Netflix Settlement Update

Hacking NetFlix is reporting that

Chron.com is reporting that Netflix has agreed to modify the terms of the class action lawsuit settlement so that subscribers who join the settlement class will not be automatically charged for the higher subscription plan after the one month is over.

Netflix works on holidays even though the USPS doesn't deliver

A Netflix fan reader wrote me with an interesting theory. The idea is that if Netflix has a mail drop near a USPS "sectional center facility," then they will process mail on holidays and weekends. I think that this is partly true. I believe it works this way: every morning, Netflix brings an empty truck to the USPS and exchanges it for a full truck which the UPSPS filled up the night before, so even on holidays, Netflix can pick up a full truck and process it. Each evening, Netflix drops off the full truck of outgoing mail at the USPS distribution center, and the USPS works through the night, so that it is ready to be delivered to your home the next day.

This reader thinks that, if you live near an SCF, your Netflix discs are processed faster than if you do not. I have posted the list of Netflix distribution centers with the nearby sectional center facilities indicated, if you would like to test this theory.

Google Netflix module

Blake Schwendiman has created a Netflix module for your Google homepage, which uses the Netflix RSS feed to display your queue.

For more information and configuration instructions, click here.

Don't have a Netflix account? Sign up here [He's a Netflix affiliate, so this link will make money for him]. It's worth it for more than just my cool module!

If you would like to install this module onto your Google Homepage, you can do it, by going to the Add Content link on your Google Homepage, then go to Create a Section and enter the following URL:

http://www.blakeschwendiman.com/gh/netflix.xml

Fine print: If you use this, you'll be making your queue vulnerable to Blake, so that if he were a rascal, he could make changes to it. However, he would not have access to your account details.

Another viewing milestone: 704 out of 1001

I have seen 704 of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. My goal is to see all of them, but that may be impossible, since there are about 75 titles on the list which are either out of print, never released to home video, or never released to theatres.

When I started my quest, in May 2004, I had seen about 200. Of the 504 I've seen since then, 340 came from Netflix. I now have 219 movies in my Netflix queue, all of which are on the list of 1001. Eight of them are in the saved section, because they are "release date unknown."

I am using the 2002 edition of the book, which is out of print, but you can buy it used, or find the 2004 edition, which has a few different titles on the list.

You can see the list of Films I've Seen of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die on Listology.

The last time I posted a milestone from this book was October 13, so it has taken me four months to see 100 films on the list.

PodFlix Interviews Hacking Netflix

My buddy Mike, who writes Hacking NetFlix has been interviewed by the guys who do the PodFlix podcast, in which they discuss "Netflix, Hacking Netflix, throttling, movies, trivia, and much more."

Third Netflix distribution center opens in North Carolina

Netflix has apparently created a new distribution center/mail drop in Fayetteville, NC, which makes the third one in the state, and the second one discovered in the last month. If North Carolina has three, then other states must be getting more, too. Amazing!

How they know what you like before you do

Via csmonitor.com

"Customers have contributed more than 1 billion ratings on the Netflix website, says communications director Steve Swasey, adding that 60 percent of movies rented by its 4.2 million members are based on computer-generated recommendations. Those curious about what films are most popular can check out the Netflix Top 100, or they can enter their ZIP Code and find out what's hot in their neighborhood.

Community-driven Netflix recommendations are useful, says Mike Kaltschnee, who publishes a Web log, HackingNetflix.com, which is supported partly by Netflix and Blockbuster ads. Mr. Kaltschnee, who lives in Danbury, Conn., says he sees friends dropping red Netflix envelopes into the mail, and conversations about what people are watching start there, and then move online. "It's sort of turned into a little club," he says."

Read more about how recommendations work in the Christian Science Monitor

Zip.ca and Akimbo Systems Marry Online DVD Rentals with Internet-Delivered Video-on-Demand

This is the first I've heard of an online DVD rental company using a set-top box to deliver internet video on demand.
Via CNW Group:

"OTTAWA, Feb. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - Zip.ca, Canada's leading online video service, and Akimbo(TM) Systems, the first Internet-delivered video-on-demand service for television, have reached an agreement for Zip.ca to bring Akimbo's broad library of content to thousands of Zip.ca members through Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005."

Netflix as a substitute for TV watching

If it's true, as Nielson Media reports, that Americans watch an average of 4.5 hours of television per day, then my Netflix habit is within normal parameters.

I do not watch cable, DVR, satellite, or broadcast television. I use my television to watch nothing but movies on VHS or DVD.

Since January 1, 2006, I have watched 77 movies from all sources, including 24 from Netflix and 13 in theatres. Today is the 51st day of the year. If each film averaged 1.5-2.0 hours in length, then I watched an average of 2.5-3.0 hours of movies per day. So I spent less time on Netflix rentals than the average person spent in front of regular TV.

Inspired by My Netflix Journal-February 19, 2006

Being online means being on your own

Netflix isn't the only online business with hard-to-reach customer service people:

With the convenience of e-commerce comes a trade-off: lack of personal customer service.

Phone numbers are sometimes hard to find, if they are there at all. E-mail queries often are answered by anonymous customer service representatives writing from "Do Not Reply" addresses.

"Our community has 181 million people," eBay spokesman Hani Durzy said. "A community that size requires efficiency, and because 99 percent of customer support is handled between the buyer and seller, our basic level of customer support is Internet-based."

It's not just eBay. Popular Web-based businesses such as Amazon.com and Netflix prefer you to navigate the FAQs first and to e-mail -- not call -- as a last resort.

Netflix spokesperson Steve Swasey says it's about cost-cutting:

"The assumption is that you're comfortable with the Internet and e-mail already," said Steve Swasey, communications director for the Sunnyvale, Calif., company.

Swasey also suggested what some believe is another reason for decreased emphasis on live, phone-based customer service -- cost. Swasey said that rather than outsource call-center jobs overseas, where labor is cheaper, Netflix has cut its customer service staff in half, to fewer than 50, and directed more efforts to improving the company's Web-based support.

Getting in touch with Netflix requires

"At least four clicks to send an e-mail: Start by clicking the "Help" link and work your way through a series of questions. Look closely for the "e-mail" option. The customer service number, 1-888-NETFLIX, or (888) 638-3549, is nowhere to be found."

