World, Writing, Wealth discussion
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How Would You Save Netflix and other Streaming Services?
Papaphilly wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Last week I heard that Netflix is in negotiations to buy a large piece of property in NJ that is a vacated military base to build production studios."I do not know if it is Netflix
The area Netflix wanted to buy was in Monmouth County, NJ
Barbara wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Last week I heard that Netflix is in negotiations to buy a large piece of property in NJ that is a vacated military base to build production studios."I do not k..."
Ok, I live in Hudson County.
I saw the other day that Netflix will start charging in the new year for others sharing your account. $4 I think. This makes sense.
Netflix won the bid for the Fort Monmouth military base earlier this month. It was announced they were bidding at least a year ago. Interstingly, "The 2018 New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax credit Program provides a 30-35% tax credit — plus a 2% "diversity bonus" — that runs through 2028." I also read somewhere that some production companies were leaving Georgia because of restrictive voting laws. I don't recall past that.The most recent thing I read on the Netlix bid - https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2022/10/n...
Well, they didn't pull out of Georgia because in the end, it's all about the money. I have mixed feelings about giving big tax advantages to one industry when others in that area don't get it, but bringing movie production does give the area economy a boost. The big advantage in Georgia is that's where Tyler Perry built a huge studio complex there years ago, and right now, his BET shows, also HBO and one of the networks do a lot of their filming there.
I live in Georgia, and there are no restrictive voting laws. Requiring an I.D. to prove who you are before voting is common sense and limits voter fraud. I don't understand what people are talking about when they say we have restrictive voting laws.
Reported at the end of December that Netflix was not meeting its subscriber goals for its new "basic" plan of $6.99 a month with commercials. Ads are one problem, another is that a few popular shows are not available on the plan, and then Netflix fell short of certain viewership guarantees they made to advertisers and had to issue some refunds.
It sounds like they made a bad choice. I’m one who doesn’t like to watch commercials, so I’m willing to pay more. Netflix and Prime are the only streaming services I keep all the time. Between the two, I can always find something to watch.
Scout wrote: "It sounds like they made a bad choice. I’m one who doesn’t like to watch commercials, so I’m willing to pay more. Netflix and Prime are the only streaming services I keep all the time. Between the ..."I don't mind commercials, such as Hulu, where they are reasonable spaced and tell you how long the break is. I refuse to pay extra to avoid the commercials on Paramount, Hulu and others I have. However, the free services, such as Freeve, Tuvi, Pluto, Peacock have too many commercials and often take place in the middle of a scene.
I left HBO for the same reasons of commercials and I will leave Netflix if pushed. Commercials and less viewing choices? Want to bet things like Stranger Things end up on that list of what will not be viewable on the lesser rung?
It comes down to whether you want to pay a premium for no commercials and more viewing choices. I never subscribe to more than 3 streaming services at a time, and I always wait for offers of a free month for things like Hulu, HBO, etc., so I don't mind paying more for premium Netflix. Commercials are a drag.
I do sign up for deals when there is a season on something that I haven't been watching. Like Outlander, I signed up for 30 days free but waited until the complete season was out. Otherwise, I have yet to find enough stuff to watch on some of the premium services like Cinemax, Showtime, Starz.
I am on Sherlock Holmes GR groups and one thing that I would do if I were Netflix would be look to new Holmes works I could adapt. I don't just mean Enola Holmes (I know it's popular, I don't care for it) - and I know they tried an Irregulars series a while back (there was also one around the early 80s in England). There are a few very good Holmes novels and stories out there and Holmes is one character that is popular worldwide.Of course, the issue would be money - doing period pieces well costs money. Maybe we could get the royals to produce.
I subscribe to no streaming services.I have been a subscriber to the Xfinity (Comcast) cable provider for decades (long before it adopted its current name). The current subscription includes 5 premium movie, Peacock Premium, and the Sports channels, plus DVR service for 3 TVs, PC modem, Wi-Fi, cell phone, and home phone line. Total monthly cost: $318.56.
That said; I personally seldom watch television. There are just too many books to read, places to visit, people to meet, and better things to do.
You had me at "too many books to read."
Jim wrote: "Total monthly cost: $318.56...."You lost me there.
I've always loved books and movies and am always happy to find good ones. Is reading a book more instructive and character building than watching a movie?
Scout wrote: "I've always loved books and movies and am always happy to find good ones. Is reading a book more instructive and character building than watching a movie?"I personally believe that both a book and a movie, if well written, edited, and produced with the emphasis focused upon quality rather than cost are equally able to build character and entertain its intended audience.
Scout wrote: "I've always loved books and movies and am always happy to find good ones. Is reading a book more instructive and character building than watching a movie?"I do not see them as the same. I see them as very distinct medium with each having their pluses and minuses. Now to answer your question, I think reading a good book will take more brain power and develop your intellect as compared to a movie. that is not to knock a movie because as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Visual stimulation has its own rewards and some people learn more from watching than reading.
