Netflix announces UK debut
Streaming only, apparently
Netflix is coming to Blighty early in 2012, as anticipated after it was claimed the US video streaming service is coming to continental Europe next year.
Netflix today said it will offer "unlimited TV shows and films streaming instantly over the internet to TVs and computers for one low monthly subscription price".
Netflix didn't say what that price would be, and it didn't indicate whether DVD rental will be part of the package. Presumably not, since that's a part of its US business it has been trying to play down of late, not entirely successfully.
Without a DVD component, the range of content Netflix can offer will be limited, making it a tough choice for punters who are currently with rival DVD-and-streaming services, such as the Amazon-owned Lovefilm.
Further details, Netflix said, would be posted closer to launch. ®
COMMENTS
*sigh*
If, like me, you couldn't give a wet mousefart about DVD rentals and just want the streaming setup, Lovefilm is a steaming pile of cack. Which is precisely *why* I'm looking forward to Netflix. Between this and Film4OD we might finally be starting to move towards a range of digital content distribution offering that aren't best described as "pitiful".
Use a decent ISP. My ISP couldn't care less how much bandwidth I use.
It had better be an improvement on Lovefilm
Captain Underpants is right, LoveFilm is rubbish. You pay extra to have streaming in your package but then the only films that are included with this are ancient ones that have been on telly hundreds of times. On top of this, the quality of the streaming is abysmal and kind of defeats the object of having a decent TV.
Then they have the cheek to offer (a small number of) new releases for streaming and charge a pay-per-view fee to watch them in substandard quality. I can have the blu-ray delivered in two days as part of my package - why would I pay an extra £4?
I am pissed with LoveFilm. They offered me cashback to join which I have never received so I have paid money I did not bank on having to pay, to find out that the service is naff.
Doomed to fail here
...unless ISPs increase their 'acceptable use' bandwidth policies. Which means an improvement in the infrastructure is required.
loverilms streaming is a huge industry joke
The bar is set with BBC iPlayer in the U.k. If Netflix come in at that level I'll drop loverilm like a stone. lovefilm support are laughable. Even telling them their video streaming is shit leads to a stock reply that it should be dvd quality. The only thing missing is being told to restart the machine. Twats.