Read more at Newhouse news

"An Analysis of Netflix's DVD Allocation System" has been updated

An Analysis of Netflix's DVD Allocation System

Blogs are important to Netflix and other businesses

"Mike Kaltschnee's site, HackingNetflix.com, became a force to be reckoned with for Netflix, a video-rental outfit that delivers to people's homes. When Netflix said it was not interested in Mr Kaltschnee passing on questions from consumers, he posted the exchange online, hurting the firm's reputation among loyal customers. The company now treats him much more respectfully and his site has gained a large following.

Increasingly, companies are learning that the best defence against these attacks is to take blogs seriously and fix rapidly whatever problems they turn up."

Read more at Economist.com:

Netflix reviews on Judy's Book

Judy's Book is a site for finding local businesses, where you can get recommendations, share your experiences and create your own book of favorites. Seattle's Judy's Book already has a section for Netflix. Go to the Judy's Book for your area and leave your review of the Netflix service for your neighbors.

Getting to know your Netflix Fan hostess

Mike Hacking NetFlix, has tagged me with the Four Things meme. Since I'm a good sport, here goes:

Four jobs I've had:

Airport security screener
Daycare attendant
Fastfood cashier
Auto auction driver

Four movies I can watch over and over:

Casablanca
The Incredibles
Spiderman 2
Mary Poppins

Four TV shows I love to watch:

Eastenders
Farscape
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Six Feet Under

Four places I've been on vacation:

Niagara Falls
Grand Canyon
Chicago
Hollywood

Four favorite dishes:

Suave Chimichanga de carne
Chocolate ice cream
meatloaf
Southern fried chicken

Four Websites I visit daily:

Hacking Netflix
Hollywood Stock Exchange
Listology
Netflix


Four places I'd rather be:

With my family in Massachusetts
With my family in Ohio
With my family in North Carolina
With my family in New York

Four bloggers I'm tagging:

David at dedwarmo.com
Blondechicke at blondechicke.blogspot.com
Chris at Chris lists
aaron at Opinionated Web

Netflix Greasemonkey Script

Jim at Listology.com has invented a new Netflix Greasemonkey Script which allows you to reorder your Netflix queue automatically after changing a film's priority.

brrreeeport has nothing whatsoever to do with Netflix

But this Microsoft Geek Blogger recommends using the nonsense word brrreeeport in a post as a technique to get search engines to recognize your blog. This being the fourth day of the experiment, it won't make much of a difference to this blog.

GoogleMap of all Netflix locations

Click on the image to see a larger version.
I'm sorry I do not have a record of who sent me this photo. If it was you, please comment.

World of film reviews changed by Internet

Via AZ Central

Two movie sites changing the relationship between moviegoers and critics are RottenTomatoes.com and Metacritic.com, where a click brings you the best-reviewed movies in release. Recent Oscar nominees "Capote" and "Good Night, and Good Luck" have a "fresh" ranking of 92 percent and 94 percent, respectively, at RottenTomatoes. They get Metascores of 88 and 80, respectively, at the more streamlined Metacritic.

"Far more people are reading reviews on the Internet than they are in print," Paddison says. "This has a huge impact on cinephiles and any review-based demographic."

Read more

I recommend using RottenTomatoes.com and Metacritic.com when deciding what films to add to your Netflix queue.

Singapore has a Netflix-clone

Video Ezy is an online DVD rental business for people who live in Singapore.

Netflix Settlement Gets Poor Reviews

"Steve Swasey, a spokesman for the Los Gatos, Calif.-based company, denied critics' claims that the practice [throttling] is meant to save Netflix shipping costs by coddling customers who don't fully make use of their subscriptions. The most popular plan is $17.99 a month to rent three movies at a time, with no late fees.

Swasey said, '100%-guaranteed customer exhilaration is very difficult for any high-volume consumer company.

'Netflix made the decision that if we had a shortage of DVDs that we would give them to lighter users. We are giving it to folks who have less alternatives for viewing.'"

Via Los Angeles Times:

GatorPond

Netflix fan Von recommends GatorPond, which is a DVD, Video and CD trading subscription service. For $19.95 per month, you get complete unlimited trading, and they supply the mailers. They appear to be in Oklahoma.

I've never used the service, so I can't vouch for it.

Netflix in your home theatre

Unintentional Advertisement
Originally uploaded by mella doll.

Flickr-user mella doll's mom has a sweet new home theatre setup. In taking a photo of it, she inadvertantly captured a Netflix advertisement.

New Netflix shipping centers in Massachusetts and Tennessee

Brockton, MA and Memphis, TN have new Netflix distribution centers or mail drops, according to addresses given to me by faithful readers.

Who are these people?

"A Netflix spokesperson said its Web site is one of the highest rated in the world and the people speaking out against its service are just a few who are extremely vocal.

Oftentimes, the people speaking out are Netflix users who continue to use the service, but they are high-volume renters. One is from Michigan and rents about 20 DVDs each month."

Via WCCO-TV in Minnesota. Includes video of a Netflix distribution center

Report mail theft ASAP

New York Magazine has a brief article about mail theft.

In June, after two months of customer complaints, inspectors arrested Daniella Garofalo, a Midwood, Brooklyn, mail carrier, for stealing DVDs from Netflix envelopes on her route. The inspector addressed an envelope to a fictitious address and equipped it with an electronic tracking device. An alarm sounded when Garofalo opened the envelope. Inspectors have rounded up thieves in Detroit, San Diego, and Lyons, Colorado—where a carrier stole 503 discs before capture. Because civil-service rules make it nearly impossible to fire corrupt mail carriers, U.S. attorneys often agree to dismiss charges in exchange for their quitting.

Via Hacking NetFlix

Manuel Villanueva gives Netflix priceless PR boost

Manuel Villanueva

Netflix fan and longtime subscriber Manuel Villanueva, who blogs his Netflix experience on his "Netflix Journal," was recently interviewed by the Associated Press, and his local ABC TV station. The story has been picked up by newspapers all over the country.

Manuel is Netflix's Number One fan. He's been a member continuously since August 2003. As of February 3, 2006, he has rented 713 from Netflix, with a 3.5% failure rate, and 194 from Blockbuster, with a 4.6% failure rate.

Way to go, Manuel!

Netflix fan's SIMPLE solution to the problem of Netflix "throttling"

Cancel.

Observations and insights from the KFMB video

In the KFMB video about Netflix, I noticed they made an error in the reporting. The reporter says that the machine that process 17,000 pieces per hour is "stamping" the envelopes, but that can't be, because the envelopes are all pre-printed with a prepaid permit.

