Try watching A Knight's Tale on Netflix streaming. It is an average movie from over a decade ago. There are a ton of average movies from 3+ years ago that I cannot get streaming, that was just the first one that came to mind. So please, please stop using such arguments when 25% of the time I can't find the movie streaming when I look for it. EDIT: I probably should add they also revoke access [e.g. the Disney Christmas movie story from a week ago] to stuff that was specifically purchased, not merely bundled with a streaming service. So, as a group, they are pretty uncooperative because they don't want to have to follow the radio model of pricing/licensing which is what they should be doing [especially for movies over a decade old!]
- zwily 13y ago
  You're mixing up "streaming" and "Netflix streaming". Pretty much any modern movie is available to stream.
- dangrossman 13y ago
  A Knight's Tale can be streamed on: * HitBliss * XFINITY Streampix It's available for digital rental on: * Amazon * iTunes * Google Play * YouTube * Sony Entertainment Network * HitBliss It's available for digital purchase on: * Amazon * iTunes * Google Play * Vudu * Redbox Instant It's available On-Demand with an Encore subscription. There's no ethical reason to pirate this movie in the US. "Cannot watch it now without paying for it" is NOT the same as "cannot get streaming".

awj 13y ago

It sounds like your idea of content is "things on Netflix or free on Amazon". No, you will not get new releases there and in my opinion it is unreasonable to expect that. I was honestly surprised at how quickly The Avengers found its way to Netflix streaming. I figured there was still enough money to be made off iTunes/Amazon/etc rentals and purchases to preclude giving it away that cheaply.

boyaka 13y ago
Maybe they made plenty off of it, and wanted to promote their other movies (hint: Thor 2). I personally contributed $20 in movie tickets to the Avengers (saw it twice). I also went and saw Thor 2.
canvia 13y ago
That's because Disney is trying to ingrain their brands into pop culture. Modern Marvel movies can't stand on their own merits so Disney has to give them away in hopes of getting people to see future movies in the franchise. It's manipulative bullshit marketing to cover up the poor writing, bad cinematography, overused CGI and post production added 3D effects. Since Disney bought Marvel in 2010 that's what has been produced. There is no vision beyond maximizing their ROI (selling made in China toys and clothes to children, etc.) and setting up future installments in the franchise. It is dishonest and I hope they fail miserably. Do you want to see a real super hero film? Go watch Nolan's Batman series.
chaz 13y ago
Fans of The Avengers fans are probably the ones most likely to pirate the movie after a minute's worth of inconvenience. Meanwhile, Disney can take away a purchased movie from Amazon because the parents probably (a) already have the Disney channel, and (b) are willing to pay for it. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6911944 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6911944
- kbenson 13y ago
  I find it extremely disturbing that I haven't been able to find a single major news outlet covering this. Hopefully I'm just failing at searching.

cylinder 13y ago

Do you remember how new releases were $5 at Blockbuster? In the 1990s? I don't see why you expect unlimited new releases to now stream to you for $8/month. If you want to stream a new movie, you have to pay for it. The physical DVD wasn't the expensive part of the $5, it was the content.

GFischer 13y ago
Netflix already has my credit card, why not Netflix "on demand" for U$ 5 for new releases?
- jalada 13y ago
  I can't believe they're not trying to secure this already.
joezydeco 13y ago
Near the end, Blockbuster was getting the new release DVDs literally for free from the studios in return for a piece of the revenue. New Release rentals became another line item in a movie's total income.
CamperBob2 13y ago
If you want to stream a new movie, you have to pay for it. How exactly do I do that?
- Selfcommit 13y ago
  To take this further... Why are we stuck in this business model?
- res0nat0r 13y ago
  By paying more for it than all you can eat for $8/month on Netflix. Want a brand new movie that just came out on DVD via streaming tonight? Pony up and pay $15 to buy it digitally, or $8 to rent it via on demand etc. IE: Brand new content is more expensive and always will be.

scott_s 13y ago

Amazon allows you to purchase recent movies individually for both "buying" and "renting."

vermontdevil 13y ago

That was due to the Starz agreement. Now you can find them at obscure websites like: http://www.starzplay.com http://www.starzplay.com http://instant.warnerarchive.com/ http://instant.warnerarchive.com/ etc. All not exactly well-crafted and promoted as a new source of revenue. Meanwhile Netflix beats on and is hitting all-time highs in the stock market.

gcb1 13y ago
yeah, as the grandparent post said, they still have their heads up their %%% lets see: pirate sites = i can watch the movie anywhere. cost some time. netflix, amazon, hulu = i can watch on windows, android, ios, wii, xbox, several set top boxes such as roku, smart tvs. cost 10 to 200 per month. that aberration you linked = i only get a single image telling me to download the ios app. im not even sure how much it costs or what they have available.