End of an era, Netflix DVD will be no more come September - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2023, 11:45:34 pm
content: NetflixDVDwill stop their DVD (rental) operation September 28, 2023. It started shipping DVD in March 1998. They will stay open for another month or so for DVD returns.That was a very good business idea at the time, rent DVD over the net. By now, streaming killed it. End of an era.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 02:30:31 am
content: Netflix DVD is still a thing? I thought they stopped it years ago, everyone I know that has Netflix just streams.

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 06:36:13 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on April 18, 2023, 11:45:34 pmYou can buy 10 DVDs for £1 in a charity shop, and not need to "rent" them. So what? To show some empathy though, I understand it could be sentimental to you; I am sentimental for the most unusual events, things. I am sorry, it had to end, but it will be okay

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 05:28:42 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on April 19, 2023, 02:30:31 amTheir DVD side has some old classics that their streaming side doesn't. Not that I will miss their DVD service, they were a pioneer when they started doing internet based DVD rental. As said, end of an Era.Rather like when the last steam train engine rolled out of manufacturing. Something that is, became something that was. Actually just before the virus lock-down, there was still steam trains running even in the USA as tourist attractions -- one not more than 30 miles from where I live. Not sure if they resumed after the virus lock-down. Either way, we all moved on. Somethings we will miss more than other things.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 05:36:51 pm
content: As far as I know there are some still operating.In the UK a brand new steam locomotive was built in 2008, quite an impressive feat.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Peppercorn_Class_A1_60163_Tornado

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 06:04:45 pm
content: In the UK steam is still very popular. You can still get a trip on some of the fastest steam trains ever built. Lots of local heritage railways where you can get a short trip on them. In Wales were the idea for Thomas the Tank Engine came from you can still ride those rails. Part of the reason is the drinking laws for trains, means you can drink all day in some cases.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 06:41:57 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on April 18, 2023, 11:45:34 pmRedbox is still around and fulfills much of the same purpose as the netflix DVD rental business. It has never gotten the attention that Netflix did, but was arguably as important in the downfall of traditional video rental stores like blockbuster as Netflix ever was.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 07:10:11 pm
content: Quote from: ejeffrey on April 19, 2023, 06:41:57 pmBlockbuster is a funny one really.Back in 2000 or so, Netflix was offered to Blockbuster for $50 million, to which Blockbuster declined the purchase (their then BB CEO laughed the Netflix boss, Reed Hastings, who is still Netflix CEO, out of the room). They had later considered launching a VOD service with Enron (before, y'know, all of that went blew up.) Interestingly, Netflix would only launch the streaming service in 2007, it's not as if they were the first to the idea or anything like that. It was just that they managed to get the right content and interest early on, and Blockbuster struggled badly in the 2008 recession and completely failed to innovate.And then in the middle of their "no more late fees" campaign they added extra fees, at a time when Netflix was cheaper and had a wider selection!

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 07:26:39 pm
content: Netflix streaming used to be really great, it was a one stop shop that had almost everything and the price was fair. Then everyone and their dog started trying to jump on the streaming bandwagon with their own competing service and fragmentation started to take its toll. Netflix dropped more and more content I wanted while focusing on their original garbage that I never cared one bit about. Eventually I gave up and set up my own Plex server with my own content that I manage and never looked back. There aren't THAT many movies I want to actually watch, Netflix may have thousands of them but most of them are just clutter.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 07:36:06 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on April 19, 2023, 07:26:39 pmI do think Netflix is in danger of losing their pole position when it comes to streaming.The problem is, really, how do you compete with Disney/Fox? For ~£8 a month you get more content than Netflix and it's all in 4K as standard. Yes, the pricing is no doubt introductory, to tempt people over, but the bigger issue for Netflix is fragmentation of the streaming market. When you had Netflix offering 90% of everything, it was a great deal. Now you need 3-4 streaming subscriptions to access everything, just seems like a bad deal now.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 08:26:23 pm
content: Well I don't care about 4k, and I don't really care about newer stuff. All I really want is classic movies, older TV shows, and no ads or logos (dogs/bugs).

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 19, 2023, 11:22:37 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on April 19, 2023, 02:30:31 amOh wow. I had no idea that was even a thing. I was a customer of Quickflix and EzyDVD for years in Australia. It was a great service at a really reasonable price. They are both shutdown now of course.Quote from: james_s on April 19, 2023, 08:26:23 pmGive it a chance. Seeing some of that old content in HD or 4K is like you're watching it for the first time. Back to the Future is an example of a great older movie that looks stunning in 4K. I also have the entire Hogan's Heroes series in full HD.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2023, 04:32:55 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on April 19, 2023, 11:22:37 pmI haven't got anything that can display 4K. 1080p still looks good to me, it wasn't that long ago that I really started shifting away from 480p.

author: andy2000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2023, 06:52:02 am
content: Blockbuster had a Netflix style DVD by mail service for a while. I gave it a try, but they were too slow to send out new DVDs. You were lucky to get two DVDs a month. Netflix was very quick on sending your next disc.I did eventually quit Netflix DVD (and Blu-ray) because there selection was getting worse, and streaming was getting better. Early on, the picture quality for streaming was pretty bad. They also got bad about replacing damaged discs, so they ended up with lots of titles becoming unavailable.