I agree w/Jim that you can enjoy a well written book and a well produced movie, but movies are a visual medium. With the visuals, a reader has to envision characters, landscapes, etc and so the writer's job is to "paint the picture" with words instead of capturing the picture with a camera lens.It's always interesting to see a movie based on a book, how sometimes they really seem to "get it", and other times it's as if the director and screenwriter just read the Cliff notes.
Reading a book requires imagination and critical interpretation. Movies don't require much in the way of imagination, but do require critical interpretation. So it seems that books ask more from us.
I like the idea of a Sherlock Holmes series based on the new fiction, but as a faithful-to-the-canon period piece, not a contemporary series. (And not just because I'm one of the MX anthology writers.) Lately, I've turned up two series from the 80s: an 8 part teenage Sherlock Holmes mini-series called "The Mystery of Manor House," and a series of 1/2 hr episodes called "Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson." There were also the two films from the '80s starring Ian Richardson as Holmes - all of these came before the Granada/Jeremy Brett series.I enjoy reading more than films generally; lately I haven't found any films that seem worth my time. It's always interesting to see how a book will adapt - it seems you have to know how to replicate the book ("Rosemary's Baby") or, with a very large book, what to leave out and retain the "feel" of the book ("Silence of the Lambs," "LA Confidential.") Or, you do a miniseries for television.
I was looking today at the choices of movies and series on Netflix. Some are not what I want to watch, but there is a wide variety of things I do want to see. I make my choices using the same criteria I use when I go to the library. So what if there are things on offer that I don't agree with? I still have free choice and find plenty to watch. I don't understand why people are so upset about what's available. Just skip what you don't like.
Scout wrote: "I was looking today at the choices of movies and series on Netflix. Some are not what I want to watch, but there is a wide variety of things I do want to see. I make my choices using the same crite..."Your failure is that you use logic. Don't you know most people that scream about this stuff use no logic? For them it is all about feelings and they have to be right.
Good to know that logic is a good thing.
So now I read that Amazon Prime is going to start showing ads in their stuff starting January 29. The deal with programming used to be either/or - you either took subscriptions, like most streaming services, or you brought in advertiser funding. Now it looks like some streaming services are trying to have both.
Prime has one NFL game per week, Clarkson's Farm, and The Grand Tour. Oh wait...‘The Grand Tour’ Not Moving Forward at Amazon Prime Video With Hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond
https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/th...
Then there's The Rings of Power. Strangely enough, The Grand Tour produced a segment which perfectly illustrates what Amazon did with the rights they bought from Tolkien's estate.
https://youtu.be/j-73fvLUTAo?si=8Jk0K...
Barbara, you have the option of paying Amazon a few dollars more for ad-free access. That's what Hulu does. I haven't decided if I'm going to pay more or not.
Amazon had been ad free for Prime members and then they offered Freevee, which used to be IMDB TV where all you needed was an Amazon account and you got movies and shows with ads. For years, the series Bosch had been on Amazon Prime and then the last 2 seasons were "demoted" to Freevee,
We record a late night program because we're early risers, and so when we watch it the next day, we can bypass the ads. I think that if you are going to include ads, it should be stated at the outset so that the viewer can decide whether or not they want to subscribe to your service, or pay extra to opt out of ads. What I don't like is when you sign up for one service under certain conditions and then the conditions are changed.We no longer have Netflix, due to the James Carville principle ("It's the economy, Stupid!") I think like many people, we had to look to areas where we could trim the budget, and found that we weren't watching enough Netflix to justify the cost (Netflix wasn't the only one we gave up) There are programs I would like to see, and if they were offered on an a la carte basis, I would pay for some individually, but there really aren't streaming services that offer enough of the type of material I watch.
I might consider returning to Netflix if they did that faithful Sherlock Holmes suggestion, or optioned material I would like to see adapted. I always think that Netflix and others would do well to employ the "Limitless" principle - it was a pretty obscure novel, but someone was sharp enough to comb the library, see its potential, option it at a reasonable cost and turn it into a very profitable and popular film.
J. wrote: "We record a late night program because we're early risers, and so when we watch it the next day, we can bypass the ads. I think that if you are going to include ads, it should be stated at the outs..."I am looking closely at moving on from Netflix. Tired of the games from all of the streaming services.
I read just today that there are shakeups in the film divisions of both Disney and Netflix.l The articles have a lot of blah-blah-blah about "changing landscapes" and "adapting to viewer demands." Got a word for you - viewers want what they want, no preaching, no wokism, no stale plots and uninspiring visuals that make viewers think the only department that's working is AI.Maybe they need to figure out what's making Hallmark so popular and profitable and do a little of that.
I don't care that some Netflix offerings are woke. I just choose not to watch them, but there's still a lot to watch, including older movies. I can always find something interesting, unlike with other services like Paramount+, Showtime, HBO, Hulu. Within a couple of weeks, I've watched everything of interest. When any of them offers a free month, I take it and am happy to cancel when the trial is up. Not so with Netflix. And Amazon Prime also has lots to watch. So I keep Netflix and Prime all the time and dip into the others for a month for free. Sorry, Barbara, but Hallmark isn't for me.
