Look Out, Netflix! Her Comes Verizon & Redbox!

tvpredictions.com ^ | December 8, 2011 | Phillip Swann

[Las Vegas Dave]

Washington, D.C. (December 8, 2011) -- Verizon may be planning to launch a service next spring that would compete directly with Netflix and could involve a partnership with Redbox, according to several news reports.

Reuters reported Tuesday that Verizon was negotiating agreements with media companies for the right to stream their content. The wire service added that Verizon was interested in launching a streaming offering in areas outside of its FiOS TV markets. For instance, if you could not subscribe to FiOS where you live, you could subscribe to Verizon's Netflix-like streaming service.

And TechCrunch, the AOL tech site, reports this morning that Verizon is also planning a partnership with the kiosk company, Redbox, to launch a streaming service in May of 2012. Redbox, which now rents DVDs and Blu-ray discs for $1-$1.50 a night, has been vague about its future streaming plans. But the Verizon partnership could be part of the company's plan to compete directly with Netflix in both the hard media and streaming categories.

TechCrunch says the Verizon/Redbox service is being called "Project Zoetrope" internally and it will be both a subscription and streaming service available on such platforms as Google TV, XBox, Roku, Android, iOS and perhaps Blu-ray players.

The web site says the service would stream in both SD and HD in each device. Pricing would be monthly and it could include a combination of renting hard media discs and streaming videos, much like Netflix.

[Las Vegas Dave]

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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Las Vegas Dave.

[singing] Got a Redbox over yonder, that’s where my movies play...

[InterceptPoint]

Netflix has pointed the way to the future of TV.

Others are following and it will eventually be a saturated market. Cable will fade as a source of movies but kept alive by news, sports, junk channels like the one owned by Al Gore and selling jewelry. Even the Discovery Channel would make more sense on Netflix. Watch what you want when you want it. Watch 1 episode or 10 in a row. Wait until the last episode of Lost or Damages is shown (or released to Netflix) and then get up early the next day popcorn, giant Pepsi and Mild Duds in hand and watch the whole season in one fell swoop.

[InterceptPoint]

Make that Mild Duds.

[WackySam]

The Verizon service is doomed before it starts.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Do Mild Duds have less calories than Milk Duds? ;-)

I use Netflix for streaming only now since they raised prices. I will probably dump them soon because I also have free streaming as an Amazon Prime customer.

[WackySam]

I use Netflix for streaming only now since they raised prices. I will probably dump them soon because I also have free streaming as an Amazon Prime customer.

How's their library compared to Netflix?

[Lakeshark]

It doesn't seem quite as good, it also is not very easy to figure out in comparison.

Admittedly, I have used netflix for a little over a year and Amazon Prime for one week.

It's possible I'm simply comfortable with Netlix format, but it sure seems a lot more difficult to categorize and get helpful hints.

[I Drive Too Fast]

I have noticed a lot of similarities on both. I haven't been streaming too much lately as I have been watching my 1,000+ DVD/Blu ray collection. If you like TV series, they are both good for that. I think Netflix has more offerings in total including Disney, but that will end in February. Netflix has a lot of old tv series like Wagon Train and those are fun to watch. They both have all of the Star Trek series too, but so do I except for Deep Space Nine which I didn't care for that much.

I only keep Netflix because it cost just $7.99 a month, but I don't know how much longer I will stay with them. I have been a member with them since 2000. Some things Amazon wants to charge $1.99 or more extra to watch (the newer movie releases) and some things you can only see on Netflix if you rent a DVD.

[I Drive Too Fast]

You can join Amazon Prime and get a free one month trial. Just quit before the term ends and you don't pay the $79.00 yearly fee. I believe Netflix has free 2 week deals too. That way you can try both.

Netflix does have a larger library, but I think Amazon is trying to catch them.

[InterceptPoint]

Do Mild Duds have less calories than Milk Duds? ;-)

Yes they do. Mild Duds have only about half the calories as Milk Duds. They actually look like Mild Duds but if you exam them carefully you find that exactly every other "Mild Dud" is a dud. There's nothing inside. And they are very, very hard to find. Your local theater is unlikely to carry them. And I know I can't find them anymore at Walgreens.

On Streaming. Give us a little dump on Amazon vs. Netflix in terms of selection. I like Netflix because I watch about 1 movie in 5 all the way through so any pay per movie scheme is a non-starter for me. I us an LG Bluray player to stream Netflix and unfortunately there is no "Amazon App" available at this time. And I don't have a lot of confidence in LG keeping up with industry here. But ... fingers crossed.

[diamond6]

I heard that Starz is not renewing their contract with Netflix. Is that the final nail in the coffin? I hope not, I’m one of the few people that enjoy Netflix.

[I Drive Too Fast]

I haven’t watched any yet on Amazon. I believe you can go to their website and pick the first selection of the departments - Amazon Instant Video. See what they offer and look for the Free with Amazon Prime.

[WackySam]

I heard that Starz is not renewing their contract with Netflix. Is that the final nail in the coffin? I hope not, I’m one of the few people that enjoy Netflix.

I heard that also, but it won't change my opinion of Netflix. It's still a great deal.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Same here. Have BlockBuster for BluRay and DVD rentals by mail and now unlimited in-store exchanges. We use Amazon Prime for streaming. We were a Prime customer several years to get the annual flat-rate shipping which is a great deal if you do most of your shopping on Amazon. They added streaming video service which is a nice bonus. The picture quality is MUCH better than I got from Netflix streaming, too. I had Netflix for DVD/BRD and streaming, but completely dumped it recently.

I got an Oppo BRD player so upscaling of regular “old” DVDs would be good and they are very watchable on my Panny 55 inch screen. So I can still get DVDs from the local library, too, and have very good PQ.

[ctdonath2]

A key with Redbox, at least physical discs, is if they can’t license something they will buy up every copy they need in an area to supply sufficient rental copies. Can’t do that with online streaming.

[P.O.E.]

I’ve had Netflix for the past year. I watch mostly old movies, the new ones don’t have the class or style.

Most of them are findable for free on the web elsewhere. I probably won’t be renewing next year.

[Politicalmom]

I’ve been flirting with getting Amazon Prime, but I’m still with Netflix. The problems with AP include a very clunky search mechanism, and the fact that their total “offerings” count EACH episode in a season, so their total is highly inflated.

I’m totally disgusted with Netflix, however, so I’ll be bolting as soon as I can.

[InterceptPoint]

I’m totally disgusted with Netflix, however, so I’ll be bolting as soon as I can.

I don't understand that. Eight bucks a month or so and a growing inventory of stream-able flicks. I gave up $50/month worth of DirecTV movies I never watched and switched to Netflix. Never looked back. I never used the DVD by mail system. The deal of the century to me.