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Dish to Unveil Their Netflix Competitor Friday
'Most Comprehensive Home Entertainment Package Ever'

Dish Network is sending the invite below to the press to announce that the company will be unveiling their new Blockbuster streaming video service this Friday in San Francisco. The unveiling comes as Netflix continues to suffer fallout from their recent price hikes, plan to split the company's streaming and DVD rental services into two distinct companies, and somewhat-odd subsequent CEO apology.

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Dish recently acquired the ailing Blockbuster brand for $300 million, and insists their new Blockbuster streaming service will offer "the most comprehensive home entertainment package ever." Previous reports have confirmed the service will initially only be offered to existing Dish subscribers.

The company has confirmed the timing of the launch is intended to cash in on consumer angst concerning Netflix's recent changes, but it's going to take a fairly slick service to unseat Netflix and their 64% digital distribution market share. One advantage Dish will have is their existing licensing relationships, which should help them with overall program availability -- including Starz content.
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R4M0N
Brazilian Soccer Ownz Joo
join:2000-10-04
Glen Allen, VA

R4M0N

Member

Starz content

I don't know what all the hype is about with that thing. Most of the movies I have watched on Netflix streaming were not even from Starz content library.

swintec
Premium Member
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec

Premium Member

Re: Starz content

said by R4M0N:

I don't know what all the hype is about with that thing. Most of the movies I have watched on Netflix streaming were not even from Starz content library.

Ive had the opposite experience. A lot of the stuff plays the Starz opening and I am always surprised.

As for this service, unless Dish can REALLY put there licensing to work for them and offer stuff from HBO and Showtime among others what will be different? Not to mention, unless I can watch on my Roku or Wii or Xbox or Play Station or any number of other devices that netflix is currently embedded in, I will pass. I am done trying to watch movies tied to my computer monitor.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Starz content

said by swintec:

Not to mention, unless I can watch on my Roku or Wii or Xbox or Play Station or any number of other devices that netflix is currently embedded in, I will pass. I am done trying to watch movies tied to my computer monitor.

Put PlayOn on your PC & use DLNA compatibility to send PC based content to many TV connected devices like those you mentioned. Works for me to send many video sources to my TV thru the Wii.

»www.playon.tv/supported-devices
»www.playon.tv/content-channels

PapaMidnight
join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD

PapaMidnight

Member

Re: Starz content

I personally went the custom Media Center route myself. I built an SFF PC, dropped on SageTV (Before they were purchased out by Google), and still use it to this day. Other persons hacked in Netflix support but I had no problem using the website stream. I keep a wireless mouse and keyboard hooked up so it's not an issue for me - just as long as it is priced fairly and competitively.

swintec
Premium Member
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

said by swintec:

Not to mention, unless I can watch on my Roku or Wii or Xbox or Play Station or any number of other devices that netflix is currently embedded in, I will pass. I am done trying to watch movies tied to my computer monitor.

Put PlayOn on your PC & use DLNA compatibility to send PC based content to many TV connected devices like those you mentioned. Works for me to send many video sources to my TV thru the Wii.

»www.playon.tv/supported-devices
»www.playon.tv/content-channels

That type of stuff works okay but comes off as more or less a novelty to me. Id rather have a piece of hardware sitting in the entertainment center that will stream on its own without having to depend on a computer running and streaming off that from the other end of the house..only to have to reboot such and such because something is frozen or get a call from the wife / girlfriend / mistress because something wont work and I need to walk her though reconfiguring something.

I'm down with a dedicated server sitting in a closet some where out of the way but that is the extent of it. I was over a persons house this weekend who has his laptop sitting under his TV to stream netflix. To me it just looks ridiculous.

kapil
The Kapil
join:2000-04-26
Chicago, IL

kapil

Member

Maybe...

...it will have *ALL* the channels/content you can get via Dish, just delivered via IP. Much like Dish already does with »dishworldiptv.com for international channels.

If the pricing is competitive, package options varied enough and few or reasonable restrictions on when, how and where I access the content, it might be worthwhile.

On the other hand, if it's a Netflix clone, much like Amazon Prime Videos, I'll pass.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO

me1212

Member

Any word on if dish customers will get special pricing?

Like a bundle plan or anything?
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Any word on if dish customers will get special pricing?

said by me1212:

Like a bundle plan or anything?

it's only going to be available to Dish customers only anyways.

Rambo76098
join:2003-02-21
Columbus, OH

Rambo76098

Member

Re: Any word on if dish customers will get special pricing?

How do we know that? With Blockbuster being involved, I'm sure there's a public offering too. Limiting it to Dish customers only would be cutting off most of the potential market before they even get started.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Any word on if dish customers will get special pricing?

