Qwikster Disappears Like the Bad Dream It Was [NetFlix]

By Brian Barrett Oct 10, 2011 8:18 AM 28,693 106

Oh, goodness, remember that time that Netflix cut itself in half like in Superman III, birthing the ill-conceived, foul-mouthed-stoner-Twitter-handled DVD-only Qwikster? Well, Qwikster is dead, according to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. Long live Netflix.

The backtrack is a welcome—and as abrupt and surprising as its antecedent—move for the streaming company, which acknowledged in a blog post today that Qwikster was ill-fated from the start:

It is clear that for many of our members two websites would make things more difficult, so we are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVDs.

This means no change: one website, one account, one password… in other words, no Qwikster.

While the July price change was necessary, we are now done with price changes.

Does this means Hastings suddenly sees a future in DVDs where perhaps there wasn't one just a few weeks ago? Not likely! It was Netflix shareholders that put a gun to Qwikster's head on the day it was announced, and a precipitous loss of market share that pulled the trigger.

Which might actually turn out to be a shame: Qwikster's introduction was awkward and hasty and sounded like a chocolate milk-inspired superhero, but keeping DVDs at an arm's length may have actually been the best thing for a company that wants to thrive not just today but ten and twenty years from now. You know, when DVDs are interred next to 8-Tracks in the format graveyard.

For now, though: Qwikster, we hardly knew ye. Actually, we didn't know ye at all; we cut our DVD plan a year ago and haven't looked back. [Netflix]

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Netflix Is Getting Man vs. Wild, Deadliest Catch, and the Rest of Discovery's Shows [NetFlix]

It looks like Netflix CEO wasn't totally full of hot air when he claimed that Netflix would be adding a bunch of new streaming content. Discovery Communications has agreed to a two-year deal to bring full episodes of its TV shows to Netflix.

The deal only covers episodes from previous seasons, so you won't be able to stay current by watching on Netflix, but until now there was no way to watch Discovery's shows in their entirety online.

Discovery Communication's networks include Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, ID: Investigation Discovery, and the Science and Military Channels. So popular shows like Dirty Jobs, Man vs. Wild, and Deadliest Catch will all be available. The one exception is Oprah's OWN network, which wasn't included in the deal.

Season-old episodes aren't going to be a cure-all for Netflix streaming, which is in the process of losing its Starz content, but who's going to argue against being able to queue up Bear Grylls drinking some Bear Grylls urine? [Reuters]

Photo Credit: Reuters/Enrique Marcarian

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Watch Live: Blockbuster Streaming Service Brings More Movies than Netflix [Blockbuster]

Watch out Netflix, big blue's coming for you. Dish Network subscriptions are getting bundled up with a new service called Blockbuster Movie Pass, which includes Blockbuster's DVD-by-Mail and a new media streaming service. The bottom line? More titles than Netflix.

The combination satellite, mail, and streaming service is pretty massive: 100,000 DVDs by mail, 4,000 movies streaming by web, and 3,000 to your TV. In keeping with the old Blockbuster plans, you'll be able to exchange your movies in store and get access to 3,000 games by mail.

Adding the new streaming service will start $10 a month for existing Dish Network subscribers—expect to pay more if you want more than one DVD a month. New subscribers will get one year free if they subscribe before the end of January. What about the rest of us? Too bad! Blockbuster Movie Pass wiil be available only to Dish Network subscribers—at least for now.

Should Netflix be shaking in its boots? The $10 plan would be a no-brainer if I subscribed to cable or satellite. Netflix's combination DVD and streaming costs $16 per month and doesn't offer games, or in-store exchange, which I always thought was a convenient feature. Blockbuster says it has more than anyone else, but Netflix's streaming library of 20,000 titles will probably keep a lot of people hanging on—no matter how disaffected they are with Netflix after the company's recent missteps. [Dish Network]

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Netflix Is Finally Available on Nearly All Android Phones [NetFlix]

It took a few false-ish starts, but all Android phones running Froyo or Gingerbread are FINALLY getting full Netflix support. No more workarounds or rooting. Just sweet streaming. For now, anyway, and if you haven't jettisoned your account.

