Finding New Shit on TV

[jfish26]

What am I missing here? They want to prevent password sharing, so, what's the problem? Who's upset by this other than people who weren't paying for a subscription?

I think there are very narrow scenarios where it could be a legitimate annoyance to some. e.g. a couple that has to live apart for a few months a year. Snowbirds that live in one place seasonally and then another. I could maybe buy a family that buys the multi-screen package then has a kid go off to her freshman year at college being upset she could not longer use it.

The last is a little close for me, but again these are very narrow scenarios that apply to few people yet it seems like so many mich's are justpissed that they can't freeload anymore.

The (apocryphal?) saying goes, "everyone's a Republican on tax day".

The corollary here is that everyone's a free-market person until they have to start paying for things.

[jfish26]

The prices keep going up and you're loosing services.
Yes, I know, password sharing isn't really a service but we pay for Netflix and share it with our fam.
JFish is right - this really needs to be factored to the consumer - via ala carte.

I don't want 97% of the trash on Netflix.
I don't want 90% of the channels on Direct TV.

Give me a system where I pay x dollars and get credits to watch y things a month.

But there is this system. For most things that are not first-party to a streaming service, you absolutely can pay by the episode or season (on Hulu or Vudu or Apple TV or Prime TV or any number of services). The "trouble" is that the economics (to you) of doing that get upside-down pretty quickly if you like to watch more than one or two things.

But the saving grace of the streaming services is that they only lock you in for a month at a time and it only takes a click of a button to sign up and cancel. You can often find 2-4 week free trials for a lot of them, too.

Sure. If you were so inclined, you could work your way through things pretty efficiently by focusing on one service's IP at a time. And not paying for, say, Netflix while you're crunching through HBO's IP.

[CrimsonNBlue]

IMO, yes Netflix has lost a lot of older TV shows and their movie collection lags behind something like HBO Max.

But, their original content has improved exponentially. Legitimate Oscar and Emmy nominees/winners. They also have a great selection, and even original content, for some international content. Which, isn't going to appeal to everyone but is great for us.

[PhDhawk]

What am I missing here? They want to prevent password sharing, so, what's the problem? Who's upset by this other than people who weren't paying for a subscription?

I think there are very narrow scenarios where it could be a legitimate annoyance to some. e.g. a couple that has to live apart for a few months a year. Snowbirds that live in one place seasonally and then another. I could maybe buy a family that buys the multi-screen package then has a kid go off to her freshman year at college being upset she could not longer use it.

The last is a little close for me, but again these are very narrow scenarios that apply to few people yet it seems like so many mich's are justpissed that they can't freeload anymore.

yes, and that seems like an chance for netflix to do a "friends and family" type of option. And, like pdub sorta pointed out, this may just be the straw that broke the camel's back for some after a long list of minor things.

But based on the numbers, I agree, it's mostly freeloaders. And, I don't feel bad for them...and I can't imagine netflix is concerned about losing non-paying customers.

[CrimsonNBlue]

But there is this system. For most things that are not first-party to a streaming service, you absolutely can pay by the episode or season (on Hulu or Vudu or Apple TV or Prime TV or any number of services). The "trouble" is that the economics (to you) of doing that get upside-down pretty quickly if you like to watch more than one or two things.

But the saving grace of the streaming services is that they only lock you in for a month at a time and it only takes a click of a button to sign up and cancel. You can often find 2-4 week free trials for a lot of them, too.

Sure. If you were so inclined, you could work your way through things pretty efficiently by focusing on one service's IP at a time. And not paying for, say, Netflix while you're crunching through HBO's IP.

Yes, it takes effort and the services know that and know a lot of people forget to shut it off. We do what I feel like most do and have 2 year round and then buy a month of other stuff here and there. Like Apple TV+ should just be called Ted Lasso+.

[jfish26]

What am I missing here? They want to prevent password sharing, so, what's the problem? Who's upset by this other than people who weren't paying for a subscription?

I think there are very narrow scenarios where it could be a legitimate annoyance to some. e.g. a couple that has to live apart for a few months a year. Snowbirds that live in one place seasonally and then another. I could maybe buy a family that buys the multi-screen package then has a kid go off to her freshman year at college being upset she could not longer use it.

The last is a little close for me, but again these are very narrow scenarios that apply to few people yet it seems like so many mich's are justpissed that they can't freeload anymore.

yes, and that seems like an chance for netflix to do a "friends and family" type of option. And, like pdub sorta pointed out, this may just be the straw that broke the camel's back for some after a long list of minor things.

But based on the numbers, I agree, it's mostly freeloaders. And, I don't feel bad for them...and I can't imagine netflix is concerned about losing non-paying customers.

But where does "friends and family" stop, and how do you police it?