While the new announcement remains under wraps, Bloomberg News previously reported that the new Blockbuster online streaming service initially will be an add-on for existing Dish Network subscribers. At some point in the future, according to Bloomberg's unnamed source, the Blockbuster service will be made available as an a la carte service for all comers.

Read more: »news.cnet.com/8301-17938 ··· YW4vRpOt

Rambo76098
join:2003-02-21
Columbus, OH

Rambo76098

Member

Re: Any word on if dish customers will get special pricing?

Ah. Thanks. Seems weird since Blockbuster already has or at least had a streaming service.

dcurrey
Premium Member
join:2004-06-29
Mason, OH

1 edit

dcurrey to 88615298

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That wouldn't make a sense to limit it that way. Right now Netflix is bleeding badly. Now would be an excellent time to introduce some serious competition. Kick them while they are down.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

1 recommendation

88615298 (banned)

Member

Not better than Netflix

A) only available to Dish customers.

B) when available to everyone will be at least the same $8 Netflix charges.

C) Don't expect Starz, HBO etc. Starz wanted $300 mil PER YEAR from Netflix they're not taking less from Blockbuster. Blockbuster is not even worth $300 mil. HBO Showtime etc would want even more. Just because Dish has license to show Starz on it's satellite service doesn't mean Starz will allow streaming. Especially once Dish offers this to EVRYONE.

D) Studios are not going to give Dish any better deal than Netflix. They see any streaming unless it's PPV as bad.

E) Don't expect any newer content than Netflix. If Dish did pay to get movies that HBO, Showtime etc would have gotten how do you think that will make HBO and Showtime feel? Maybe they'll raise their fees they charge Dish or withhold content completely. Thus driving customers to cable or DirecTv.

F) Don't expect a combined streaming DVD by mail package to be less than the $16 Netflix charges.

Now all that said I'm not against this. I hope I succeeds. The more players in streaming the more Hollywood will realize they can make money on it and the more content for streaming. Which is good for everyone in the long run. I'm just making the point that those thinking this will be better and cheaper than Netflix are fooling themselves.
menace33
join:2009-06-20
Knoxville, TN

menace33

Member

Re: Not better than Netflix

Agreed. They may have the most extensive content library for now but they will have to go through the same negotiations and licensing deals when the current deals expire. When that happens, Dish will get a taste of what Netflix is going through except without the built up capital and subscriber base as Netflix to afford it. Then it will get really ugly for Dish.
slckusr
Premium Member
join:2003-03-17
Greenville, SC

1 edit

slckusr to 88615298

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to 88615298
why wouldnt they get a better deal than netflix?? They already have the customer base,(a movie rental chain, a large tv service, video on demand, possible cell phones..and whatever else they get their fingers on (think they offer deals on sattelite space to content producers?) Dish is a much more powerful force than netflix if anything their in a much better position TO get a deal.
menace33
join:2009-06-20
Knoxville, TN

menace33

Member

Re: Not better than Netflix

It is as simple as money. It comes down to the content providers and studios want as much money as they can get for their content and will not relinquish from that, no matter who they are and what type of foot print that they have. This is especially the case if it intersects with another money maker of theirs...in this case...PPV...VOD with the cable companies...and of course DVD/Blu-Ray sales. The Dish streaming aspect will directly clash with VOD and deals made with the cable companies as well as DVD/Blu-Ray sales.

If the movie is great, then streaming helps enhance viewership and purchase of DVD/Blu-ray disks. If the movie is medium, mediocre, or just plain awful, then streaming gives an advanced look of the film and then can make consumers not want to buy a hard copy version of it.

So regardless of whether Dish has brick and mortar locations that rent DVDs, the streaming side will still clash. Content providers will not want that so they will get as much money as possible out of their streaming licenses.
millerja01a
join:2005-10-03
Durham, NC

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+1 on all your points. Studios may play lip service to welcoming DishTV to the streaming field but they see all you can eat streaming as a clear threat to their business models. Think about this.

Why isn't there this much fuss with the online rentals from Android Market, iTunes, Amazon Prime, etc? Because of simple math. Per month, you'd pay about $120 a month watching one $3.99 rental/day for 30 days. Clearly, not everyone but the most well to do folks consume that much online rentals to cut the chord using those services exclusively. But a Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, torrent, YouTube solution? Basically, low cost!

NetFlix? $8.99 for all you can eat? WIN!

The Qwikster service? Fine with me, I still see value in DVD by mail and at the rate we watch those DVD rentals, Redbox would break our bank.

I would admit that Netflix's changes are painful in the short term. But I think they will do well in the long term as Dish and others will have their growing pains.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK

Premium Member

Perfect timing

With the way Netflix is trying to screw up these days, The Dish/Blockbuster service now has a wedge to take market share.

