DirecTV vs. Netflix

Been using Netflix for 3 years now. I now have the Bluray plan and am enjoying it. I have 3 kids so we don't get much time for movies. But Netflix' low cost is a big plus for us. Plus, the turnaround time for getting the next DVD is 3 days, which works for us.

I would never buy the PPV that Directv offers. If it was near $2/movie, I would probably rent a couple of movies per month.

 

I signed up for Netflix and we use the Roku set-top box. My DSL isn't fast enough to watch the movies they offer in HD, but the viewing quality over standard definition is still remarkably good -- a notch below DVD. In fact, after I first got it I was amazed how often I found my wife and kids watching the Roku. With the ability to purchase 24-hour-old TV cable episodes via Amazon on the Roku, I actually considered buying a Tivo to DVR my OTA channels and cancelling DirecTV. I haven't though, primarily because there's no better way to get ESPN and live sports programming.

 

Stuart... Netflix does in fact have HD streaming titles. Many TV shows s well as movies. The selection is limited, as is all of the Netflix Streaming library, but they do have it.

I have caught up on a number of TV series this way.

Netflix measures your ability to receive bandwidth and delivers accordingly. If you internet connection isn't steady, the streaming service may interrupt the movie and reduce the resolution accordingly, then resume.

 

You can watch Netflix HD on your PC, through your XBOX 360 through a couple of Blueray players with Netflix player built in or as we do (and love), though the Roku box (www.roku.com).

 

I use netflix but if I have one of those I want to watch it now urges I check online and make a quick run to a redbox. $1 for 24 hrs and there is one right by my office so I can drop it off on my way into work the next morning. They don't offer Blu-ray's but $1/night for a new release DVD is much cheaper than the 24 hrs for $4.99 that D* offers.

As for the instant view on Netflix. I have comcast high speed w/ 6MB and have had no problems watching HD versions of Heroes. At one point I tried to drop back to a 1.5MB or 3MB plan (can't remember which) and the HD was unwatchable.

 

Biggest difference is that although Netflix lets you download, they are normally older movies. New releases aren't part of the available titles for download. So if you want to watch Taken right now, you won't get it streamed from Netflix.

 

The streaming library is limited, thanks once again to the studios. They haven't yet figured out how to get their pound of flesh out of the streaming service as of yet. Negotiations are ongoing.

But... that's the beauty of the Netflix service.. I get all the new release DVD's, usually the day they are released and when I am "caught up" on physical DVD's, I also have an Instant Que accessible directly from my Samsung Blu-Ray player. I keep about 30 or so movies and/or TV series in this que. I am currently working my through a Canadian SciFi series I had never seen... "Star Hunter 2300".

Larry

 

Netflix is great! I've been using their service since 1998, and I can count on one had the number of broken discs I've received. I got the Roku box for streaming when it first came out. I used it a lot initially, especially on those expensive TV series', but then I got a Blu-ray player. With the high price of new releases on BD right now, I usually just rent those discs and buy the less expensive catalog titles. After you've watched movies on Blu-ray, what else is there?

 

I don't disagree that the price is awfully high, but there should be some premium for HD content because it costs more to acquire, store and deliver.

If you think that the HD Access fee covers much of anything and isn't heavily subsidized by SD, you've got a another think coming. HD consumes two really big satellites versus SD which could probably get by on one of them (give or take).

 

Thanks all, for setting me straight on this. I am still pretty new to netflix and must not have known where to look.

 

Netflix all the way. I dropped all the premiums and with the savings I pay for Sunday Ticket and still have enough left over to buy some brats or something.

I never do PPV. Biggest waste of money on the planet.

 

Could you give more details about using the PS3 for Netflix streaming?
Thanks.

 

Same here. I dropped HBO and Showtime for Netflix. Blu-ray = Better picture, better sound, cheaper too.

Netflix streaming is not bad either. The HD content is very good for streaming.

 

Check out http://www.themediamall.com/.

 

I don't agree with paying $2.99 for an old movie, if I subscribe to a premium channel already I should be able to watch it for free, at least, that's how it was with cable. As for Netflix, they are doing a great job, streaming is good, PQ could probably be better but is not bad at all, if they get to a point where they can offer newer titles via download for a fixed monthly price, watch out!!!

 

It is free... if the rights are currently owned by the premium channel. If you want to go to DOD ch 1520 (Starz) and download a movie and you subscribe to that Starz, then the movie is free of charge.

If the movie is not currently on any premium channel and DirecTV offers it as a PPV movie, EVEN IF IT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN ON A PREMIUM CHANNEL, it is because they are having to pay the studio for it's use.

It all revolves around rights, like it or not and I guarantee you that no cable channel allows you to view a movie for free that they have to pay for.

TANSTAAFL = There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Larry

 

This past weekend I signed up for Netflix, with the first month free, so I'll be taking the streaming option out for a spin. I know one thing, I would rather pay for the unlimited Netflix 1-out or 2-out options simply because I don't have to rush ... the timing is right, whereas 24 hour rentals with DIRECTV (imposed by the studios, I know) just isn't satisfactory for me.

 

When we used to have NetFlix, we had the 3 out a time option. We just kept our wanted list completely filled with every movie we could think of that we wanted to watch. If something came out that we wanted to see sooner than later, we would move it to the top of the list. Basically, we just always had something coming to us and while waiting for another arrival, we would have at least one movie on hand to watch.

Now, we use Redbox, since like stated before, for $1.05 (with tax) it's definitely worth it.

- Merg

 

The Netflix streaming option on the Roku box ($99) is the best investment I've ever made. It has enough movies that I like that I can watch. It has a few HD titles that I get with my 5MB DSL line. The latest addition was Amazon thru the Roku box. Their pricing is in line with DirectTV, but I personally use neither. I've got over 80 movies in my Netflix Instant watch queue and if there is a new release, I just get the DVD sent. I get 1 day service almost 95% of the time.

I've also got PlayOn thru the HR20 box and with Hulu on that, plus Netflix along with my MLB Extra Innings package, I don;t have enough time to watch everything.