Needless to say, if you're running anything other than 2.2 or 2.3 (why???), you're out of luck. And tablet owners stiiill need to wait a bit before an update comes their way. But how much longer could that take? [This Is My Next]

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Starz Turned Down $300 Million to Stay on Netflix [Video]

So you know how Starz and Netflix broke up, which, sad! But did you further know that Netflix offered up a whopping $300 million per year to make the third-rate movie channel stay? That's ten times their current deal. Yowza.

Starz, according to the LA Times, refused to sign off on any deal that didn't involved a tiered pricing plan. That way the movie network could save face with its cable cronies while still making bank on Netflix streaming. Nice try, Starz! But also not a negotiation so much as a round of Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Netflix, obviously, refused to adjust its pricing, which is in the long-run a hopeful sign for consumers. And that's how we got here: come March, you're going to have to live without streaming second-tier first-run movies Tangled and The Expendables. And Starz is going to have to live without hundreds of millions of dollars. [LA Times]

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The Movies on Netflix Streaming Are About to Suck a Lot More [Video]

A large portion of the fresh movies that you can watch on Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming service are supplied through a deal with Starz. Like Toy Story 3 and Let Me In. Well, they're going to disappear on February 28.

Starz announced today that contract negotiations with Netflix have broken down and that when the current contract expires on February 28, 2012, their content will no be available on the streaming service.

"Starz Entertainment has ended contract renewal negotiations with Netflix. When the agreement expires on February 28, 2012, Starz will cease to distribute its content on the Netflix streaming platform.  This decision is a result of our strategy to protect the premium nature of our brand by preserving the appropriate pricing and packaging of our exclusive and highly valuable content.  With our current studio rights and growing original programming presence, the network is in an excellent position to evaluate new opportunities and expand its overall business."

We're not just talking newer releases that are made available thanks to the Starz deal. Everything from action favorite Big Trouble in Little China to Casino to Night of the Living Dead to The Toxic Avenger, along with 1000 other titles, are all courtesy of Starz. (Update: Night of the Living Dead is in the public domain, but it's currently listed as a Starz Play title, weirdly.)

This is bad news on the day after you needed to decide which Netflix streaming/DVD at home account you want before getting hit with a $6 monthly increase to your current subscription.

This isn't the first time Starz and Netflix have disagreed on what some believe to be an agreement that heavily favors Netflix. Earlier this year Starz announced they would be adding a 90-day waiting period for TV with movies following for Netflix Instant Streaming.

Fortunately, Netflix has several months to lure Starz back to the table, or secure other deals like the one it's got with Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM via Epix to fill in the hole. But as Netflix grows, it's increasingly difficult for the service to convince Hollywood that its service won't destroy the film and television industry. Netflix knows that it's gonna need the studios on its side to build out Watch Instantly as the DVD business slowly crumbles—and they're going to have to pay dearly for it, like they did for Mad Men, at $1 million an episode. Can Netflix afford it? [PR NewsWire via The Next Web]

UPDATE: Business Insider spoke to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings about today's announcement from Starz. He thanked Starz for being a content partner and explained that Starz content was a huge percentage of views a few years ago but that viewership has dropped off.

Because we've licensed so much other great content, Starz content is now down to about 8% of domestic Netflix subscribers' viewing. As we add a huge more content in Q4, we expect Starz content to naturally drift down to 5-6% of domestic viewing in Q1. We are confident we can take the money we had earmarked for Starz renewal next year, and spend it with other content providers to maintain or even improve the Netflix experience.

Your more Starz. [Business Insider]

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You've Got Less than 24 Hours to Pick Your New Netflix Plan [Psa]

In light of Netflix's crazy pricing plan shift last month, many of you probably already picked a new plan on your Netflix account. Unless you already left. Well, it goes into effect tomorrow. So if you stream AND get DVDs, switch already!

Seriously. You don't want to wind up paying $16 for next month because you forgot to check the date. [Huffington Post]

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