And countdown to implosion...

[kate]

Netflix is splitting into two separate companies, Netflix (streaming) and Qwikster (DVDs through the mail). I have not received an email yet (they must be sending them in batches), but apparently they're sending an email that links you to the apology/explanation from the Netflix CEO. The comments are worth a read, they're hilarious.

Comments

[cavocorax]

I totally think this whole thing is about decreasing the need for physical media. Movies stores are dying. Dvd sales are dropping. Why order a movie and wait a few days before someone ships it to you, when you can just go online and see what's available now?

Of course, up here in Canada we never had that option. We pay $8/mo for streaming, and the selection is even worse than what they offer in the US. I don't agree with how Netflix is rolling this out, but I can see that the probably don't make much money through dvd's/bluray. Still, with all this money they are saving by not buying disks that will just get lost/scratched etc (and by paying less in postal charges), I HOPE they can negotiate some good contracts.

Like you say, with the Starz loss, the selection is looking worse and worse. $8 is still worth it for me so long as it replaces 1-2 trips to the video store, but once I run out of interesting content, that'll be the end of it. :|

[xtricks]

I'm going to buy Hulu plus and see what it's selection is. Thing is, I watch a lot of nature documentaries and Netflix is one of the few places that streams it. And then I watch a lot of relatively new British TV, which isn't streamed ... sigh.