The video also mentions some machines which were kept secret, and not permitted to be videotaped. I think I know what those machines do. They scan the envelopes through the little slot in the back which reveals the disc's barcode. Once the machine knows which title is inside, it knows which subscriber to send it to, and prints the name and address on the envelope.

Regarding "notes to Netflix": If you watched the video closely, you saw how quickly those people were processing the discs. Do you think it's possible they would even notice a note, or want to read it? If they are paid per piece, on a production basis, then a note on the sleeve would be an unwelcome obstacle.

What do you think?

Netflix sends frequent renters to the back of DVD line

Via PittsburghLIVE.com:
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --

Manuel Villanueva realizes he has been getting a pretty good deal since he signed up for Netflix Inc.'s online DVD rental service 2.5 years ago, but he still feels shortchanged.

That's because the $17.99 monthly fee that he pays to rent up to three DVDs at a time would amount to an even bigger bargain if the company didn't penalize him for returning his movies so quickly.

Netflix typically sends about 13 movies per month to Villanueva's home in Warren, Mich. -- down from the 18 to 22 DVDs he once received before the company's automated system identified him as a heavy renter and began delaying his shipments to protect its profits.

The same Netflix formula also shoves Villanueva to the back of the line for the most-wanted DVDs, so the service can send those popular flicks to new subscribers and infrequent renters.

Read more

Inside Netflix Distribution Center in Santa Ana, with video!

KFMB CBS News 8 went to the Santa Ana, CA distribution center this week and captured some of the Netflix sorting, shipping, and handling process on video, featuring Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey.

It begins every morning, five days a week, when the USPS drops off anywhere from 150,000 to 175,000 returned DVDs.

“Our associates here, about 85 of them, rip open the envelope and pull the DVD out. They do it a lot faster that I can. Their hands really fly,” Swasey said.

See the video or read the transcript.

Blockbuster's split personality

Why is Blockbuster online trying to get its online customers to convert to in-store customers?

I was reading this Motley Fool commentary on Blockbuster's new one-per-week e-coupons, when I learned of another downside to the deal. You get only one per week. You do not get the whole month to use them. If you miss a week, then that coupon is gone forever. To get your full value out of them, you have to drive to a Blockbuster Video store every week, with only one coupon. I'm not wasting a trip to the store for only one movie. They must be hoping I'll spend money at the store, perhaps rent an additional full-price title, or buy some candy.

I love the convenience of having movies come in the mail. Why would I want to make four trips to the store each month?

Now's a great time to see the Oscar-nominated films

In the month between the Oscar nominations and the Academy Awards show, there is continuous publicity for all nominated films from the studios and press alike, which is great advertising for the DVDs if they're available," Virgin buyer Chris Anstey said. "After the awards ceremony, most of the momentum has already passed. The films that didn't win are suddenly not as relevant to many consumers."

Many people also want to brush up on nominated films before the Oscars are unveiled but don't necessarily want to invest in a purchase.

"When a DVD is available before the Oscars, there is an extra incentive for people to rent them," said Tom Paine, owner of six-store Seattle chain DVD Now. "People want to judge for themselves."

The Academy Awards will be telecast on March 5 on ABC.

Via DVD Exclusive Online

I Feel So Used

You know I'm on a quest to see all of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. There are still several I haven't seen which aren't available through Netflix. In fact, I've learned that some titles have never even been released on video in any format. I'm on a scavenger hunt to find these videos anywhere, using eBay,Amazon, Facets Multimedia, Nicheflix a la carte, etc.

My friend Jim, creator of Listology, has made a tool which is helping me track these titles on Amazon. It's called I Feel So Used: Tracking Used Amazon Products. I enter the ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) for each product I'm seeking, and his Web site keeps track of the price as it changes. As soon as it falls to where I can afford it, I click through and add it to my shopping cart, and Jim makes a little money. Smiles all around.

It's like Netflix, only from Blockbuster

When Netflix started out, one of their biggest challenges was explaining to people how it works. They spent alot of marketing dollars on that, since it's kinda more complicated than going to a videostore to rent something. They relied on word of mouth, because a) it's free, and b) customers are better at explaining how it works to their friends and family.

Well, Rags thinks it will be their downfall. Now that Netflix has educated the public, Blockbuster Online doesn't have to spend any money explaining how it works to their customers. They can emphasize the in-store coupons, which is something Netflix can't compete with. All they have to say is "it's like Netflix, only from Blockbuster" and "you get four free rentals per month for $18." So Netflix spends all this money on marketing their product, and Blockbuster Online reaps the rewards.

Via the un TechBlog

Sunnyvale wins The Golden Groundhog Awards

Sunnyvale wins The Golden Groundhog Award of 2006.

In honor of the first Golden Groundhog Awards, the William Shatner DVD Club is giving away two Free DVDs to anyone who signs up for a 30-Day Free Trial between Groundhog’s Day and Valentine’s Day. You won’t find any mention of this underground offer on the site, but if you join by February 14th you’ll automatically get two Free DVDs sent to you when you join instead of one. To learn more about the underground movies offered by William Shatner’s Sci-Fi DVD club, or to sign up today, visit www.shatnerdvdclub.com.

Disclosure: I'm a member of the William Shatner DVD club. I've received two movies from them so far. Ginger Snaps is worth a look, and the Wolves of Wall Street is dreadful. Click on the links to add them to your Netflix queue. Sunnyvale is not available from Netflix, yet.

Netflix wrapping paper

netflix wrapper
Originally uploaded by saracress.

What to do with all those Netflix flaps you've fanatically saved up? Flickr-user and Netflix subscriber SaraCress uses her sense of humor to show her Netflix love and reduce waste all at the same time.

New Netflix distribution centers in North Carolina and Mississippi

Thanks to the fine folks who are commenting on my post listing the Netflix distribution centers, we have discovered a couple of new ones. There is now a Netflix distribution center and/or mail drop in Raleigh, NC and Jackson, MS. One Netflix fan reader writes:

Hey, Becky, I just got "Equilibrium" from a new DC in Jackson, MS. Never seen that one before. It actually arrived in 1 day whereas the ones from the Baton Rouge DC (10 miles across town) take 2 days!

Damaged disc bypasses Netflix subscriber completely

Netflix fan Bullwinkle wrote to me:

I just got an email from Netflix about a disc being damaged in transit. I never received the disc and obviously didnt report it damaged. The best I can figure is that there was a USPS problem and the disc was returned to Netflix. The quoted text from the email is below.

