Gomer Joins The LOVEFiLM vs NETFLIX Debate

 

Ok, so I’ve been a LOVEFiLM customer for many years, before they were owned by Amazon and before they were called LOVEFiLM.

Then Netflix opened it’s doors to the UK and I was ecstatic!

Let me provide some context.  I am a lover of film, have been for many years and as such I listen to and read a lot of American film critics.  One source in particular, the /Film Filmcast which I enjoy so much I donate to them at the rate of $2 per month.  That’s right, I pay to hear people’s opinions on film.

During these podcasts, Dave, Devindra and Adam often mention films that are available via Netflix and I have found it so frustrating that they can talk about a film on the show and then recommend that folks go to Netflix and watch the film they’ve just been discussing…..when I couldn’t.

Now I know that LOVEFiLM has a streaming facility so this whole streaming content delivery thing ain’t new but their service is poor, at best, with titles available to stream on my PC but NOT on my PS3………….which is attached to my lovely, shiny HDTV!

So as soon as I saw that Netflix had become available, I jumped at the chance.  Granted, their content is limited at the moment but they’ve only been open a week and they have promised to add more and more content daily.  I have made full use of my subscription so far by watching a TV show called ‘Breaking Bad’ which I always meant to get into but never did.  My first visit to Netflix had this show listed in the TV Show category so I started watching.  In HD.  In 5.1 Surround. Also on my Android.

I have watched 14 episodes so far.

There are friends I have who I discuss film and TV with who, like me, wondered how these two media giants were going to compete with each other as, in many ways, optical media is going the way of the dodo and Netflix has arrived with a solid reputation from across The Pond.

I made the decision to jump ship.  I signed up for Netflix and cancelled my LOVEFiLM account within 2 days.

This evening (30 minutes ago) I had a very pleasant, young lady at my door asking me if I ‘had ever heard of Amazon.com’?

Why ‘yes’, I answered.

‘Well, Amazon own a company called’………wait for it……….LOVEFiLM!

Yes, Netflix have been live for under 1 week and Amazon are sending out the sales force in erm, force to get people to sign up for LOVEFiLM!

This pleasant, young lady proceeded to completely diss Netflix, calling them ‘has beens’, ‘greedy’, ‘poor quality’ and ‘lacking in content’ amongst other things.

I dunno about you film fans out there but to me, this smacks of desperation and is indicative of how many cancellations LOVEFiLM have already received.

LOVEFiLM are offering their streaming and optical media service (2 Disks) for £9.99 per month.  The pleasant young lady also advised me, when challenged, that LOVEFiLM are NOW streaming all content simultaneously across ALL platforms.

Netflix charge £5.99 for unlimited streaming.

If nothing else, this shows EXACTLY the impact that the arrival of Netflix has had.

I’m sticking with Netflix for now.

Anyone else have any thoughts?  Feel free to post up!

Gomer