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> Amazon Instant Video is _much_ better than Netflix Streaming. Libraries are constantly in flux but here's a comparison of imdb top 250 tv shows across servi

by Steko 13y ago

> Amazon Instant Video is _much_ better than Netflix Streaming. Libraries are constantly in flux but here's a comparison of imdb top 250 tv shows across services: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AqP8TDyPzj3NdDRlVDlvU041TDF3dExjdXBONDZJRlE https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AqP8TDyPzj3NdDRl... Methodology, etc.: http://lifehacker.com/tv-streaming-head-to-head-netflix-vs-hulu-vs-amazon-pr-1536006625 http://lifehacker.com/tv-streaming-head-to-head-netflix-vs-h... Spoilers: Netflix dominates Amazon by a wide margin. I'd love to see the same data for movies if anyone has it.

iandanforth 13y ago
A few years ago I consciously decided that Amazon and Netflix never have new or semi-new content. I've been much happier since. If I care about getting the most popular shows, recent movies, etc and go looking on either I would be (still) constantly disappointed. However now that I assume the content isn't there I discover other things I've never heard of like The Duchess of Duke street, a wonderful period BBC serial from the 70's that I enjoyed almost as much as Downton Abbey. This is all to say that it is extremely difficult to compare libraries and in my case Amazon has introduced me to more new and interesting TV than Netflix and Netflix has the edge when it comes to movies.
- interpol_p 13y ago
  I do this as well. With Netflix I have just accepted that I will be months — or years — behind everyone else in TV watching. And I don't care because there is always something decent to watch.
  - bashinator 13y ago
    I feel like I'm actually happier with this arrangement than many friends who either have cable or grab torrents of stuff as soon as it comes out. "Don't you wish you were getting to watch $show for the first time like I am?"
tptacek 13y ago
If you combine the Paid/Prime columns, Amazon crushes Netflix. It isn't even a contest. I concede your point, though: Prime alone vs. Netflix, Netflix wins. It may be that I don't notice this because of the shows I watch.
- colomon 13y ago
  I'm surprised to hear this too, in the last year or so we've found much more to watch on Prime than on Netflix. Admittedly a lot of that is kid's shows...
davidjohnstone 13y ago
Here's the comparison for movies, using the IMDB top 250 and a couple of other lists to try to get a more comprehensive picture. It's from nine months ago, so things may have changed a little since then. http://davidjohnstone.net/blog/2013/07/netflix-amazon-and-hulu-compared-for-streaming-movies http://davidjohnstone.net/blog/2013/07/netflix-amazon-and-hu...
ghshephard 13y ago
Awesome Link - the major Summary is for all shows: Streaming: Netflix: 559 Seasons Hulu Plus: 213 Season Amazon Prime: 252 Seasons Purchase by season: Amazon: 1052 iTunes: 1039 Google: 663 When I "cut the cable" back in 1999, I switched over to watching TV via DVD, then, around 2005 or so, switched to iTunes. It was a pleasant surprise a few years later when they made all the back catalog that I had purchased available downloadable again. Ironically, though, almost all the TV shows I had purchased on DVD, and many of the ones on iTunes, are all available for free streaming on Amazon - So I don't even touch those binders of DVDs, or bother re-downloading via iTunes - I usually just stream the old stuff via Amazon.

by Steko 13y ago

iandanforth 13y ago

A few years ago I consciously decided that Amazon and Netflix never have new or semi-new content. I've been much happier since. If I care about getting the most popular shows, recent movies, etc and go looking on either I would be (still) constantly disappointed. However now that I assume the content isn't there I discover other things I've never heard of like The Duchess of Duke street, a wonderful period BBC serial from the 70's that I enjoyed almost as much as Downton Abbey. This is all to say that it is extremely difficult to compare libraries and in my case Amazon has introduced me to more new and interesting TV than Netflix and Netflix has the edge when it comes to movies.

interpol_p 13y ago
I do this as well. With Netflix I have just accepted that I will be months — or years — behind everyone else in TV watching. And I don't care because there is always something decent to watch.
- bashinator 13y ago
  I feel like I'm actually happier with this arrangement than many friends who either have cable or grab torrents of stuff as soon as it comes out. "Don't you wish you were getting to watch $show for the first time like I am?"

tptacek 13y ago

If you combine the Paid/Prime columns, Amazon crushes Netflix. It isn't even a contest. I concede your point, though: Prime alone vs. Netflix, Netflix wins. It may be that I don't notice this because of the shows I watch.

colomon 13y ago
I'm surprised to hear this too, in the last year or so we've found much more to watch on Prime than on Netflix. Admittedly a lot of that is kid's shows...

davidjohnstone 13y ago

Here's the comparison for movies, using the IMDB top 250 and a couple of other lists to try to get a more comprehensive picture. It's from nine months ago, so things may have changed a little since then. http://davidjohnstone.net/blog/2013/07/netflix-amazon-and-hulu-compared-for-streaming-movies http://davidjohnstone.net/blog/2013/07/netflix-amazon-and-hu...

ghshephard 13y ago

Awesome Link - the major Summary is for all shows: Streaming: Netflix: 559 Seasons Hulu Plus: 213 Season Amazon Prime: 252 Seasons Purchase by season: Amazon: 1052 iTunes: 1039 Google: 663 When I "cut the cable" back in 1999, I switched over to watching TV via DVD, then, around 2005 or so, switched to iTunes. It was a pleasant surprise a few years later when they made all the back catalog that I had purchased available downloadable again. Ironically, though, almost all the TV shows I had purchased on DVD, and many of the ones on iTunes, are all available for free streaming on Amazon - So I don't even touch those binders of DVDs, or bother re-downloading via iTunes - I usually just stream the old stuff via Amazon.