Netflix renames their DVD service to Qwikster

[budz]

Interesting news about Netflix renaming their DVD service to Qwikster. Read the link below.

http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-ceo-i-messed-up/

[jagabo]

Whole lotta BS.

Inside Netflix I say, “Actions speak louder than words,”

They've allready spoken with their actions:

The 1 DVD at at time unlimited plan:

March 2009: DVD + Blu-ray + streaming, $8.99
April 2009: +$2 for Blu-ray access, $10.99
January 2010: new release 30 delay: $10.99
January 2011: $1 price increase, $11.99
June 2011: Sony streaming lost, $11.99
September 2011: streaming/disc split: $17.99
January 2012: Starz streaming lost: $17.99

Now they trying to cover up with words.

[wulf109]

I wonder if they'll have two stock listings,with separate stock values. Not likely. Renaming the rental business and giving the Netflix name to steaming tells us we need to find a new source for rentals. I suspect they're celebrating at RedBox and Blockbuster.

[MJA]

I got an email this morning about the change

the email stars with

Dear blah blah,

I messed up. I owe you an explanation.


lol

[cal_tony]

I agree with wulf109.

Changing the rental name to something other than having Netflix in the name says an awful lot. An other indication
would be what the new Logo and envelops look like.

Tony

[jagabo]

Same envelope, different logo.

[zoobie]

must be some sort of coding/sorting/searching advantage because fixing something that isn't broken costs lots of money, effort, and time

[budz]

I got an email this morning about the change

the email stars with

Dear blah blah,

I messed up. I owe you an explanation.


lol

Yup same here with that Netflix email.....blah,blah,blah.....

[jman98]

must be some sort of coding/sorting/searching advantage because fixing something that isn't broken costs lots of money, effort, and time

Their CEO wants Netflix to get out of the physical media business completely so this is probably the 1st step towards an eventual spin off of Qwikster as a separate company.

[jagabo]

this is probably the 1st step towards an eventual spin off of Qwikster as a separate company.

Exactly. Spin it off while it's at it's peak. Let someone else worry about the decline.

[fooledagain]

Dear Reed,
You are a jack hole. You have ruined your company. Hear that clicking sound? Lots more people cancelling your "service." I would feel sorry for a dumb bastard like you, but I am sure your millions of dollars will do that for me. Good riddance Netflix.
Sincerely Yours,
A Former Customer

[fritzi93]

Sheesh, he starts off saying there's a communication problem, then resoundingly declares "actions speak louder than words". Blah blah.

I hope for his shareholders' sakes his business decisions are not as muddled as that puzzling little message.

[jman98]

On the subject, this article might be of interest as the writer suggests that Netflix' current inability to stream some big budget recent releases and failure to get new contracts from some content providers may ultimately require even more price hikes on the streaming side just to get Hollywood to release the content that consumers want.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2011/09/19/the-problem-with-netflixs-bet-...rtner=yahootix

The article also talks about how there is plenty of competition in the streaming world, including Hulu. Hulu is owned by all the major US TV networks except CBS and Hulu's own subscription service is a powerful reason why current US TV show content may never come to Netflix.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Qwikster is such a lame name, sort of like Comcast changing their name to Xfinity.
I think Reed Hastings is setting up the new company so he can sell it, people already know the NetFlix name and it's on all the streaming devices.

[CobraPilot]

After watching the video, it occurred to me that all the "better communication" in the WORLD could not offset the reality of the 60% price increase my 1-dvd/streaming combo would have cost me. SIXTY PERCENT outshouts Reed's "explanations" all day long.

Further, I am insulted that he thinks we can't see through his bottom line: "We're apologizing, but not taking one step back from where we were, and hoping that with your short attention spans you won't even notice how this is self-serving BS masquerading as something worth hearing."

How long before another mea culpa, Reed? Not that we'll be listening or buying it any more than this first "apology."

[SLK001]

But in my case, the new plan saves me money. I went from $9.99 a month to $7.99 for 1 DVD-at-a-time. Since I don't have a fast enough internet connection to stream in high quality (and that you couldn't stream to a buffer for later viewing) I considered streaming to be worthless.

Also, someone already owns the Twitter "Qwikster" moniker and he posts with a lot of profanity - probably another PR nightmare waiting to happen.

[MJA]

I went to streaming only.my kids have no problem watching the same crap over and over again