We wanted to let you know that CORPSE BRIDE was damaged in transit. We have reshipped this movie and it should arrive on 03-FEB-06. Please accept our apologies for any invonvenience that this may have caused.

-The Netflix Team

Has this happened to you?

I have never seen that happen before. I thought the USPS delivered whatever was left of it, no matter how badly they mangled it. This one must have been in pretty bad shape.

Blockbuster offers me more in-store coupons, conditionally

I received an email from Blockbuster Online yesterday, notifying me that if I would only upgrade from my current plan, I could get additional in-store coupons. Instead of the two per month I now receive, I could have one per week. My current plan is the 3-out at $14.99 per month, which is no longer being offered. For only $3 extra, I could get two more in-store rentals per month. Is it worth it?

I don't think so. Even with the two coupons I now receive, I have a hard time using them. I can't stand going to Blockbuster Video. The selection is poor. I have to browse for hours to find something to watch, or bring a list. I return things late every time. Half the time, the coupons are wasted because I forget to use them. I do not want to spend $3 on coupons I'll feel obligated to use.

This is just a tactic to get online subscribers to spend more money for the exact same service.

Disclosure: I am on the 3-out plan with Netflix at $17.99, the 3-out plan with Blockbuster Online at $14.99, and I use Nicheflix a la carte and Video Library.

Microcinema International has Netflix as a client

Microcinema International is a distributor of "the world's most innovative Moving Image Artists and DVD labels." They distribute films on the Blackchair DVD label.

I got an email from Joel at Microcinema, and he says "we sell all of our titles to Netflix! the thing is we sell pretty arty and obscure titles but Netflix are great supporters of ours!"

If you want to buy an "arty and obscure" title which you've rented from Netflix, see if Microcinema has it.

Greencine is also on the Microcinema client list.

I'm not a Bzzagent

BzzAgent is a new advertising gimmick which tries to generate open, honest word of mouth about products, by rewarding BzzAgents with points for trying new products and sharing opinions with family, friends, and acquaintances. Anyone can become a BzzAgent.

I looked into it at first because I thought maybe Netflix was using it, or I could use it, but I decided not to sign up. Netflix isn't one of their clients, as far as I can tell. I guess they are already getting enough free word of mouth, without having to pay extra for it. Reading through their forum, I found three BzzAgents who are "bzzing" Netflix for free.

You can learn more about it at Intro to BzzAgent: BzzAgent 101 This is cute: their blog is called the Beelog.

USPS experiences service problems in New Mexico

Via New West
Eric Mack says:

With the U.S. Postal Service in disarray across New Mexico, I’m having a really hard time getting my Netflix in a timely fashion and have been forced to seek my entertainment from less likely sources.

Anticipation...

netflixwaiting
Originally uploaded by bre.

Bre aint gettin' any satisfaction.

I'm getting behind

I watched only 45 feature-length movies in January. I'm getting way behind on my goal to average two per day in 2006. To see if I could catch up, I took my personal DVD player to the laundromat last night.

Turns out, the tiny screen of a portable player is lousy for watching good films. I do not recommend it. What I ended up watching was 1.5 hours of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 4 on DVD, using my Blockbuster Online in-store coupons. I know it's not on my list of must-see movies, but the sitcom format doesn't lose anything on the small screen.

Beat the studios' trap with Netflix!

You know how they like to release more than one version of a film on DVD, like a special extended edition, commemorative anniversary re-releases, director's cut versions, etc? It's to trap you into buying the same movie again and again. You can save money by using Netflix for the basic movie content. If you want the special features, or packaging, or director's cut, whatever, then you buy it.

Netflix does carry a few director's cut versions, special editions, and extended editions.

Happy New Year! Spring Festival（春节）节

2006 is the Year of the Dog, which began Sunday, according to the Lunar Chinese Calendar. Since giving gifts in Red Envelopes is customary at this time, why don't you give Netflix?

I ordered a movie from the new Netflix store, and it came in a plastic envelope like this one.

Learn more about the Chinese calendar.

Netflix is perfect for you, if...

Netflix is perfect for you if:

...you do not have the same taste as everyone else
...you don't like commitment
...you hate deadlines
...you love movies
...you like getting mail, not bills
...you live in a remote area
...you love tv shows, but not commercials
...you keep odd hours
...you're on a budget
...you hate long lines
...you live alone
...you're a parent
...you're on the road a lot
...you can't remember the name of that great movie you've been meaning to see
...you live with other people
...you never have any stamps or envelopes in the house
...you have a DVD player

Netflix has Bubble

Bubble is the Steven Soderbergh movie which is breaking new ground with a simultaneous release on DVD, cable TV, and in theatres.

Amazon to offer video downloads soon?

Via Ars Technica

Variety pulls together (subscription required) reports from a variety of movie industry sources who say they have been working with Amazon.com to set up online delivery of movies for an end-of-April launch, and although Amazon spokespeople refused to comment on the story, the multiple sources lend credence to the scoop, and it all makes too much sense not to be true.

Read more

Nobody Wants Your Film

Nobody Wants Your Film, an experiment in independent filmmaking using viral marketing, is now available for download for $3.99.

AFI Top 100

I have finally seen all of the AFI top 100 movies, thanks to Netflix!

70-80% of Netflix rentals are long tail

70-80% of Netflix rentals are long tail by ZDNet's ZDNet Research -- New York Times posted an interesting fact about Netflix's long tail share -between 70 and 80% of NetFlix rentals come from the company's back catalog of 38,000 films rather than recent releases.

How to make custom lists on Netflix

Netflix creates a list of your "favorite movies" automatically using the movies you've rated 5 stars, and then occasionally features a member's favorites in some places on the Web site. If your list isn't featured this way, you can still create a custom list of favorites, according to your own criteria, but first you must review at least two movies on Netflix.

To review a movie on Netflix: go to the movie's listing and click on Member Reviews. Then click on the Write a Review button. After you've done this for two movies, you will have a link on your Netflix home page for Your Reviews and Lists. On each movie listing page, there will be a link for Add to Custom List.

If you want to edit the Nickname that appears with your review, or edit your lists, click on Your Reviews and Lists in the Guides section on the right side of the Netflix home page. There, you can change your nickname, edit or create lists, change your Bio, change your Privacy Setting, see which movies you've reviewed, etc. Then you will have a profile which looks like this: For more information, go to Netflix help with Your Reviews and Lists

Reed Hastings' politics

For those of you who do not believe Reed Hastings is a good Democrat, you should know he supports the Preschool for All Ballot initiative in California.