[PhDhawk]

But there is this system. For most things that are not first-party to a streaming service, you absolutely can pay by the episode or season (on Hulu or Vudu or Apple TV or Prime TV or any number of services). The "trouble" is that the economics (to you) of doing that get upside-down pretty quickly if you like to watch more than one or two things.

But the saving grace of the streaming services is that they only lock you in for a month at a time and it only takes a click of a button to sign up and cancel. You can often find 2-4 week free trials for a lot of them, too.

Sure. If you were so inclined, you could work your way through things pretty efficiently by focusing on one service's IP at a time. And not paying for, say, Netflix while you're crunching through HBO's IP.

I predict this will be the next domino to fall.

You subscribe to Netflix to watch Stranger things then cancel. ESPN+ during basketball season. You re-up with Apple TV when Ted Lasso has a new season...it's only a matter of time before you have to sign a long term thing, or it's 39.99 for 30 days or something.

[CrimsonNBlue]

I think there are very narrow scenarios where it could be a legitimate annoyance to some. e.g. a couple that has to live apart for a few months a year. Snowbirds that live in one place seasonally and then another. I could maybe buy a family that buys the multi-screen package then has a kid go off to her freshman year at college being upset she could not longer use it.

The last is a little close for me, but again these are very narrow scenarios that apply to few people yet it seems like so many mich's are justpissed that they can't freeload anymore.

yes, and that seems like an chance for netflix to do a "friends and family" type of option. And, like pdub sorta pointed out, this may just be the straw that broke the camel's back for some after a long list of minor things.

But based on the numbers, I agree, it's mostly freeloaders. And, I don't feel bad for them...and I can't imagine netflix is concerned about losing non-paying customers.

But where does "friends and family" stop, and how do you police it?

I think you use what they are going with. Allow 2-3 locations that have to be logged into once a month. After a month of dormancy, the device gets removed.

[jfish26]

But the saving grace of the streaming services is that they only lock you in for a month at a time and it only takes a click of a button to sign up and cancel. You can often find 2-4 week free trials for a lot of them, too.

Sure. If you were so inclined, you could work your way through things pretty efficiently by focusing on one service's IP at a time. And not paying for, say, Netflix while you're crunching through HBO's IP.

Yes, it takes effort and the services know that and know a lot of people forget to shut it off. We do what I feel like most do and have 2 year round and then buy a month of other stuff here and there. Like Apple TV+ should just be called Ted Lasso+.

You must not have kids (or, you must be a much better parent than me). It gets significantly harder to pick up and put down services when there's five of you, all into different things at different times. And particularly when one of those five is a newly-reading four year old.

[jfish26]

But the saving grace of the streaming services is that they only lock you in for a month at a time and it only takes a click of a button to sign up and cancel. You can often find 2-4 week free trials for a lot of them, too.

Sure. If you were so inclined, you could work your way through things pretty efficiently by focusing on one service's IP at a time. And not paying for, say, Netflix while you're crunching through HBO's IP.

I predict this will be the next domino to fall.

You subscribe to Netflix to watch Stranger things then cancel. ESPN+ during basketball season. You re-up with Apple TV when Ted Lasso has a new season...it's only a matter of time before you have to sign a long term thing, or it's 39.99 for 30 days or something.

Right: we're going to invent, and then de-invent, cable all over again.

[PhDhawk]

I think there are very narrow scenarios where it could be a legitimate annoyance to some. e.g. a couple that has to live apart for a few months a year. Snowbirds that live in one place seasonally and then another. I could maybe buy a family that buys the multi-screen package then has a kid go off to her freshman year at college being upset she could not longer use it.

The last is a little close for me, but again these are very narrow scenarios that apply to few people yet it seems like so many mich's are justpissed that they can't freeload anymore.

yes, and that seems like an chance for netflix to do a "friends and family" type of option. And, like pdub sorta pointed out, this may just be the straw that broke the camel's back for some after a long list of minor things.

But based on the numbers, I agree, it's mostly freeloaders. And, I don't feel bad for them...and I can't imagine netflix is concerned about losing non-paying customers.

But where does "friends and family" stop, and how do you police it?

If you're charging an additional fee, something like 4.99 month, does it matter? Netflix increases total revenue, and it's better than having freeloaders. Families can't be too upset about a minor additional cost that is providing something extra.

I admittedly don't know all the details about this. Like, so many hotels offer use of your own netflix and when you're on Wi-Fi...does this all go away. My understanding was that the "home" account had to login every 31 days...how much are they limiting additional screens?

[CrimsonNBlue]

almost all of the original content on the streaming services is unwatchable. there is some good stuff for sure. there is some really good stuff. but most of it is unwatchable.

i already pay enough. i ain't paying more.

What will you do without this masterpiece?

that 90's show is funny AF.

