How other services compare to Netflix

I have used Netflix, Blockbuster Online, Greencine, and Nicheflix for online DVD rentals.

The best is Netflix. They are the most dependable: fastest turnaround, largest selection, and best Web site. They have the best blogger-fans, too :). The Netflix blog is written by the excellent James Rocchi.

Blockbuster Online would be my second choice, but they always have availability problems. I am testing BBo for comparison. No more than two-thirds of my queue has ever been "available now". I can get mainstream hits from them, but the four art titles in the top slots of my queue have been "long wait" since January. I never know what to expect from them; they never send titles in queue order. The closest distribution center is Charlotte, NC, about 90 miles away, making delivery time about two days or more.

Nicheflix is really good for titles that are unavailable on DVD in the United States. They specialize in multi-region discs, which require a special DVD player. Their distribution center is in Indiana, about 500 miles away, so delivery time is three days or more. They don't ship in queue order, because of availability issues. I like their Web site, but anything other than title searching requires using the "advanced search" feature, which is inconvenient. I can't be sure the discs will be in English or have English subtitles, so I have to check the Web site carefully before ordering.

Greencine has availability problems. Their only advantage is that they offer out-of-print titles on DVD. Their only distribution center is in California, 3000 miles away, so delivery time is 4 or 5 days. I like their Web site, because in addition to personal recommendations and member lists (like Netflix), they have Movie Primers and Featured Top Lists. They have a cool blog.

If you are looking for a title that has been released on VHS, but never on DVD, Facets Multimedia has an online rental option. They also sell and rent VHS tapes, DVDs, and books online. I can't evaluate their online DVD rental service, but their online VHS service is pretty good. They require you to email or call, but I've experienced excellent customer service.

Lists of Bests

Lists of Bests collects all sorts of lists of books, music, and movies in one place. Of course, my interest is mainly in the movie lists. Lists are compiled from award-winners, critics' favorites, publications' favorites, categories, and genres. For example, check out the The Luddite Reader's "Top 12 Most Luddite Films of All Time", or Men's Journal's "The 50 Best Guy Movies Of All Time" or Gerald Peary's 100 Films For Film Literacy.

You know it's Summer when...

I, the Netflix Fan, have reduced my Netflix plan from 8-out to 3-out.

"Epic struggle" for access to content

At the 13th annual Networking Symposium, "Netflix founder Reed Hastings made an urgent plea to corporations to provide the consumer with the freedom of choice when it comes to content.

"There is an epic struggle between the forces of control and the forces of freedom," Hastings said. "The Web is the bastion of freedom."

Hastings' wariness of technologies that would limit audio and video content to a specific provider was a common concern of conference attendees."

via The Stanford Daily Online Edition:

Netflix as film distributor

According to Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content buyer, Netflix acquires about 100 titles per year and distributes another 8500 titles.

From Cyndi Greening's notes on Cinema Minima

European squatter: update

Last September, I reported on a German-language Netflix imitator using the domain name of Netflix.at. That same domain name still works, but it redirects you to http://dvd-club.ch/. They are partnered with Amazon.de. I guess Netflix doesn't want to waste their money on trademark-infringing or cyber-squatting lawsuits. Otherwise, they might feel the need to pick on some folks I know ;).

A Netflix Odyssey

Raven at A Netflix Odyssey has returned from hiatus long enough to report that "Lately, all of my returns are taking just one day. Deliveries to me are still two days, but returns have sped up." He receives discs from the Kansas City distribution center and returns them to Oklahoma.

How Netflix Could Use Recommendations To Increase Subscriptions

Garrick Van Buren, of Workingpathways.com, believes Netflix could increase subscriptions by automatically sending people recommended discs, in addition to just what's in your queue. What do you think of this idea?

Dashflix Dashboard Widget for your Netflix Queue

Apple Computer is distributing Dashflix, which is a Dashboard Widget for Mac OS X 10.4 or later, which displays your Netflix queue on your Mac's desktop. I think it's cute.
By Skia.

Holiday weekend starts now, including Netflix

Good buddy and Netflix fan matthom has reminded me that this is the Memorial Day holiday weekend, which means Netflix distribution centers will be closed Monday (ack!). It will be a long weekend if you don't have enough titles at home. Tuesday will be a busy day for Netflix! It's a good thing I have five already at home :). Read Matthom's advice.

Netflix Queue Manager Bookmarklet

I am blessed by having faithful readers who are also fans of Netflix, who send me good stuff. Badsegue has created a Netflix Queue Manager bookmarklet, which adds these functions to the Netflix Web page: Move to top, Move to bottom, Drag and drop, Sort - by star rating, Shuffle, Reverse. Check it out.

