Netflix May Offer Premium Content for an Additional Fee
Netflix May Offer Premium Content for an Additional Fee
Posted 02/02/2009 at 9:24am
| by Paul Lilly
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Netflix continues to enjoy immense popularity as a subscription-based movie rental and streaming video service, a business model which Netflix CEO Reed Hastings previously said would stay the same going forward.
"We don't plan to enter the pay-per-view segment, where Apple, Amazon, Sony, and others focus, or the ad-supported segment, where Hulu, YouTube, and other compete," Hastings said in July 2008.
Maybe success has gotten to Netflix's head. Since Hastings' statement, Netflix has made major gains to its streaming service, which is now found on Microsoft's Xbox 360 console, offered through a standalone Roku player, integrated into select Blu-ray players, and even is available on some TiVo units. More homes than ever now have easy access to Netflix's streaming catalog, and a new customer survey seems to suggest that Hastings and company might be reconsidering Netflix's position as a subscription-only business. One of the questions being asked is whether customers would be willing to pay an additional $10 per month to stream "HBO original series and movies."
It's unclear how quickly Netflix would make new episodes of, say, Big Love available for viewing after first appearing on HBO, or whether new episodes would be available at the same time. But what is clear is that Netflix has become too large to ignore other business models. Even if survey respondents shoot down the idea of a $10/month HBO add-on, one has to wonder how long it will be before additional services find their way onto Netflix.
Would you pay a premium for HBO content through your Netflix account? Hit the jump and sound off.
Image Credit: ZatzNotFunny.com
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spaceghozt
February 04, 2009 at 2:23pm
10 is far too much for HBO content. Especially if its not in HD. 10 for access to the many movies that still are mail only? Maybe.
skhills
February 02, 2009 at 1:17pm
I'd be willing to pay an extra $10/month to get streamed access to new releases that are currently only available by mail, but not for a service restricted to HBO movies/shows.
eleck
February 02, 2009 at 12:23pm
id pay 10 more $ a month if they put all there content up for stream but atm streaming is bs all c rated movies from the 80s..
DaveZ0902
February 02, 2009 at 11:05am
I got this is because the charges keep going up on cable. I can wait for the DVD/Blu-ray version of series I am interested in.
kowal
February 02, 2009 at 10:11am
No Way!
why should i pay 10 dollars a month to netflix to stream HBO in SD quality.......when i currently getting 7 channels of HBO on "directv" (inc. HD)for the same price.
Now....if netflix could allow me to stream both all "showtime and HBO" programs for 10 or 12 dollars a month i might consider it.
And by the way.....i have a home built "home theater pc".....it would be nice if netflix would show us HTPC'ers some HD love....like they do the xbox 360 users.
bathtbgin
February 02, 2009 at 10:03am
I removed showtime from my cable package because I figured i'd either rent or stream movies from netflix. The only reason i would even consider getting HBO or Showtime again is so that i would be able to watch their original shows/movies. I'd consider spending $10 extra for access to premium content provided everything is available in HD.
nekollx
February 02, 2009 at 10:01am
Netfix catalog is movies out on DVD and public/cable 'free' TV now. Since HBO has it's own fee. streaming HBO does make sense. Its like adding HBO not to your TV but your PC.
jcollins
February 02, 2009 at 9:46am
No. $10/month is pretty high for video streamed in SD. Not to mention that I'm not really interested in the content on HBO.
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