LISNews: Librarian Blog Since 1999

The company said it had decided to keep its DVD-by-mail and online streaming services together under one name.

Story in the NYT blog - Media Decoder

Movie info at Rotten Tomatoes

DVD a Amazon.com: Waste Land

If you have Netflix the movie is available to watch instantly. If you are an Amazon Prime member you can watch the movie online free via Amazon. Link to Amazon digital version: Waste Land (free for Prime members, $3.99/3 day rental for others.)

Ebert's review - I am honestly shocked that he gave 3 and not 4 stars.

Reaction to a price increase for DVDs by mail is expected to affect revenue for the third quarter.

Full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/26/business/media/netflix-lowers-outlook-citing-disgruntled-c...

Netflix advertised the change as a new choice for consumers, but thousands of the company’s customers complained online.

Full article

I do not have cable so I make a lot of use of my Netflix account. I have the $9.99 plan that allows for one DVD in the mail and unlimited streaming. If you mail back the one DVD in a timely manner you can get 3-4 DVDs in the mail each month in addition to the streaming.

It is this plan that is going to $16. I think I am going to shut down my DVD by mail and use the $7.99 streaming only option. I easily watch ten things per month on the streaming that I find useful. At under $1 per viewing I think it is worthwhile. Do wish that Netflix had not messed with the $9.99 plan that allowed both streaming and DVD by mail. I will use Redbox at $1 per movie to subsidize what I cannot get from Netflix streaming.

Plus for libraries: There are going to be movies that are not available via streaming. Netflix is clearly pushing people more towards the streaming model. This will leave a pocket of movies that are harder to get hold of. Libraries may have an opportunity to fill this niche.