It's studio based/bundled. Isn't it typically at least a few months after most of these movies air on HBO, etc.

Most of the the newest titles go through Netflix DVD side first.

Netflix told me the studios hang on to streaming rights to sell more dvds. They said Hunger Games is now available for streaming in Canada but will not be available for streaming in the U.S. for maybe another 6-8 months. It still does not explain the Ocean's (11,12,13) movies not available for streaming.

I would assume that many older movies did not have streaming language built into the deal. Something/someone probably wants compensation that has not been met in order to release the films.

Netflix told you that?

Netflix spent $1.2 billion on licensing fees last year. It's just not possible to afford every movie ever made, so they have to pick and choose. I'm sure they could land streaming rights to the Hunger Games now for the right price, but it's probably not the best value considering their audience and what else they can get for that $.

Yes

I'm kind of surprised more studios don't unload their old stuff on Netflix/Amazon for lower fees. If a movie is over 3 years old, you're probably not pulling in big DVD numbers. So why not make something on it? I get it with top quality stuff, but the mediocre crap I'd take anything I could get.

Is anyone interested in House of Cards when it gets released on February 1? Has some big names in it and looks good. Kind of surprised at how they are releasing it though all at once. I can burn through a series in a week or two.

Maybe not milking it like networks do, but I'd have put out a first episode or something as a teaser to the show and then released the rest down the line. Or maybe released them in a couple chunks. Anyways, I'm always happy for new quality content no matter who makes it. And not having to worry about ratings might actually allow creators to focus on quality.

I'm kind of surprised that House of Cards has such a large budget(100m). It would seem that Netflix would be better off working with smaller amounts.

Red Dwarf is there now! :)

House of cards, the netflix original show with Kevin Spacey made by David Fincher, is now available. Im really curious how well this and the arrested development episodes do for them.

I wonder if there will be critical backlash because of the way it was just dumped with no lead time. It has to receive a lot less press than a normal show would.

House of Cards has been awesome so far. Watched the first episode and now on to the start of episode 3.

Agreed, I watched the first episode last night and thought it was very well done.

I'm on episode 6 now. I just can't stop watching it. Kevin Spacey was freaking perfect for the lead role.

How is this show not presented front and center when signing into your netflix account? The only promotion I saw was in my email today.

I went on my ps3 to watch and was drawing a blank on the actual name of the show. Figured no problem it will be promoted and easy to find. Hell, it's not even listed in the new offerings.

Ok, go online from my computer to the netflix site. Again not promoted in any way I can find. I had to come here to this thread, or to my email, to get the name of the show so I could watch it and then search for it online so I could add it to my queue.

Really looking forward to seeing it but a massive fail on netflix part of making it easy to, first know about and second to be able to find to watch.

It was a banner at the top of the website for me.

Same on my iPad.

Same on my PS3, so I'm not sure why it didn't show up for you, Sweed.

Well damn, have no clue. I do have no script on firefox so maybe that prevented it online but I don't see a reason why it wouldn't on my ps3. Weird.

Oh, well three episodes in and enjoying it.

Don't see it advertised on the Netflix app I use on my Samsung.

Finally got around to House of Cards yesterday, through four episodes so far. I suspect I'll finish the season by next Monday.

Is the $100 million bet on bringing in/retaining enough new subscribers to cover the costs of the show?

Figure $10/mo * 12 months = $120/year = need something like 800K-850K new subscribers? Assuming the math in my head is right ... Would be interested in how they identify new subscribers for the show, compared to people who are just checking out the product for the first time. Or how they factor in retention of existing subscribers, who may have otherwise voted for Hulu or Redbox or other services out there.

And at what point, assuming that their bet here is considered a success, does that lead to an increase in the cost of the offering? Beyond those already forecast for increasing streaming costs for movie content?

Right now, I'm just enjoying a new/good show. But I am at least a little interested in what this changing model suggests going forward.

It popped up front and center on the 360 app for me. Enjoyed the show. Won't say great, but pretty damn good. While I enjoy binging through shows, this does seem like one that might work better stewing over episodes for a week. I wonder if they would have been better served breaking it up a bit.

Should be interesting to see how the award shows handle it. You have to figure someone will be up for something on this show. Either Spacey for best actor or Robin Wright for supporting.

I also think it's clear that Netflix wants to be a premium channel that you can get anywhere. That quote about becoming HBO before HBO becomes them is fitting. Seems like they'll go for a mix of original content, exclusives, and then licensed filler.

It'll be interesting to see if it pays off. Put it this way, Netflix has more monthly subscribers than Showtime. And Showtime has been able to put out a lot of quality original programming.

I've got two episodes left in "House of Cards" and might just stay up to watch them tonight.

What a cliff hanger....

House of cards.. what kind of shits going to go down ?

Netflix is going to be integrated with Facebook.

Netflix Adds Facebook Integration in the U.S.

Cause what everyone wants to know is why are you watching 9 1/2 weeks at 1 am on Wednesday morning?

I thought Spacey was distracting and borderline awful at moments. I sure hope he doesn't get any kind of award buzz for acting like a tall talking chicken I say I say.

If you're a baseball fan there are about 20 episodes of a show called "Ed Randall Talking Baseball" from the early 90s that are pretty good stuff. I'm watching an interview with a pretty young Greg Maddux that is great.

Even though I thought Spacey was terrific, this post needs more love. I also caught the Foghorn Leghorn echoes.

Next series coming to Netflix.

This looks pretty fantastic and it doesnt hurt Weeds creator Jenji Kohan is behind it.

Yeah the preview makes this one that I'll at least watch.

So far, Netflix Original Series is 1-2 for me. As awesome as House of Cards was, Hemlock Grove was that terrible.

Avengers was added.

Kumare is pretty good.

Upstream Color is a great sci-fi movie.

Oh yeah, thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Did anyone watch Lilyhammer, which I think was their first original show?

Some WTF suggestions from Netflix.

12 WTF Netflix Suggestions

So Netflix released their next original series, "Orange is the New Black." It was created by the same woman that thought up Weeds. I've watched the first 5 episodes and actually am enjoying it. It's a bit twisted (much like Weeds was), but it's still entertaining. It's about a woman sent to prison for a crime she committed 10 years prior and the other inmates...each episode seems to tell the back story of one of the inmates through the events that unfold in each episode.

/tk

Hah, that's funny. Similar to our feed not too long ago. I don't consider these "family friendly":

I really like how they handle this and it's been an engaging series so far, and I'm not a guy who likes the WIP setting normally.

Is it House of Cards? No. HoC is still much better. But it's very solid, and I find it interesting despite the fact the protagonist comes across as quite bland.

In fact, I think in this case that blandness works to a degree, because it makes the characters around her that much more interesting, and allows the viewer to think about how they would react if they were in the protagonist's situation, in a way that a stronger character/actress wouldn't enable them to.

Edit: In the NF Original Series list that I've watched, it'd go:

1. House of Cards
2. Orange is the New Black
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Lastandleastforever. Hemlock Grove.

Just finished up season one of Orange..... just amazing.... easily 10/10. The last 4 episodes especially, about as perfect as it gets.

Hemlock Grove actually got renewed. Enjoying Orange is the New Black.

Is there anything in the pipeline from Netflix that looks good? I liked HoC and liking Orange, but I feel they really need a signature show.

The very last episode was the best so far IMO.

This Max guy is getting me to watch things I normally wouldn't. Granted, Rain Man is awesome, but I'd usually just rifle through it. But when Max is like, you want to watch Rain Man? I'm all for it.

I think Arrested Development and HOC are the "signature shows". Orange is a nice surprise though, i think its really good.