Read the Press release

Netflix has a snazzy new investors' Fact Sheet

Don't squint. You can download the entire Netflix investor fact sheet here.

Netflix Q4 2005 Results & Webcast Notes

Mike listened to the Netflix Q4 2005 Results & Webcast and took notes.

Netflix is up to 4.2 Million subscribers!

As predicted, Netflix is reporting that subscribers increased 60 percent year-over-year to 4.2 million.

Other highlights from Netflix's Q4 2005 Financial results:

• Net subscriber additions were a record high for both the quarter and the year.
• Churn declined to a record low of 4.0 percent.
  
• Revenue was $195 million.
• GAAP net income was $38.1 million, which includes the benefit of realized deferred tax assets of $30.2 million.
  
• Income before income taxes was $9.1 million.
  
• Non-GAAP net income was $41.4 million. Non-GAAP net income before realized deferred tax assets was $11.3 million.

Download the PDF here.

The Flight of the DVD

This brilliant, adorable diagram by Nigel Holmes which he created for Stanford Magazine (of the Stanford University Alumni Association) shows in great detail, step-by-step, exactly how Netflix works. Click on it to see a larger version. I wish I could have a poster-sized version of this.


I found the link to Stanford Magazine's otherwise unremarkable article in the Institutional Investor.

Netflix will support both HD-DVD and Blu-ray formats

Via HackingNetflix

As predicted, Netflix will support both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. They never really had to choose which format to support, did they? They will rent whatever the studios and filmmakers make available and whatever subscribers want.

Netflix distributes The Puffy Chair

Netflix is getting deeper into the film financing and distribution business with independent filmThe Puffy Chair. Not only are they going to have the film to rent online, but they are also releasing it theatrically and in stores.

Read more about it in the Hollywood Reporter, via Hacking Netflix.

I'm in the Seventies now

I'm going through the book of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die watching all the movies chronologically, whenever possible. I have just finished with the Sixties, pretty much. I had to skip a few which aren't on DVD yet, but I'm hunting them down on VHS. I've seen 667 of the titles in the book. Nearly 350 of them came from Netflix.

Netfix typo

Typing "Netfix" instead of Netflix is a common mistake, but it can lead you to Netfix, one of those Web sites which takes advantage of people who make a mistake when typing a URL. You're looking for Netflix, and you type "Netfix" by mistake, and boom, you land on the wrong Web site. At least it's not one of those that hijacks your computer, eh? I didn't click on the site anywhere, so I can't guarantee it won't install spyware on your PC, but it is covered in ads for all sorts of DVD stuff. Mind how you type!

Also:

Netfix(TM) is a German trademark for a fabric used in protein electrophoresis.

There's a spyware-remover that claims to remove the "Netfix" cookie. Sorry, guys, but there isn't one. The funny thing is, they consistently misspell the Netflix name everywhere on their site. Like they really don't know. Would you trust them to remove spyware from your PC?

Australian Netflix clones

Via djp72.net:

Quickflix Over 15,000 titles
Homescreen Over 14,000 titles
Big Pond Over 16,000 titles
Webflicks Over 17,000 titles
DVDjam
v2direct Over 23,000 titles?!

Surprising that not as many titles have been released on DVD in Australia as in the USA. Netflix has 55,000. Maybe the missing titles are all American reality TV shows.

NETFLIX NAMES TARHEEL AS NEW COO

The new COO of Netflix is a Tarheel who used to work in Greensboro, NC, where this humble blog originates.

LOS GATOS, Calif., January 18, 2006 – Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced the appointment of former U.S. Postmaster General William J. Henderson as chief operations officer of the world’s largest online DVD rental service. He assumes his new role on January 23 and succeeds Tom Dillon, who is scheduled to retire in April.

In his new role at Netflix, Mr. Henderson will be responsible for managing and evolving the technology, automation and distribution operations that underpin the company’s rental business. He will report directly to Netflix Chairman and CEO Reed Hastings.

“Bill Henderson is about the only person on the planet who looks at our volume of mail as a trickle,” said Mr. Hastings. Netflix ships over one million DVDs a day from 37 distribution centers across the U.S.

“Bill is the perfect person to ensure that our operations are inextricably linked with every aspect of the business and that our service levels are a linchpin of the Netflix customer experience,” Mr. Hastings added. “We’ll look for him to extend our current competitive advantages in this area, particularly as our mail volume increases with our forecasted growth to at least 5.65 million subscribers this year and 20 million by 2010-2012.”

Of Mr. Dillon’s pending retirement, Mr. Hastings said: “I know I speak for the entire company in wishing Tom the very best as he moves into the next phase of his life. To say that he contributed mightily to our success does not do justice to the impact Tom had on us professionally and personally. We’re all indebted to him.”

For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

America in Ten Movies

Sal says:

You have to explain America to someone from not here, but you can only use ten movies to do it. Which ten do you choose?

(Now, these do not have to be history movies, they can illustrate something unique about American values or character or “the American experience”).

Here's my list, with links to their listings on Netflix:

High Noon (1952)
Gone With The Wind (1939)
Avalon (1990)
Louisiana Story (1948)
Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
12 Angry Men (1957)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music (1970)
Mean Streets (1973)
All the President’s Men (1976)

Via Listology

Inspired by Sal's comment on this post

Region-free DVDs open world of previously unavailable titles

Via the Chicago Tribune
By Joshua Klein
Special to the Tribune

people became aware that amazing films were being released all around the world, and they couldn't access them," says Gervasi. "They knew that they were there--or maybe they didn't--but there were so few companies importing them.

"For the collector, it's problematic to order these titles from each respective country," he notes. "The postage alone is a nightmare. We came from doing that ourselves, just trying to keep up with all of it. We found that if you bring them all into one place, people will come and buy stuff from all around the world."

Read more

Sites featured in the above article are:
DVDBeaver.com
Amazon.com
DiabolikDVD.com
HKFlix.com
Nicheflix.com

Netflix does not yet rent non-region 1 DVDs

DVDPlay(R) Announces 200% Growth in DVD Movie Rentals for 2005!

