Quickflix to terminate DVD/Bluray rental services? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2015, 07:55:09 am
content: I don't know about everyone else, but I'm not a fan of these streaming services (even the free ones). Personally, I love the quality of audio/video on physical media such as Bluray or even DVD plus, with streaming, you're never guaranteed availability; what might be around today may not be next week.Reading Quickflix's recent ASX release (attached) they have suspended trading shares to"undertake a restructuring programme".They go on to say"Quickflix has made a significant investment in its streaming platform and supports a vast array of popular consumer devices. It has a large base of customers and acquires new customers at lowcost. It is the only streaming service to also offer transactional streaming and the only service to be complemented by an online DVD rental service in Australia, a business that is profitable. Quickflix can be a viable player in the high-growth streaming sector if through this restructure it can address the legacy issues holding it back".The focus seems to be largely on streaming video although they do claim"Quickflix will continue to service its streaming and DVD customers as well as execute campaign activity for acquiring new customers."

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2015, 05:36:28 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on October 13, 2015, 07:55:09 amre:"you're never guaranteed availability; what might be around today may not be next week."The "what may or may not be around" part is the one I have the most problem with. Not just content but equipment as well.I think this will be a conundrum for the provider as well. In the USA, smart phone customers upgrades their equipment every other year (at phone contract cycle), whereas TV customers who brought a TV and expect it to work 5+ years.What used to be enjoyable viewing with my Western Digital box is now "unrecognized stream". I have a laptop "assigned" to be the streaming device and use the TV as merely an LCD display. Even with that, my laptop needs to keep up with software (flash, browser, shockwave...) versions. I am sure pretty soon, XP will run out of life.I used to keep some home videos on youtube to share with relatives. As of last April's format change, the streaming devices can no longer play them. I am back to local servers and mailing DVDs to relatives. Even my WII got demoted from "part time stream receiver" back to game only.If steaming video means upgrading hardware every other year, that just make them very price-unattractive and too high a "maintenance burden".So, the provide can chase the latest technology standard, or not. Customer will also decide to keep them, or not.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2015, 12:26:03 am
content: You're spot on. Most of the stuff I watch I have as standard MPEG or M2TS files on my file server (screw copyright, I own the original disc so I'll watch them whatever way I like!). I never have to worry about availability. I've never had to convert them into anything else as I only use XBMC or VLC to play them. Support for those formats will probably be around as long as I'm alive. It's a system that works. Everything else I rent off Quickflix, I can keep the discs as long as I like (or until I'm sick of watching them).