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Netflix Download Service Postponed

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

October 20, 2005, 3:15 PM

Netflix on Wednesday said that its planned movie download service is on hold indefinitely due to licensing problems with Hollywood studios. Word of a possible download service first leaked out in July when a glitch in the Netflix system revealed that the company was planning to offer online movies.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings made the announcement during a conference call with analysts. "When the content climate begins to thaw," the service will be launched, Hastings said. Work is continuing on the necessary infrastructure in order to make a launch possible, but Hastings did not specify how movies would be delivered.

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By unicodemaster787

edited Feb 13, 2007 - 3:11 PM

I once tried Amazon Unbox, only to find out that it doesn't work on Windows XP x64 (64-bit) edition (even though it has Windows Media Player 10). So, I tried installing it on my brother's computer, which has Windows XP SP2 (32-bit), only to find out that Unbox is only for continental US!!! Even though my computer's (and my brother's) locale settings are set to USA, Unbox detected that both me and my bro were located in a US territory (USVI, PR), perhaps by checking ISP's IP address, and thus refused us connection. Even though Amazon can ship books, DVDs, and CDs to US territories (as long as they're offered by Amazon), it doesn't do the same with Unbox downloads!!!! This really sucks.

I was subscribed to Netflix, and I always received my queued DVDs at my mailbox, even while living in a US territory. If Netflix ever offers this download service to US-territory subscribers, I would be just more than happy (and if Netflix offers such service to Windows x64 & Vista 32/64-bit users, then even more than happier!!!)

Score: 0

By RareButSeriousSideEffects

edited Aug 18, 2006 - 4:13 PM

The "content climate" is a serious shame, and what a ridiculous market situation it's creating. Today, most tech-savvy folks can get any digital movie download their heart desires... they just can't find a way to pay the producers for it.

When will Hollywood own up to the fact that their "can't compete with free" mantra is a lame excuse for short-sighted laziness? They most certainly *could* compete with free, simply by offering their existing inventory same as the pirates do, but collecting revenue & giving users a chance to be legit. I'd wager that nothing would put as big a dent in online piracy as convenient, unencumbered, legal alternatives.

There's a market void, guys. You've given the pirates a complete monopoly on convenient, interoperable digital media products. For heaven's sake, don't rush in there too fast and *sell* something!

Score: 0

By xoineg

posted Oct 24, 2005 - 11:02 AM

Downloading movies is very convenient. Unfortunately, all those greedy studios, producers and actors will want a piece of the pie. Hey those poor people need to have a second private jet!!

Score: 0

By klingon379

posted Oct 24, 2005 - 6:38 AM

If a movie download service doesn't offer 5.1 channel surround sound there is absolutely no point in paying for it. Most movie download services require Windows Media Player 9 or later which do fully support Microsoft's 5.1 channel surround format in Windows Media videos.

So far the music download services I've tried have excellent video for a downloaded movie but the audio stinks because it's 2 channel stereo and very heavily compressed using lossy compression.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Oct 21, 2005 - 2:32 AM

Been a member of netflix twice. Both times I cancelled because I received too many broken disks. Probably not netflix's fault, but there are better distribution methods for media.

I'll try this out when it's live. The day of media going bye bye is soon approaching.

Score: 0

By Fubar12345

posted Oct 22, 2005 - 8:24 PM

I find it funny that you've had so much trouble with broken media mjm01010101. I've been a member since early 2000 and have had only one cracked DVD out of hundreds sent. I am guessing that no matter what distribution method they used you would somehow get the broken media. I am glad to have the service and will not be dropping it anytime soon. Being able to download movies legally would be icing on the cake. I can't wait.

Score: 0

By ryusen

posted Oct 20, 2005 - 5:41 PM

I'm a recent Netflicks subscriber and think they have a great thing going.. downlaods would have been that much cooler. perhaps that endevour Morgan Freman is working on will help clear the way...

Score: 0

By CMSTech

posted Oct 20, 2005 - 3:44 PM

Darn it!

I have been a member of Netflix for over 5 years now. I love the service and would have moved to downloadable movies instead. (as long as the quality didn't suffer) I knew it was a long shot, but a man can dream.

Score: 0

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