Via Businesswire

LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2006--DVDPlay, Inc., one of the leading North American DVD rental kiosk companies, is quickly changing the method, the place, the pace and the price consumers pay for new release DVD movies. DVDPlay has rented in excess of 4 million movies, with 2005 representing an increase of 200% over 2004. DVDPlay's 200% increase in rental growth is "notable" when compared to the overall DVD rental market, which grew a respectable 14% in 2005 according to the Digital Entertainment Group (Reuters Jan 5, 2006). DVDPlay operates automated movie rental kiosks located in major grocery chains, fast food restaurants and U.S. military bases. Generally DVDPlay new release titles rent from $1.00 to $1.49 per day depending on location.

Read more

GameZnFlix, Inc. Signs Lease for Its Own Proprietary Channel to Be Broadcasted via Satellite

That headline is exactly how the press release was written. The correct word is broadcast, not "broadcasted."

Via Marketwire

FRANKLIN, KY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/17/2006 -- GameZnFlix, Inc. (OTC BB: GZFX), an online provider of DVDs and video games for rent or purchase, plans to launch its own proprietary channel on IntelSat America 5, a satellite transponder aimed toward Ethnic, Christian, Military and other communities in the United States. The new video/movie channel -- a collaboration between GameZnFlix and Hit Media, LLC, a Florida-based marketing firm with roots in the satellite and video distribution industries -- will primarily serve as a marketing tool to millions of viewers in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

The satellite delivery model -- provided by Pittsburgh International Telecommunications, Inc. -- will also serve as a GameZnFlix's download station to those same customers.

CEO John Fleming, GameZnFlix, Inc., stated, "This is the first step towards our company moving into the direct download to personal entertainment systems across the United States. We have been working closely with Pittsburgh International Telecommunications, Inc. and Hit Media, LLC over the past year on this project. We are pleased to make this announcement."

Read more

Rentrak Announces 2005 Year-End Results for U.S. Home Video Rental Market

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rentrak Corporation(Nasdaq: RENT), the originator of real-time home video tracking and analysis by Home Video Essentials(TM), announced today that 2005 U.S. consumer spending on combined DVD/VHS rentals and previously-viewed titles, from both brick-and-mortar and online channels, was down slightly (-) 1.8% from 2004.

According to Rentrak's Home Video Essentials(TM), consumers spent a total of $8.8 Billion on a la carte, in-store and online subscription rentals and previously-viewed videos during the 52-week period 1/9/05 - 1/1/06, compared to the $8.9 Billion spent the year prior during weeks ending 1/4/04 - 12/26/04.

The weeks during the November and December holidays were especially strong with rentals and previously-viewed sales up 9% year-over-year.

"Taking into account the myriad of choices consumers have with competing forms of media and entertainment, the video rental market performed considerably well," said Brad Hackley, Vice President of Home Video Essentials(TM) at Rentrak. "Our research shows that the home video rental industry is a stable market and, with high definition DVD on the horizon, should remain so moving forward."

A comprehensive analysis of the 2005 home video market can be found in the upcoming annual research report published by Rentrak Corporation. To reserve a copy, email: HVEeMedia@rentrak.com. For information about additional industry research and analysis reports about the U.S. home video rental market, logon to: http://www.rentrak.com/es_homevideo.php .

Via PRNewswire

Canceling

Why is it such a big deal to remember to cancel your free trial or upgrade? Thousands of people do it all the time! Some are saying that the Netflix lawsuit settlement is a scam because it "burdens" you with having to remember to cancel after your free one-month upgrade is over or you'll get "stuck" paying the additional fees. Why is it such a burden to cancel at the end of a month? If the money matters to you so much, you'll remember. If you forget to cancel, obviously, you can afford it.

Where's the personal responsibility? Why are we so dependent on everyone else to tell us what to do, and then we cry foul when they get in our business? I think it is reasonable to expect an adult citizen to be able to do the following things: get a rebate check, file an income tax return, vote, resist spam, resist a timeshare, and cancel a free trial.

If you hate having the government and corporations in your business, telling you what to do, then you have to be strong enough to take care of yourself. Governments take over where citizens are weak. You've got the power. Don't invite fascism into your life by giving up your power.

Another use for Netflix

SFist Blotter came up with another use for Netflix: to pass the time while you're on house arrest for leaving your kids home alone while you go to Las Vegas to gamble.

New Netflix HQ Photos

Hacking NetFlix found these photos of Netflix headquarters taken apparently during an open house. I'm so jealous of those folks that got to go! No, I wasn't invited to the open house.

It's a beautiful building with many creative touches. Nice.

Golden Globe Awards are Monday

The 63rd Annual Golden Globes are this Monday, January 16, 2006 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel (Oh no, I have nothing to wear!), Beverly Hills, California. It will be broadcast Live on NBC, 8:00 eastern. I might even watch :). The list of Golden Globe nominees makes good Netflix queue fodder, and sometimes helps you to win the Oscar(r) pool at work.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE of the HFPA and the GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

Monday is a USPS postal holiday, so what else are you going to do?

Consumer Reports evaluates movies by mail - Updated 1-14-06

Via WIStv.com Columbia, SC:
They compared the following services:
Blockbuster
DVD Avenue
GameznFlix
Intelliflix
Netflix

Consumer Reports says the movie selection at GameznFlix was lousy, and when they tried to take advantage of the free trial sign up, the DVDs never arrived.

The best deal in DVD delivery, according to Consumer Reports, is from Intelliflix. It costs $16.95 a month for three movies at a time. Intelliflix has a great selection, but the website is strictly no-frills.

I guess "best deal" to them means cheapest.

UPDATE - HackingNetflix made some phone calls and verified the story and added some details to it. The original article is in Consumer Reports Money Adviser, which is why it isn't online.

Postal worker indicted in theft of Netflix and Blockbuster Online movies

Via TheDenverChannel.com

DENVER -- A federal grand jury in Denver has returned an indictment against Karen Durante, 24, of Loveland, Colo., in connection with the thefts of DVD movies from the U.S. mail.

Durante was working as a contract mail carrier at the time of the thefts, according to the indictment.

She is charged with four counts of mail theft and a fifth count charges her with possession of 1,256 movies that had been stolen from the mail.

