http://blog.netflix.com/2011/09/explanation-and-some-reflections.html The important stuff • Netflix becomes 2 separate entities • All DVD-By-Mail becomes Qwikster • Netflix will be streaming only • No integration at all between the two sites -If you rate on Netflix it will not show up on Qwikster and vice versa - If a movie in your DVD queue becomes available for streaming, you won't know - DVD and streaming queues now have to be managed independently• Qwikster is adding Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 games
Seems like a bad idea since Netflix is such a widly known name. You still order through the web so it does involve NET if that is their concern. Qwickster sounds like a KO company. Should have called it Netflix Delivery or something so at least the assocaition is there.
Yeah, they could have come up with a better name than "Qwikster". Ignoring the stupid spelling, that name doesn't tell a potential customer anything about the service or what it does, just that it's "qwik"...whatever it is. Compare that to "Netflix", which is involved with getting "flix" off the "net"; simply and concisely desribes exactly what the service is about while still having the radical, xtreem misspellings the kids love.
Depending on the price of the games upgrade, I may jump on that. It'll likely be cheaper than Gamefly, and a whole lot quicker. Though, I am probably just going to drop the streaming all together now.
I had just come to terms with the price increase, too. But the zero-integration thing makes no sense at all. What the hell? Unless they are planning on selling one of the companies off, and they want to remove the ties-that-bind sooner than later. The integration of streaming and disc was enough to keep me on board. I can't tell you how many times I went to add a movie to my DVD queue only to find it had only just been added to streaming. And with a click of the button, boom, it's now in my Instant Queue. And like that, they decide that functionality is dead. Netflix was one of the best deals and best products you could find, and they just neutered themselves. I don't want two untethered accounts. But streaming will NEVER have some of those DVDs that are in my queue. And Qwikster will also never have the integrated functionality with my PS3 that I love. Ugh.
Smells a little like a New Coke-style marketing blunder, but I'm keeping both for now. It's almost like they had antitrust fears that necessitated the splitup.
It only does if A) they are tying to split the business to sell one part off, and want to remove the integration now so they don't have to later, or B) like Foster said, there were some looming antitrust issues that they needed to avoid like mad. Otherwise the total split in accounts to completely unrelated sites makes zero sense. It HAS to be as a result of something like that.
It's like what I was telling Smasher on facebook. Netflix killed Blockbuster and Hollywood video. Now, they are losing Stars and pissing off their customers. So our outlets for renting movies is dwindling down to Vudu and Red Box. Vudu is young and doesn't have nearly the library of old movies that my Blockbuster had, and Redbox is mainly new movies.
I agree. I would bet money that Netflix or Qwikster will be sold within the next year. Either way, it sucks.
I got the email about this this morning. We only have Netflix streaming, so it doesn't really effect me at the moment.
I have no problem with this and I love that they are adding games (finally!) so long as it's not too much more a month I can see myself adding it to my subscription pdq.
This means nothing to myself or anyone outside the US. As that's the only market that they ever offered digital distribution of DVD's.
This is not gonna help.....losing 600k customers and you want to change the name? Sound like Drug Dealers..... Its either Red Box or I just buy the movies.....
I agree the communication has been a little lackluster by the Netflix. But in this case I understand the reason for splitting the entities because the cost structure is so different. Streaming movies is such a different animal in comparison to mailing out DVDs (that Netflix owns). I recently installed the Vudu app for PS3 after reading why it was the better than it's competitors in streaming, claiming that because of it's structure you could stream same day as the DVD is released. So I installed it before X-Men First Class came out and waited until release day. Release day comes and the site says I have to wait until 9/16! I agree that Netflix streaming isn't great now (due to old selections) but wait and see. By separating into two entities they can use the Netflix brand to leverage deals like Vudu so they can stream same day or close to it FOR A FLAT MONTHLY FEE. Think about all the devices that are Netflix ready! At least that is what my assumption would be as an investor. Long-term is what Netflix is thinking. Now I agree that two websites is an inconvenience but studios are not going to allow Netflix to stream like Vudu if the customer has the option of adding a bluray copy of the movie in your queue.