It will be interesting to see how they do.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Perfect timing

said by KrK:

With the way Netflix is trying to screw up these days, The Dish/Blockbuster service now has a wedge to take market share.

It will be interesting to see how they do.

Netflix is not screwing up. Perhaps the Qwikster name is the only thing you can say is a screw up. Not allowing customers to rent 6,7,8 DVDs a month for $2 is NOT a screw up. Splitting up streaming and the dying DVD rental parts is NOT a screw up. You guys act as if DVDs actually matter to Netflix. 3 years ago 100% of Netflix customers were DVD only and 0% were streaming only. Now just 9% are DVD only and 41% are streaming only. 75% of new Netflix customers are streaming only. Streaming side is way more profitable. Splitting the sides up will make it easier to sell off the DVD rental side to some dumb ass for a few billion.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Perfect timing

Repeat: Netflix is screwing up.

Bottom line: Hassling customers unnecessarily right at the same time as large price increases hit (which I completely understand the price increases) is just a stupid move. Netflix is screwing up.

I also agree that the plan is purely a move to divorce the DVD business from the streaming for eventually spin off/sell off etc etc and therefore CEO is blowing smoke with his email/blog posts.

However, there's no need to remove integration until said time comes, AND Timing is everything. This is bad timing.
dr_jack
join:2002-04-21
Irving, TX

dr_jack to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

said by KrK:

With the way Netflix is trying to screw up these days, The Dish/Blockbuster service now has a wedge to take market share.

It will be interesting to see how they do.

Netflix is not screwing up. Perhaps the Qwikster name is the only thing you can say is a screw up. Not allowing customers to rent 6,7,8 DVDs a month for $2 is NOT a screw up. Splitting up streaming and the dying DVD rental parts is NOT a screw up. You guys act as if DVDs actually matter to Netflix. 3 years ago 100% of Netflix customers were DVD only and 0% were streaming only. Now just 9% are DVD only and 41% are streaming only. 75% of new Netflix customers are streaming only. Streaming side is way more profitable. Splitting the sides up will make it easier to sell off the DVD rental side to some dumb ass for a few billion.

Tell that to the investors. A $9 Billion drop in market capitalization is indicative of at least a mild screw up!! The strategy may be correct, but the tactics leave much to be desired.
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

Will disney sue to remove there moives from this?

Will disney sue to remove there moives from this?
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Will disney sue to remove there moives from this?

said by Joe12345678:

Will disney sue to remove there moives from this?

Disney doesn't have to sue since Dish can't stream Disney movies without permission. And permission will cost mucho $$$$$$$$$.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Transmaster

Member

Killing the Goose that lays the Golden Egg

Talk about the paranoid movie industry cutting their nose off to spite their face. They complain about piracy but they are doing everything they can to encourage it. Netflix is going like gang busters so the studios decide to demand more money or they will pull their content. Netflix has no choice but to change how they supply movies. This causes people to leave in droves. I wonder how many of those people will return to the best content provider in the world Bit-Torrent. Look at iTunes they have music and movies but it is interesting what iTunes has done. The content providers started out with the idea we have Apple by the ‘nads because we control the content and we can get any price we want. They awakened only to find out yes they had Apple by the balls except those balls are like the pair owned by a bull Right Whale each weight in at 2000 pounds, kind of hard to hang onto.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Killing the Goose that lays the Golden Egg

Hollywood tried to kill the VCR. The case actually went to the US Supreme Court where Hollywood lost. Imagine if they had won. The "home video market" they are so desperate to protect wouldn't even exist. Irony anyone?
staregazer
join:2006-12-15

staregazer

Member

Re: Killing the Goose that lays the Golden Egg

Dish plans on including Blockbustomer service (one move rental out at a time or unlimited move rentals to the store) to be included in their $10 HD Platinum Package.
mogamer
join:2011-04-20
Royal Oak, MI

mogamer

Member

Re: Killing the Goose that lays the Golden Egg

said by staregazer:

Dish plans on including Blockbustomer service (one move rental out at a time or unlimited move rentals to the store) to be included in their $10 HD Platinum Package.

If that is true, then I'll be dropping Qwikster and just keep Netflix streaming. I'm already a Dish subscriber with the Dish Platinum package. Do you know if this is the plan that is normally $11.95 that includes BD and games? Or is it a reduced DVD only plan?

I'm not sure I want to use my 722K receiver to stream BB though. It has a pitiful and laggy menu for Dish On Demand, but on demand video does play well through it.

Bill Neilson
Premium Member
join:2009-07-08
Alexandria, VA

Bill Neilson

Premium Member

My big question is whether the price of Blockbuster

will be reasonable AND will it be on multiple consoles, etc...that is why I loved netflix...cheap AND found on devices I used.

I quit Netflix when my bill doubled...ridiculous