[CrimsonNBlue]

yes, and that seems like an chance for netflix to do a "friends and family" type of option. And, like pdub sorta pointed out, this may just be the straw that broke the camel's back for some after a long list of minor things.

But based on the numbers, I agree, it's mostly freeloaders. And, I don't feel bad for them...and I can't imagine netflix is concerned about losing non-paying customers.

But where does "friends and family" stop, and how do you police it?

If you're charging an additional fee, something like 4.99 month, does it matter? Netflix increases total revenue, and it's better than having freeloaders. Families can't be too upset about a minor additional cost that is providing something extra.

I admittedly don't know all the details about this. Like, so many hotels offer use of your own netflix and when you're on Wi-Fi...does this all go away. My understanding was that the "home" account had to login every 31 days...how much are they limiting additional screens?

You're still allowed to do the hotel thing. If you were to stay in that hotel for, say, 45 days, it would be shut off after 31 days.

[ousdahl]

almost all of the original content on the streaming services is unwatchable. there is some good stuff for sure. there is some really good stuff. but most of it is unwatchable.

i already pay enough. i ain't paying more.

What will you do without this masterpiece?

that 90's show is funny AF.

[jfish26]

yes, and that seems like an chance for netflix to do a "friends and family" type of option. And, like pdub sorta pointed out, this may just be the straw that broke the camel's back for some after a long list of minor things.

But based on the numbers, I agree, it's mostly freeloaders. And, I don't feel bad for them...and I can't imagine netflix is concerned about losing non-paying customers.

But where does "friends and family" stop, and how do you police it?

If you're charging an additional fee, something like 4.99 month, does it matter? Netflix increases total revenue, and it's better than having freeloaders. Families can't be too upset about a minor additional cost that is providing something extra.

I admittedly don't know all the details about this. Like, so many hotels offer use of your own netflix and when you're on Wi-Fi...does this all go away. My understanding was that the "home" account had to login every 31 days...how much are they limiting additional screens?

You're getting to the heart of the matter: the task for Netflix (for example) is to figure out the sweet spot.

They're never going to stop all freeloading. Efforts to do so are both futile (it's asymmetric warfare) and counterproductive (congrats, you reduced freeloading by 2.7% but chased off 15% of your subscribers by making it a pain in the ass to use your service).

So, how do you mitigate the harms of freeloading without alienating customers?

There's not really a simple, obvious way. I wonder if it works better with carrot than stick. For example, perhaps the next price increase only applies, or ads are only shown, to those who do NOT perform the new verification stuff.

[ousdahl]

I think the outrage may not be simply that they’re trying to crack down on freeloading, but the specific measures they’re implementing to do so.

Like fish said, yea maybe it weeds out a few bums, but it likely has a bigger net effect of just making it more of a pain in the ass for honest paying customers

[ousdahl]

Not me tho.

I’ll still be riding beav’s coattails about it.

And by coattails, I mean amphibious waffle tail.

You should hear him slap that thing!

[PhDhawk]

But where does "friends and family" stop, and how do you police it?

If you're charging an additional fee, something like 4.99 month, does it matter? Netflix increases total revenue, and it's better than having freeloaders. Families can't be too upset about a minor additional cost that is providing something extra.

I admittedly don't know all the details about this. Like, so many hotels offer use of your own netflix and when you're on Wi-Fi...does this all go away. My understanding was that the "home" account had to login every 31 days...how much are they limiting additional screens?

You're getting to the heart of the matter: the task for Netflix (for example) is to figure out the sweet spot.

They're never going to stop all freeloading. Efforts to do so are both futile (it's asymmetric warfare) and counterproductive (congrats, you reduced freeloading by 2.7% but chased off 15% of your subscribers by making it a pain in the ass to use your service).

So, how do you mitigate the harms of freeloading without alienating customers?

There's not really a simple, obvious way. I wonder if it works better with carrot than stick. For example, perhaps the next price increase only applies, or ads are only shown, to those who do NOT perform the new verification stuff.

I agree completely with the main point of your post.

But the specific example you gave would actually piss me off.

[CrimsonNBlue]

I think the outrage may not be simply that they’re trying to crack down on freeloading, but the specific measures they’re implementing to do so.

Like fish said, yea maybe it weeds out a few bums, but it likely has a bigger net effect of just making it more of a pain in the ass for honest paying customers

How so? The vast majority of the honest paying customers won't even notice the change because people use Netflix at home.

And the outrage on twitter and reddit is absolutely about cracking down on freeloading. Look at the first tweet you shared. I've seen that tweet a dozen times in the last 48 hours.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Not me tho.

I’ll still be riding beav’s coattails about it.

And by coattails, I mean amphibious waffle tail.

You should hear him slap that thing!

You and your roommate using the same account is not the problem. I don't really have any issue on roommates sharing accounts, especially at home. Nor will this change affect you.