This is a follow-up to the post on 1/06/06 about Two postal workers suspected of stealing Netflix DVDs

Blockbuster is giving up on its stores

Via Reuters.com

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Blockbuster Inc.(BBI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive John Antioco on Tuesday told investors that the No. 1 U.S. rental chain would push customers toward its online rental service as it continues to close retail stores in 2006.

the HUB magazine interviews Leslie Kilgore, CMO for Netflix

the HUB magazine interviewed Leslie Kilgore, Chief Marketing Officer for Netflix, about how Netflix only wants to be loved, and it will be loved for its amazing customer service. She says there are lots of other reasons people love Netflix, but the chief reasons are ease and convenience. She also says that folks really value Netflix for their big collection of titles.

When asked about Netflix's involvement in blogging, she says they don't need to have a corporate blog, because if they do good customer service, bloggers will love Netflix and write about them for free. (Where on earth does she get these crazy ideas?!)

No matter how much I love Netflix, I must remember that they want me only for my money, and free word-of-mouth marketing.

Netflix most satisfying site for holiday shoppers

Via MarketingVOX

Consumer satisfaction with many of the top retail Web sites dropped over the holiday season, according to a study released yesterday by ForeSee Results and FGI Research.
The Top 40 Online Retail Satisfaction Index compares online shopper satisfaction -- whether a purchase was made or not -- between the holidays and the rest of the year. The index was launched in the spring and uses the methodology of the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index to determine the scores. The Web sites highlighted in the study are the top 40 retailers in Internet Retailer Magazine's Top 400 Guide.

Survey says:

"The highest scoring retailers were Netflix, Amazon, L.L. Bean and QVC, which each scored 80 or higher. "

William Shatner to host The Golden Groundhog Awards *Updated 1-15-06

The Golden Groundhog Awards

are a new cinema tradition, established to recognize genuinely outstanding films from the previous year that lacked the distribution and marketing support needed to propel them into the public consciousness. To be eligible for a Golden Groundhog, a film must meet three criteria: the film must have been released during the previous year, grossed less than $1 million at the U.S. box office, and received rave reviews from the limited audiences who watched the film. These are classic underground hits – immensely appreciated by the small audiences who have discovered them, but virtually unknown to the broader movie-going audience.

These are the nominees. You can click on the links to save them to your Netflix queue:

Green Street Hooligans
Mirrormask
Nine Lives
Sunnyvale
Up for Grabs

*Updated with link for Sunnyvale movie on 1-15-06

Box Office Blahs: Blame It on ...

"...DVDs, video games, iPods, cellular phones, HBO, crying babies, $10 tickets, Chinese pirates, big screen plasma TVs, an aging demographic, liberal bias, video-on-demand, annoying pre-feature commercials and the Bush administration's energy policy"

Read more about it at TMCnet.

Netflix distribution center photos

Netflix distribution center
Originally uploaded by Netflix Fan.

I have collected lots of photos, from various Web sources, of the inside of Netflix distribution centers around the country. You can see the entire collection on Flickr.

FTC objects to Netflix settlement

Wow, even the Feds are getting involved in the DVD business:

Via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The Federal Trade Commission is asking a California judge to reject a proposed class-action settlement between consumers and the Internet DVD rental service Netflix, saying the agreement "appears dangerously close to being a promotional gimmick."

Read more

Netflix settlement objection is in the mail

The Netflix Settlement Sucks author has changed tactics and decided not to opt out of the settlement but to object to it. You can read his objection online here. It's too late to sign on to the objection, because it has been completed and is being filed with the court, but I will be very interested in the outcome.

Box office to mailbox

Photo credit: (Angelina Gervasi/News-Sentinel)
The Lodi News-Sentinel got inside the USPS and photographed these Netflix envelopes going through the sorter. The accompanying article also says that Netflix returns can go through two stages: first to a "mail center" and then to a "hub."

As the movies are viewed in Lodi, they are sent back in the same envelope for free to a mail center in West Sacramento. From there, they are shipped quickly to a hub, or a warehouse where millions of titles are kept. For Netflix, the closest hub to Lodi is in Sunnyvale, Swasey said.

That means the PO Box addresses we've collected could represent mail centers and not actual distribution centers.

Netflix site down for maintenance

I received this message from Netflix.com at 1:15 PM EST. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Netflix distribution centers

I've added a link to the list of Netflix Distribution Centers to the sidebar of my blog, right below the description of Netflix. I'm collecting mailing addresses for each location, so look at your envelopes and if your addresses are missing from my list, put them in the comments.

This is for your information only. I can't guarantee that these addresses will work, since we're using the honor system, and the USPS may not pay attention to business reply mail that's been altered.

Yield to the Zen of Netflix

DecafBad blogs:

I’ve realized an irony with our Netflix usage: When we get a DVD that we really want to see, it usually gets watched and sent back on the same day it arrives. But, when we get a DVD that maybe only I want to see, or maybe neither of us ends up in a mood to see, we end up keeping it for a few days—sometimes for a whole week. We’ve yet to “declare defeat” on many choices and just send them back unwatched.

This is weird, when I think about it: It actually costs more money to hang onto the DVD—in a rentals-per-month sense—versus sending it right back and possibly requesting it again in the future when we’re in a mood to see it. Of course, lots of back and forth with unwatched videos costs postage, but that’s not our problem.

This seems like a sort of Zen of Netflix thing I should wrap my head around. And, if Netflix really wanted to save some money and exploit this bug of mine, they should recommend things that I kinda-but-don’t-really want to see—so that I hang onto them longer and don’t squeeze so much value out of my flat monthly rate.

Altering the address on the Netflix return mailer is a big no-no

According to the United States Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual, Chapter 507 on Mailer Services, under Topic 8.0 on Business Reply Mail (BRM), sub-topic 8.4.4 says:

"The delivery address on a piece of BRM may not be altered to redirect the mailpiece to any address other than the one preprinted on the piece."


Netflix's self-mailing return envelopes are clearly labeled as "business reply mail."

TLPJ Objects to Proposed Settlement of Netflix Class Action Over Deceptive Advertising - January 5, 2005

TLPJ, which stands for Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, is objecting to the terms of the proposed settlement to the Chavis v Netflix class action.

TLPJ’s challenge on behalf of a dissatisfied class member, filed on January 5, 2006, claims that the coupons offered to customers as part of the settlement – a one-month upgraded membership for current customers or a renewed one-month membership for former customers – are just a "marketing tool" designed to increase Netflix’s revenues. Because class members face additional charges if they do not affirmatively opt-out after the "free" month, the settlement may leave customers worse off than before the lawsuit was filed.

Read more

Netflix smells 81% fresh

Netflix wins Opinmind's "Sentimeter" poll, with 53 recent blog posts saying negative things and 151 saying positive things about Netflix.

