Hacking NetFlix

Interesting analysis of the Netflix Allocation System

Since Netflix has more than 1 million subscribers, they are faced with many challenges, including the allocation of new releases. How do you decide who gets first choice on new movies? This Web site (http://dvd-rent-test.dreamhost.com/) has been around for a while and is an amazing study of the allocation system. I think things have improved since his last update in May since I have 1 "Very Long Wait," 2 "Long Wait," and 4 "Short Wait" movies in my queue of 150 movies (and I consider myself a fairly regular renter).

New Release 11/25

New @ Netflix on Tuesday, November 25, 2003

Baby Einstein - Numbers Nursery (2003) Children
Blue Man Group - The Complex Rock Tour Live (2003) Music
Bruce Almighty (2003) Jim Carrey
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Dick Van Dyke
Ellen DeGeneres - Here and Now (2003) Comedy
Foo Fighers: Everywhere But Home (2003) Music
JFK: Presidency Revealed (2-Disc Series) (2003) Documentary
Love Me Tonight (1932) Maurice Chevalier
Mrs. Bradley Mysteries (3-Disc Series) (1999) Diana Rigg
My House in Umbria (2003) Maggie Smith
No Doubt: Rock Steady Live (2003) Music
No Maps for These Territories (2000) William Gibson
Profiler: Season 2 (6-Disc Series) (1997) TV
Reverend Horton Heat: live & In Color (2003) Music
Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman (1944) Basil Rathbone
The Challenge (2003) Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen
The Dark Crystal (1982) Frank Oz (Director) Children
X2: X-Men United (2003) Patrick Stewart

Netflix New Releases 11/18

New @ Netflix on Tuesday, November 18, 2003

2003 World Series (2003) Yankees vs. Marlins
All the Queen's Men (2001) Matt LeBlanc
Best of Dr. Seuss (1989) Children
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band: Live in Barcelona (2-Disc Series) (2002) Music
Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns (2003) Music (They Might Be Giants)
Ichi the Killer (2001) Foreign
Kelly Clarkson (2003) Music
King of Queens: Season 1 (3-Disc Series) (1998) TV
Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life (2003) Angelina Jolie
Last Tycoon (1976) Robert De Niro
Marooned (1969) Gregory Peck
My Big Fat Greek Life: The Entire Series (2003) TV
Oklahoma! (1999) Hugh Jackman
Oliver's Story (1979) Ryan O'Neil
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) Henry Fonda
Pale Flower (1964) Foreign
Santa Clause 2 (2002) Tim Allen
Scheme (2000) Jimmy Fallon
Second Nature (2003) Alec Baldwin
Shania Twain: Up! Live in Chicago (2003) Music
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones / Animated
Space Ghost Coast to Coast: Vol. 1 (2-Disc Series) (1994) Animated
Suicide Club (2002) Foreign
Tapped Out (2001) Georgio Allentini, Coolio
The Princess Blade (2001) Foreign
Together (2002) Foreign
U2: Go Home: Live From Slane Castle, Ireland (2002) Music
Visitors (2003) Thriller
West Wing Season 1 (4 disc set) (1999) TV
Winged Migration (2001) Foreign

This is my first "New @ Netflix" posting. Please let me know what information you would like to see with each listing (or if I've missed a movie).

Interesting story on how video stores are reacting to Netflix

Several interesting points in this story about a small video store (1,600 customers) offering a flat-rate rental plan. One member rented 96 movies in two months! The article also states that the video rental business is $8 billion, with only $200 million going to Netflix and other online rental companies.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=188668&category=BUSINESS&BCCode=&newsdate=11/12/2003

Why start a Blog on Netflix?

Why? I'm a user and fan of Netflix, and I haven't been able to find a good source of information. I've been a member for more than a year, and I’ve learned a lot about the company.

Did you know:

- Netflix is a publicly traded company worth more than a billion dollars? (11/11/2003)
- They have a mysterious method for determining who can rent the new releases?
- Netflix has patented the business model behind renting DVD’s by mail?
- They are competing against Blockbuster and Walmart?

I have several goals for this site:

1. New Releases. I’ll post new movie releases every Monday. Netflix doesn’t tell you because everyone would want to rent them, but I’ll let you know what’s coming.
2. News. I’ll try and post interesting news, links and information about Netflix here.
3. Netflix questions? Send me E-mail and I’ll do my best to get you an answer.

I look forward to hearing from you,

- Mike