Engadget reports that Lovefilm has signed a deal with Fox in the U.K. for films and TV shows, a sure sign that they are willing to go to war with Netflix. From the press release:
LOVEFiLM members will have instant, exclusive on-demand access to what is known as the second pay television window of Twentieth Century Fox film content. The film deal commences with titles theatrically released in the UK in 2011, which will be made available to subscribers to the LOVEFiLM service as early as March 2013.
The deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution will also give LOVEFiLM members access to movies and TV series from the studio's library of much-loved titles, and will add to LOVEFiLM's already extensive TV catalogue. TV titles from Twentieth Century Fox's television library, available from July 2012, will include early seasons of motorcycle drama Sons of Anarchy and all seasons of 24, Prison Break, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel.
I wish netflix would let Europe alone and not waste money on the whole thing and instead just use the money from the hike in prices from last year on new content for north america.
Posted by: Kayla Sonergoran | June 27, 2012 at 08:42 AM
Meanwhile I'm still waiting for Amazon Prime (or anyone else) to become a legitimate competitor with Netflix here in America.
Posted by: Stuie299 | June 27, 2012 at 05:36 PM
is that for gay people?
Posted by: bellybutton | June 27, 2012 at 06:17 PM
Yeah, Stuie299 - I know what you mean. Nobody can compete with the top 5 Most Popular streaming titles that Netflix offers (from InstantWatcher.com) -
1) Nazis at the Center of the Earth 2012
2) Hostel: Part III 2011
3) I Spit on Your Grave 1978
4) Battle Royale 2000
5) Hellboy 2004
Ouch, talk about popcorn for the brain type content.
Posted by: Edward R Murrow | June 27, 2012 at 06:29 PM
Gotta keep in mind Edward, that's 5 most popular streaming titles watched by the American populace that can afford 8 bucks a month. Not saying people with a cerebral bent don't subscribe to Netflix, but it certainly isn't the majority.
Also, the children of those people who have almost nothing but spare time on their hands to fill with hours of... quality... entertainment.
There ARE deep and intellectual films to be found on Netflix, if you look for them. Quoting what the most popular is simply shows what's being watched the most, not the best thing being watched (which is clearly a matter of opinion).
Posted by: Ethan | June 27, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Edward
What you don't realize is that Netflix has a larger variety of films/tv shows than any other website. When coupled with their DVDs its no match for Hulu or Prime. Just fool yourself into thinking InstantWatcher's top streaming movies are a good judge of Netflix's quality. Must have not put any effort into actually assessing their quality.
Come on it costs $8.99 for streaming. Double if you have 1 DVD out at a time. Considering that I think they do a pretty good job. Just as long as they keep their focus on acquiring more/better content in America then everything is fine with me.
My original point though, was that having a decent competitor would keep them from getting lazy. It would give them more incentive to keep upgrading their streaming library and improving their Website. If the competitor turns out to actually be better than Netflix than that's fine by me as well.
Posted by: Stuie299 | June 27, 2012 at 11:54 PM
*7.99
Posted by: Stuie299 | June 28, 2012 at 12:03 AM
Sarcasm alert....Thanks so much for calling the U.K just England. On behalf of the Welsh, the Scottish and the Northern Irish people, please do us all a favor and go buy a geography books so the rest of us aren't insulted when you mention a story about the United Kingdom and come away with a headline "streaming war in England intensifies" making it seem as if this situation with Lovefilm affects no one outside of England.
shakes head...
Posted by: LTM | June 28, 2012 at 08:04 PM
@LTM - Yeah, but England is the important part of the UK. Nobody except the Welsh, Scottish, or Northern Irish care about the Welsh, Scottish, or Northern Irish people.
Posted by: Groggie | June 28, 2012 at 08:41 PM
@Edward,
Competition is needed, my concern is if they start signing exclusives. Will I need to buy a couple services, or miss a good block of shows? Now Netflix is producing its own sows, will I be able to watch them on Amazon?
Posted by: Frank22 | June 30, 2012 at 12:38 AM
@LTM - I know what you mean mate. It's ok though, those colonials can't help it. we fucked up their county so I guess we can't expect too much of them.
Posted by: Glyndalf | July 01, 2012 at 05:12 AM