Via hackingnetflix

Two postal workers suspected of stealing Netflix DVDs

9news.com reports: "According to court records, between January and March of 2005, 503 Netflix DVD movies destined for Lyons, Colorado were reported missing or stolen. Netflix told investigators the loss represents 23.33 percent of all DVD movies mailed to that postal area. "

Watch the video

via hackingnetflix

UPDATED 1-6-06 List of Netflix distribution centers deleted from Wikipedia

The List of Netflix distribution centers has been deleted from Wikipedia.

UPDATE: I have copied the list here. If you would like to contribute the missing addresses (from your return envelopes), please put them in the comments.

UPDATE 1-6-06: As Heather Anne pointed out in the comments, this list originated on Listology, and is being maintained there by Jim, a very nice guy. However, this list includes the mailing addresses for each location.

CoolSavings claims Netflix as client

CoolSavings.com is one of those sites that gathers information from unwary visitors using "coupons and deals" as a come-on, then they install spyware on your PC and bombard you with targeted advertising, which they call "offers." They claim Netflix as one of their "clients."

Just because someone claims to do business with Netflix, doesn't mean that Netflix approves of their techniques. They could be an affiliate, like anyone else, only they could be violating Netflix's affiliate agreement, which prohibits the use of spyware. If you believe this is the case with any Netflix affiliate, you should let Netflix know, so they can fire them from the affiliate program.

Just so you know, CoolSavings has changed their name to Q Interactive, although they are still operating coolsavings.com as before, according to Crain's Chicago Business. They've also gone private, which means they do not have to disclose certain things about their business practices. Having no stockholders means less accountability.

Netflix queue fodder: 30 Great Westerns

Images Journal has come up with a survey of 30 Great Westerns. You can use this as inspiration for filling your queue, if you like Westerns. Even if you don't like Westerns, there's lots of good-looking sweaty men here:

The Covered Wagon (1923)
The Iron Horse (1924)
Tumbleweeds (1925)
Stagecoach (1939)
Ox-Bow Incident (1942)
My Darling Clementine (1946)
Pursued (1947)
Red River (1948)
The Gunfighter (1950)
High Noon (1952)
Rancho Notorious (1952)
Hondo (1953)
Shane (1953)
Johnny Guitar (1954)
Vera Cruz (1954)
The Man From Laramie (1955)
The Searchers (1956)
Forty Guns (1957)
The Tall T (1957)
Man of the West (1958)
Rio Bravo (1959)
Ride Lonesome (1959)
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Ride the High Country (1962)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
The Wild Bunch (1968)
High Plains Drifter (1972)
Unforgiven (1992)

I've seen 18 of them.

New Netflix Headquarters

Via Hacking NetFlix: Netflix has moved their headquarters in California from University Dr to 100 Winchester Circle, Los Gatos CA 95032.

How to bypass the computer answering the phone at Netflix

Paul English has published an IVR Cheat Sheet(tm) on the Web, and Netflix is on the list. IVRs ("interactive voice response") are the annoying computers that answer phones. To get through to a human at Netflix, the "cheat" is to dial 888-638-3549, and then 0. You may have to wait awhile.

He wants you to rate how well the Netflix "cheat" works at this link.

He has lots of other companies on the list, too.

eBay t-shirt auction busted!

This is a follow-up to this post I did last week about an eBay auction for a Netflix t-shirt:

Dear (Netflixfan),


Please be advised that the following auction:

7567761072 - NETFLIX LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT RED XL NEW!

was ended early by eBay. The auction was ended due to the account
suspension of the seller.
All results for this auction are null and void.


Regards,
Customer Support (Trust and Safety Department)
eBay Inc

Before the auction ended, I managed to order and receive a t-shirt from this seller. The t-shirt has a beautiful Netflix logo on it, but does not have a trademark symbol on it anywhere. Nor does it indicate anywhere who the manufacturer is. The seller said it was XL, but it is labeled X, and it looks like a female X, so a bit smaller than I expected. I suspected the merchandise was not officially licensed Netflix product, but since I'm not an expert, I didn't want to libel a presumed innocent person. Now that the person has been suspended from eBay, my suspicions seem to be confirmed.

What I did in 2005

I saw 454 movies, not including short films or television shows on DVD. 344 of them came from online sources, including Blockbuster Online, Facets, Greencine, Netflix, Nicheflix, and Video Library. The other 110 I saw at the theatre, a friend's house or a film festival, or I borrowed them from a video store or library. Here's a partial breakdown:

BBV 11
BBO 101
Facets 23
Greencine 7
Hollywood Video 8
Netflix 177
Nicheflix 32
Nicheflix a la carte 15
Other 15
Public Library 2
Theatre 53
Video Library 7

The above list excludes film festivals.

Pinoy movies on Netflix

DVD.pinoy.FLIX is An Unofficial List Of Filipino DVD Titles on Netflix. A Filipino Netflix fan has done some hard work and made a list of all the Filipino titles he could find on Netflix. If you know of any he's missed, help him out.

What did Netflix do in 2005?

• Netflix didn't sell out or cave in to pressure from competitors Wal-mart, Amazon, and Blockbuster Online.

• Netflix added 15,000 titles last year, to have 55,000 titles and more than 42 million DVDs total.

• Netflix added over a million subscribers, to have more than 3.5 million subscribers

• Netflix has 37 shipping centers shipping 1 million DVDs each day

• Netflix introduced new pricing levels:
  $9.99 Unlimited DVDs, one (1) title out at a time
  $11.99 Four DVDs a month, two (2) titles out at a time
  $14.99 Unlimited DVDs, two (2) titles out at a time
  $17.99 Unlimited DVDs, three (3) titles out at a time
  $23.99 Unlimited DVDs, four (4) titles out at a time
  $29.99 Unlimited DVDs, five (5) titles out at a time
  $35.99 Unlimited DVDs, six (6) titles out at a time
  $41.99 Unlimited DVDs, seven (7) titles out at a time
  $47.99 Unlimited DVDs, eight (8) titles out at a time

• Netflix put partnership with Tivo on hold

• Netflix launched new Profile feature

• Rob Pisano left the Netflix board of directors

• Netflix postponed movie downloads

• Netflix put ads on mailers

• Netflix proposed a settlement to the Chavis v. Netflix class-action lawsuit

• Netflix launched their store, selling 100% guaranteed previously-owned DVDs