Engadget tells Netflix to "Open up or die...."

Phillip from the Engadget Blog has written an excellent list of suggestions for Netflix to survive the coming battle with Blockbuster and Walmart.

Open up. Google did it, Amazon did, Apple did it, Netflix— expose your API so people out there can use www.netflix.com  the way they want to, in new ways, in ways you haven’t imagined. What do I mean by that?

Phillip goes on to suggest RSS feeds for movies, shared "playlists," integration with iTunes, Moviefone and Fandango, and exposure of the Netflix API (an interface for programmers to do cool things with the Netflix data). Amazon & Google have opened up their systems, with hackers and programmers creating all kinds of new and interesting applications (Amazon Web Services Demo Applications).

I agree with Phillip about TV. I have heard about the ads, but I have yet to see them. They have to find cheaper ways to get new subscribers than TV which is bringing the cost of new customers to nearly $40 each.

I think they really need to build out their community efforts. Phillip mentions my struggle to get the PR department at Netflix to treat me as a journalist, and I'm only one of many bloggers that cover Netflix (including Netflix Fan and A Netflix Odyssey). There are millions of Bloggers and Netflix needs to find ways to work with us.

Netflix has a real chance to win at this game. They are smaller and able to turn the ship in new directions a lot faster than the big guys. My only concern at this point is that they will do too well and get bought, leaving us without an innovator.

Thanks to Phillip, Ken & Dave Winer for letting me know about this story.

Comments

[Open Up In More Ways Than One]

I think the thing that bugs me about the entire Netflix Wars is the fact that Wal-Mart and Blockbuster have more selection, even though they (Netflix) were the pioneers. One of the reasons I subscribed to Netflix was because they had more that my local Blockbuster, which was a joke.

But then Walmart comes out with about 3,000 more titles that Netflix, and now Blockbuster has more as well. Come on, Netflix! Realize where your bread is buttered!! Stop being cheap!!

[AceInMySleeve]

I believe Netflix has been thinking fairly narrowly for a good while now. Now that very serious competition has arrived they better snap out of it. Blockbuster has matched Netflix almost on every line item, beaten them on many, and also brought unmatchable benefits (in-store coupons).

In my more optimistic moments I feel like anything Netflix did would have been copied, so they had to wait for Blockbuster to show its hand before changing the game again.

Given that they didn't offer any counterbalancing advantage for the price increase, I'm not optimistic often.

[Madison]

Netflix is too arrogant of a company to care. If you had competition knocking on your door would you raise your rates? They will be bought out or out of business within the year now that Blockbuster is starting their online service. People will go with a name they know and trust. Most of the public has never even heard of Netflix.