10-26-2011, 02:06 PM
The article only hints at what their real problem is: that Hastings thought the ability to stream is more important than the CONTENT that is streaming. And Netflix's streaming content still sucks, and they have set up regressive licensing deals with no hope in sight for it to stop sucking. And their answer to that problem, is to say "fuck you" to the people who want to see the new releases by doubling the price to see it. People want to see the new shit, not fart around searching for old stuff to watch. They can channel surf their TV for that.
Here's the rub. Old people want their DVDs in the mail. I can't tell you how many of my older relatives are perfectly happy getting their DVDs in the mail and watching stuff. To them that is new technology, "I sit on my butt and DVD arrives in the mail, PROGRESS!"
Young people won't pay for content. They'll torrent it or dig around the web for unlicensed streaming sites and view stuff that way.
Which only leaves middle aged people as the only buyers of streaming content. But we want to watch new stuff so we need the DVDs too. But we won't pay for both. So we quit. Which is what I did.
So all they are left with are the old people who want DVDs, and their current strategy is the complete opposite of meeting their needs. $75 a share is STILL too much for these guys.
Here's the rub. Old people want their DVDs in the mail. I can't tell you how many of my older relatives are perfectly happy getting their DVDs in the mail and watching stuff. To them that is new technology, "I sit on my butt and DVD arrives in the mail, PROGRESS!"
Young people won't pay for content. They'll torrent it or dig around the web for unlicensed streaming sites and view stuff that way.
Which only leaves middle aged people as the only buyers of streaming content. But we want to watch new stuff so we need the DVDs too. But we won't pay for both. So we quit. Which is what I did.
So all they are left with are the old people who want DVDs, and their current strategy is the complete opposite of meeting their needs. $75 a share is STILL too much for these guys.