Netflix Signs Deal With Disney-ABC 212
tekgoblin writes "Netflix announced today that they have brokered a deal with Disney-ABC to add their content to the Netflix library. The deal should add a substantial number of new TV shows and Movies to instant watch. The episodes will be added rather quickly to instant watch only 15 days after initial telecast."
Wow surprising (Score:5, Insightful)
Thats kind of a huge deal if it includes streaming. Just yesterday there was an article about how Netflix was non-sustainable because its deals were not direct with the content providers but rather mostly 3rd party like Starz. Guess they are working to pre-emptively fix that issue.
15 days is quickly? (Score:5, Insightful)
15 Days? (Score:4, Insightful)
Forgive my ignorance, but why the delay? Is this "punishment" for not viewing it when it's broadcast? I mean, why wait more than 24 hours? If you are that much of a fan of a show, you're going to watch it when it airs, yes? And if you already have NetFlix, then offering it more quickly would just increase your chances of acquiring new viewers that might turn into fans who might just watch it when it airs. If you are already a fan, then it's just gravy in case you miss an episode. So where is the advantage to waiting?
Canada? (Score:5, Insightful)
What territories did Netflix get these rights? Because I doubt that we'll ever see any of this on netflix.ca.
Re:15 Days? (Score:5, Insightful)
I do not have a TV, or cable of any sort in my home.
being that I currently spend months waiting for the shows to come to DVD, this is a LOT better than nothing.
Re:15 Days? (Score:5, Insightful)
Forgive my ignorance, but why the delay? Is this "punishment" for not viewing it when it's broadcast?
No. It's so Disney continues to make money from advertisers. If the show turns up 24 hours later on Netflix commercial free, then there's little incentive for somebody to purchase advertising time during its broadcast.
Re:Wow surprising (Score:5, Insightful)
Er what? I think you misread what the CEO was saying (assuming the article you don't cite mentions it). Netflix was saying that third-party content providers were not essential to its success. [yahoo.com] At the end of the day, Netflix has the subscriber base and the cash rolling in to negotiate with whomever they want. It doesn't matter if they go direct or via some third-party route.
At the end of the day, it's in the studios' or brokers' best interest to receive large slabs of money because content providers can double dip as much as they want. First the air it on TV (money), host it on their sites (more money), make it available to iTunes and other pay-per-view services (the dollars continue to flow), then sign up as many streaming services as those companies can afford (ooooh, they're getting richer) before releasing to DVD and syndication.
Direct or indirect - Netflix doesn't care because someone will agree to those handsome checks.
Re:I've become somewhat wary of streaming... (Score:2, Insightful)
And around the world... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Pffft *dismissive hand wave* (Score:5, Insightful)
Believe it or not, some people prefer obtaining their content legally.
Or just don't want to risk getting sued, or in trouble with their ISP.
Re:15 days is quickly? (Score:5, Insightful)
Fair point. But for a TV show (and most movies for that matter), the odds I care to watch it twice are pretty low. And I can always stream it again.
Re:I've become somewhat wary of streaming... (Score:4, Insightful)
This is one of those things that makes me want copyright to be maybe 14 years max and surely void if you ever refuse to sell the material.
As Lao-tzu said (Score:4, Insightful)
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
I'm quite sure Netflix would be happy to offer immediate availability. However, they are fighting with a very entrenched media industry, an industry that regularly acts against their own best interests. So, maybe there needs to be some middle ground. Eventually hopefully it'll be immediate streaming to Netflix. As it stands, this isn't bad.
Please remember Netflix offers five things that warez does not which make it worth paying for:
1) Instant gratification. Netflix is streaming. You punch play, you are watching seconds later. Warez is all download. Now on a fast connection, the difference isn't a big deal. If you are rocking 50mbps cable or FIOS, you can pull down a 100-200MB file so fast it makes no real difference. However most people aren't. On a 5-10mbps cable connection, which is more normal, you can wait several minutes and that is presuming your download is fast. With Netflix, it just buffers for a second and then goes.
2) Ease. Netflix is really, really easy to use. Very friendly for non-technically savvy people, and even those of us who are good with computers can appreciate the good interface. Locating and watching things on it is dead simple, and it has useful features like recommending new stuff you might like (sometimes people want to watch something but have nothing specific in mind).
3) Quality control. When you watch something on Netflix, you get what you want. I've never seen its streaming to error. With warez, well sometimes shit isn't what it claims to be. You deal with idiots uploading things, jackasses who want to cause trouble, media industry spamming bad stuff, etc. Not a major deal but you can spend 30 minutes downloading only to find you've got something you don't want.
4) Device integration. Netflix is available on all kinds of devices. Blu-ray players, TVs, etc. This is real nice for living room watching. I don't break out my laptop, just turn on my Blu-ray player and it handles the rest. Yes you can build a media center box for warez'd stuff, that takes technical know how, not to mention is probably going to cost a bit more.
5) Legitimacy. Perhaps you personally don't care at all if what you are doing is legal or not, and feel no morals about downloading stuff you didn't pay for. Some people do, some people care. They want to do the right thing. Netflix offers that. It is 100% legal and legit.
So while it isn't perfect, it is getting better and that's all we can ask really. Netflix has gone from a unique form of DVD rental service to one of the largest video streaming services in the world in only a few years. Now they are growing their content, and getting better time tables. If this keeps up, we hopefully WILL see a large catalogue of quickly available stuff in a few years time.
Re:Wow surprising (Score:4, Insightful)
On the other hand, there are a huge number of parents who might sign up if it means they can instant-queue the Little Mermaid or Aladdin or Bolt or Monsters Inc or Toy Story over and over again for their kids without worrying about scratching up a DVD.
The convenience factor is such that I'll use it even when I own the DVD, sometimes. Skipping menus and commercials and "don't steal this" BS is wonderful.