Who doesn’t love DreamWorks Animation? Fools, that’s who. And so far, Netflix is no fool. Or at least not much of one. In the middle of all the bad hype that Netflix has managed to get recently, they signed an agreement that allows them to have exclusive internet video rights to stream film and television specials created by DreamWorks Inc. While I think this is a fabulous decision and an awesome win on their part, I’m not sure it’s enough to change the minds of the hundreds of thousands of people canning their Netflix accounts due to the price increase implemented last month.
The loudest complainers about Netflix prices usually also chime in with the additional complaint that the streaming library isn’t getting any bigger, and that in fact, it’s got a pretty small selection. Word on the street is that it’s costing Netflix more money to obtain the rights to stream movies and TV shows, and that’s why their prices went up. So, you can’t really blame them for trying to keep their head above water. Plus, beggars can’t be choosers and we’re paying a low fee for the instant gratification that Netflix streaming offer us. However, I don’t think customers that stick around despite the price increase are going to be happy about Netflix losing its license to Walt Disney films. It seems as if they can only manage to trade one license agreement for another instead of really growing their streaming selection. Oh yeah, and the DreamWorks rights don’t start until 2013, so those loyal customers have to be really loyal to see the benefits of this deal.
Netflix is also battling with the increasingly stiff competition from Amazon and their streaming library. Amazon still has a considerably smaller library than Netflix, but it’s growing and Amazon doesn’t really mess around. Case in point, Amazon just got streaming rights to The Wonder years. Who doesn’t love The Wonder Years? Fools, that’s who. This feelgood sitcom from the 80s is only available through DVD on Netflix’s ridiculously-named sister site Qwikster and is a favorite show to almost everyone in the entire world. Honestly, it’s a silly deciding factor when you think about it. It really only takes a day or two to get a DVD in the mail, but I suppose convenience is what we’re paying for in this day and age.
Netflix needs to figure out how to step up their game a bit more to keep ahead of the competition if it wants to get its customers back and regain the massive hit they took to their cost per share. I’m sure I’ll be writing a similar review when Hulu expands a bit more and becomes a bigger player than it already is. I wish Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix would just join together in a big sexy video and TV series streaming hug. I’m pretty sure it would make the world a more peaceful and beautiful place if they did.
Netflix is available through streaming. Not available through DVD.
Thanks, Sienna. The bit about Qwikster was somehow left off the article before publication. Fixed now.
Actualy – Netflix just got The Wonder Years streamable… about 6 months after announcing it.
This article is just filled with inaccuracies. The Wonder Years is not even available on DVD, let alone through Quikster. The streaming started on Netflix Oct 1st. As of today, it is still not available on Amazon Prime. The Wonder Years has been clamored for on DVD for years by the public, but is constantly held up by Music rights.
Streaming is it, and Netflix has it first.