DC Universe online streaming service

[Karha of Honor]

I feel like Disney, CBS and DC are joining them technically. The only reason they've considered doing this is because of how Netflix started the original content revolution -- for streaming. And this is actually nothing new. Netflix is no different from HBO. A subscription service that has an indefinite temporal roster of movies, to which they also started making original content that made large ripples in the previously established market for shows.

So again, I'm following what you're saying, but I don't see this as a catastrophic collapse of our competition competent media landscape.

If you wanted complete cable packages with all the subscription channels, it wasn't cheap. Not everybody had it, but they had basic cable. Now it's not gonna be much different (it's catching back up). If you want all the best subscriptions, it's not gonna be cheap.

Potential difference I see though is that all the stuff that used to be on basic cable is gonna be on its parent company's portal.

HBO did not make movies that compare to the scale of Netlfix blockbusters.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

HBO did not make movies that compare to the scale of Netlfix blockbusters.

It wasn't really pertinent to my point. The fact that it's still around and relevant, and making movies to its liking if even more documentary-esque features, shows it stands on its own. Even still, Disney, CBS, and DC aren't taking away competition, they are competition, and you're only kinda proving that point here.

Netflix is indeed a giant. I'm proud to be from the county that it was founded in. To go from the company that brought down Blockbuster to the company that starts the movement to shake down cable and satellite providers, is legion.

[Deledrius]

Even still, Disney, CBS, and DC aren't taking away competition, they are competition, and you're only kinda proving that point here.

They aren't, not at all, not even remotely. You seem to have completely missed my point, as well as the dynamics involved in the market here.

They literally cannot compete with each other, because they own total control over the content. If Disney is giving me a lousy deal on streaming Disney films, I cannot go to another provider to view that content. CBS can provide bad service, lousy players, exorbitant prices, and any other number of anti-consumer practices, and the customer who wants to consume that specific content has no choice and no way to exert an opposing pressure on the company. This is the opposite of competition, because they are both the producer (and rights-holder) of the content as well as the distribution network/retailer (or as close to retail as we'll probably ever be again).

As a consumer, I want more choices, not less.

In an ideal situation, we'd have streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu (although they too are owned by a content producer, they are not exclusive to their own content), and others all licensing the content from the studios such as Disney, CBS, Sony, and others. In this model, they would compete for customers not over the content, which they all would more-or-less share, but over features and price. Better players, larger library, more streaming options, lower prices, better quality video, ad-free options, etc.

Instead we see a trend toward everyone wanting to run their own exclusive streaming service that only carries their own content (CBS, HBO, Disney, etc.) and then pulling their content off of other (often better) services. Superficially this looks like greater choice, but it's an illusion because they are not competing. Each one is an exclusive island of content. Copyright gives each company a monopoly over their content; it is their choice to not license their content and stifle competition, but this is in their best interest not ours.

As a consumer, I will not support a model that reduces my choices and raises prices.

You can do so if it pleases you, but don't deceive yourself that it's something it's not. Platform exclusivity, whether it's video games, television, music, books, or movies, is never for your benefit.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Superficially this looks like greater choice, but it's an illusion because they are not competing. Each one is an exclusive island of content. Copyright gives each company a monopoly over their content; it is their choice to not license their content and stifle competition, but this is in their best interest not ours.

You can do so if it pleases you, but don't deceive yourself that it's something it's not. Platform exclusivity, whether it's video games, television, music, books, or movies, is never for your benefit.

Well, I mean, I don't think it looks like a greater choice lol. My position is pretty anchored to the fact that they have a discrete product that I value, being a show, that I'm willing to play along with in considerably good faith. With DC, yeah I'm watching the DCAU, but I'm not sure if I'll go over it more than once since I get rather stuffed on binge watching.

With CBS I stuck with them through the Christmas break, but when they said there wouldn't be another season until this next February I didn't find much reason to stick around.

So talking under the illusion that they don't satisfy competition, I'm willing to go along with it despite technicality and circumstance of market constructs. It's a bit of an assertive regression on their part. Their portals are considerably lousy, they kinda turn the landscape into a bit of a bear market, and their own pool of licensed content comes off kinda placid compared to the streaming services that have an active rotation.

It is a valid product though, and isn't so much as a perversion of the market. It's just a backwards model. Ironically that's kinda where the DCEU missed the mark imo. You can't just throw your heaviest project into the fold as a tentpole.

And that whole thing about the show being what I value; that's kinda how I am with Netflix and Hulu. I tend to like the original content primarily. I like Marvel Netflix, House of Cards, and Castle Rock. So I'm probably more of a peculiar case as far as a satisfied consumer.

[Darth Wedgius]

Once upon a time there was a young man who was interested in science and technology, and he got basic cable, and there was a channel in it called the Discovery Channel that had science and technology, and that young man was happy.

But then parts of it became the Science Channel, Discovery Wings, Discovery Health, and other channels that you had to pay more for, and so often got the programming that the young man had watched the Discovery channel for in the first place. And each of those channels had one or two shows he wanted, and a lot of shows he didn't want to watch at all.

So eventually he gave up on the Discovery Channel entirely, and became a hermit in the woods, eating bugs and trying to breed the more aggressive squirrels into a squirrel army for revenge.



Which may sound weird, but emus weren't available.

[Deledrius]

And that whole thing about the show being what I value; that's kinda how I am with Netflix and Hulu. I tend to like the original content primarily. I like Marvel Netflix, House of Cards, and Castle Rock. So I'm probably more of a peculiar case as far as a satisfied consumer.

Yeah, that definitely makes sense, and it's been really nice to see new studios cropping up to challenge the existing heavyweights. That part has been good for the market overall.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Once upon a time there was a young man who was interested in science and technology, and he got basic cable, and there was a channel in it called the Discovery Channel that had science and technology, and that young man was happy.

But then parts of it became the Science Channel, Discovery Wings, Discovery Health, and other channels that you had to pay more for, and so often got the programming that the young man had watched the Discovery channel for in the first place. And each of those channels had one or two shows he wanted, and a lot of shows he didn't want to watch at all.

So eventually he gave up on the Discovery Channel entirely, and became a hermit in the woods, eating bugs and trying to breed the more aggressive squirrels into a squirrel army for revenge.

Which may sound weird, but emus weren't available.

If this was a story at campfire I'd be shitting my pants.

Yeah, that definitely makes sense, and it's been really nice to see new studios cropping up to challenge the existing heavyweights. That part has been good for the market overall.

Kinda weird how much we actually agree on.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Yes! The cursor disappears w/ the hud now when you stop moving it. Almost was getting too familiar with it, I move it to the side when watching Netflix lol.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Finally it's got New Adventures of Batman. Felt I was missing out, though I haven't thought to get into Static Shock as of yet. Maybe soon I will have finished my viewership of the entire DCAU. Though it should be noted that a new JLU movie is being brought out by the DCUAOM guys.