Read again about Netflix woes, connected to the 100 million they gave to Meghan and Harry in a development deal. With the failure of the 20 million Spotify deal last year, and nothing really in "development", and then floating the idea of taking on ads to help offset their bad financial decisions, I think it's reasonable to question their judgment.As for Hallmark, they aren't always for me (though I thought Three Wise Men and a Baby was one of the most enjoyable Christmas movies in a long time) but they are for somebody because Forbes, Business Journal, Telegraph all covered Hallmark's strong business model. Maybe they were too smart to give mid-list "celebrities" nine figure development deals. Whatever. But If one company is doing well, and other services are struggling financially, I would try to figure out what the hugely profitable one is doing, and try to do that.
I didn't know they paid the whiners (Harry and Meg) $100 million. I had to laugh when they were anxiously peering out their windows at the very intimidating paparazzi that weren't anywhere near their home, when they were walking on a private beach having a good time. Poor royals. And I didn't know about the Spotify deal. So I'm obviously Ill informed on this topic. If I have to watch ads, I'll rethink my subscription. I hate ads. I do see your point, Barbara.
Netflix apparently made two very costly development deals, one with Harry and Meghan and the other with the Obamas. A development deal financially compensates an independent producer or production company who will seek out and acquire multiple properties, with the financier (usually a film and television studio) underwriting the production. The arrangement usually presumes that the developers have special skills or industry contacts that will enable them to acquire or develop marketable properties, and also eases the financial gamble because it presumes that there will be enough profitable projects to offset any losses.PS - I also really enjoyed Three Wise Men And A Baby.
Scout wrote: "I don't care that some Netflix offerings are woke. I just choose not to watch them, ..."I wish more had that attitude.
Papaphilly wrote: "Scout wrote: "I don't care that some Netflix offerings are woke. I just choose not to watch them, ..."I wish more had that attitude."
Similarly, I don't care if some offerings are religion-based. I just choose what I want to watch and ignore the rest. We have gotten so used to media being directed solely at what we want that we have forgotten that most of our lives it wasn't that way. I don't have any desire to listen to hip-hop, but I still play the local radio station.
I can't watch Hallmark either, but I have several sisters and a niece who love it. I don't read romance novels either and get annoyed when there is too much of it in my sci-fi, mystery, or thriller. For me, the happily ever after mushy type of stuff especially when combined with the we shall overcome that adversity plot does little for me. I would rather watch reruns of Criminal Minds.
I will watch historical novels on TV though, which generally Netflix and Prime do well. I do like HBO Max or whatever they call themselves these days and unlike Netflix they haven't limited access from those whose location is outside the home of the subscriber.
No mushy romance for me, either, Lizzie :-)
Just read that Harry and Meghan are developing two series for Netflix. Meghan will be starring in a cooking show, that's coming just after she got involved in a new venture, American Riviera Orchard. ("First you slice six peaches from American Riviera Orchard....") And Harry is involved in one about professional polo.Not exactly clearing my schedule.
The Spare and the Golddigger giving us a firsthand look into the lives of the idle rich?I think it would be better if they were in 1980s Miami.
https://youtu.be/dEjXPY9jOx8?si=qK3qo...
The Netflix deal is moving ahead - apparently they are getting huge tax breaks, and they have to commit to remaining operative for at least 10 years, with a planned opening date somewhere between 2025 (unlikely) and 2028 (more likely)
Barbara wrote: "Just read that Harry and Meghan are developing two series for Netflix. Meghan will be starring in a cooking show, that's coming just after she got involved in a new venture, American Riviera Orchar..."Can someone explain to me how they keep getting deals? I do not get it.
Idiots. That explains them and their backers and watchers.
That's exciting news about the new movie studio in NJ! To save streaming services like Netflix, they should focus on unique, high-quality content and affordable pricing.
Papaphilly wrote: "Can someone explain to me how they keep getting deals? I do not get it."Yeah - and I keep telling Netflix, I'll take that deal for half of what they're paying the ex-royals. Waiting on the call.
Now that some time has passed since this thread was created, it doesn't look like Netflix is in a lot of trouble. I think the problem with content people complain about is that everyone hate watches it. The new Star Wars series The Acolyte, for example. I've heard nothing but how trash the series is, yet there's no shortage of people watching episode after episode just to see how bad it is. The studios don't care if everyone hates it as long they're watching and Disney makes its money.
Between Netflix and Prime Video, I can usually find a movie or series I'm looking for. What's not to like?
Netflix is ending it's "cheapest" ($11.99/mo) ad free option. I think they still offer an ad free but it's just over $15/mo. They see more people willing to pay less for ads. I'm saving even more since I dumped Netflix.
I do not know if it is Netflix, but in my town, there is going to be the biggest ground up movie studio ever built in the North America. I tis in NJ and it is approved.