Netflix downloadable movies suspended

October 21, 2005 Posted by mitch | technology | 0 Comments

About a year ago, Netflix had teamed up with TiVo to announce that they were going to offer a downloadable Movie rental service. I believe I blogged about it back then, if not I should have..., which I thought was a really good idea. However, it seems the studios have yet to sign off on it. Arstechnica has a write-up on it. And I must say I agree with Eric that the entertainment industry needs to rethink their distribution methods. However, I believe I disagree with him on his point about the industry not keeping up with technology... they're all about keeping up with it for the purpose of making that next *blockbuster* with all the special effects and CGI stuff included. With the advances in technology that allows the studios to do these types of effects, comes consumer goods and expectations in other forms as well, like the Sony PSP, Video iPod, etc. Which I believe is what he was referring that they do not keep up with, because these devices are much more decentralized than their current methods. Somehow, it seems, they think that these devices are going to cost them more than they would make. Given the alternatives however... I don't see much else in the way of choices. My wife an I haven't been to the movies nearly as much as we did a year ago. Not sure if its specifically been because even I (normally I'll do anything to go see a movie) haven't been to excited about many of the movies comming out. Or if its a cost thing because we usually spend around $20 to see a movie. Its probably a little bit of both, and possibly other factors I can't think of at the moment. One thing is for certain... I rent alot more movies now than I ever used to.