Netflix makes your heart go hmmmm...

I was surfing Amazon.com today, where I learned a new word. It's "Lovemarks". Lovemarks are trademark brand names that evoke an emotional response. Netflix(tm) is an example of one such "lovemark", because it inspires such crazy, passionate loyalty and love from its customers.

Do you have any idea what they're talking about?

Meedio Essentials has optional Netflix plug-in

Software Publisher's Description: Meedio Essentials turns your existing PC into a fully customizable digital media center that you command using your TV and remote control. Start with the installation wizard to organize and enjoy your photos, music, movies, and weather information. Or use the advanced configuration tools to personalize the look, feel, and behavior of the entire system. Includes access to over 200 themes and plug-ins for exciting extensions such as home automation, Netflix, Skype, instant messaging, movie show times, trailers, and games.

Get it at Download.com. Free to try; $49.95 to buy.

Yahoo! Movies has new recommendations feature

Go to Movie Recomendations on Yahoo! Movies, sign in with your free Yahoo ID, answer a few questions about yourself and rate movies you've seen, and they will recommend other movies you might like. They do recommendations for new movies in theaters,and movies on DVD/video and TV.

Do you think Yahoo recommendations work better than Netflix?

On the virtues of hating Blockbuster

Tony Woodlief writes:

"Well, the wife and I are nursing a 24 addiction, but it's manageable. I mean, we can quit any time we want. Really. I mention the addiction (and it's really more hers than mine) because it brought us back to Blockbuster. You see, I mismanaged my Netflix queue, and this weekend we found ourselves without the next 24 DVD. 'Let's go get it at Blockbuster,' said the wife. (See what I mean?)

'Absolutely not,' I replied through clenched teeth."

Continue reading.

Lost Cause?

Lost Cause?
Originally uploaded by bradleyjames.

BradleyJames says, "I received "The Order" via Netflix this week. I like strange religious films and thought I'd give it a shot. Well it was odd. It wasn't horrible but not sure I'd say good either. I read an article a while back in Creative Screenwriting that talked about it and the initial title was "The Sin Eater". I like that title much better. If you're going to go freaky go all the way.

Anyway this is how the DVD came to me. It looked like they made this in some freeware program that came with a CD burner in 1998. It looks very cheap. I'm curious if this is just the Netflix version or if Fox decided it was a lost cause."

Farther away than your mailbox

c
Originally uploaded by Genista.

As Genista says, "Blockbuster is desperately changing pricing, policies and spelling to cope with Netflix's onslaught."

New Netflix Shipping Center in Panama City, Florida

BoB reports there's a new Netflix distribution center in Panama City, Florida.
Via the Hacking NetFlix blog

If you know the code for this location, please send it to webmaster at listology.com.

Netflix is the sole entity willing to distribute Tim Robbin's hot potato film

via the LA Times:

According to Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, Robbins' film is the kind they seek out: quality movies that are "marketing challenged" and often fall through the cracks in mainstream Hollywood.

Controversy is less of a hurdle for Netflix, he says, because there's plenty of room for a diversity of voices in their 40,000-title library.

"Consolidation of media outlets results in more homogenized offerings," Sarandos said. "And the square footage and limited shelf space of mainline retailers is so valuable that they're managed closely — stocked with mass-appeal product that squeezes out films like Tim's. We're not espousing a political position but providing a platform."

"The audience for small films is there — but fragmented," Sarandos said. "Because we have a national footprint, we can service every community in the U.S…. We're beloved by customers for bringing movies to people who can't afford to go to the Sundance Film Festival — as well as by filmmakers for giving a voice to those on the fringe."

Read more

My Netflix Queue Stats for 5-24-05

299--Number of movies I've rented from Netflix since I joined in January 2004.
315--Number of movies in main queue
1--Number of movies I have out (on the 8-out plan)
14--Number of movies in "DVDs Awaiting Release" queue
4--Number of movies with a release date in queue
69--Number of movies I've rented in the last 3 months
0--Number of movies labeled "Very Long Wait and Out of Print”
0--Number of movies labeled "Very Long Wait"
0--Number of movies labeled "Long Wait"
7--Number of movies labeled "Short Wait"
0--Number of movies in the queue that are actually television shows on DVD
6--Number of movies in the queue that I've already seen
0--Number of movies I feel are categorized wrongly
10--Average number of times I check the queue per week