When does Netflix arrive in March and what will it include?

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6434 posts

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#1250284 3-Mar-2015 14:10

timbosan: I think the stand out piece of information in the release http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=17209 is that they are offering 4K! Compare this to Sky's 1989 based offering on Neon in SD only, and how can you even compare the two offerings?

Sure, only a few shows are in 4K currently, but Netflix are pumping a lot into creating original content in 4K, and it shows they believe NZ (and AUS) has the bandwidth to support this.

Whilst Neon only being in SD is dumb, 4K really isn't that big a deal right now

1) very few people own 4K TVs (and yes, I realise it's a bit of a catch 22, but that's always the case with these things) and even those that do will struggle to tell the difference between 1080p and 4K
2) it requires speeds beyond quite a lot of NZ broadband connections (15Mbps) unlike HD which can get by easily on 5Mbps), and it's hugely beyond the vast majority of Aus broadband connection
3) there isn't very much content actually in 4K.

So whilst they will have it at launch, it's not an enormous competitive advantage right now (but probably will be in a couple of years if Lightbox and Neon don't catch up)

Killerkiwi2005

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#1250288 3-Mar-2015 14:14

NonprayingMantis:
timbosan: I think the stand out piece of information in the release http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=17209 is that they are offering 4K! Compare this to Sky's 1989 based offering on Neon in SD only, and how can you even compare the two offerings?

Sure, only a few shows are in 4K currently, but Netflix are pumping a lot into creating original content in 4K, and it shows they believe NZ (and AUS) has the bandwidth to support this.

Whilst Neon only being in SD is dumb, 4K really isn't that big a deal right now

1) very few people own 4K TVs (and yes, I realise it's a bit of a catch 22, but that's always the case with these things) and even those that do will struggle to tell the difference between 1080p and 4K
2) it requires speeds beyond quite a lot of NZ broadband connections (15Mbps) unlike HD which can get by easily on 5Mbps), and it's hugely beyond the vast majority of Aus broadband connection
3) there isn't very much content actually in 4K.

So whilst they will have it at launch, it's not an enormous competitive advantage right now (but probably will be in a couple of years if Lightbox and Neon don't catch up)

Neon in SD though.... yuck, reminds me of bad dvd rips in the early 2000's

old3eyes

9119 posts

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#1250290 3-Mar-2015 14:18

Killerkiwi2005:
NonprayingMantis:
timbosan: I think the stand out piece of information in the release http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=17209 is that they are offering 4K! Compare this to Sky's 1989 based offering on Neon in SD only, and how can you even compare the two offerings?

Sure, only a few shows are in 4K currently, but Netflix are pumping a lot into creating original content in 4K, and it shows they believe NZ (and AUS) has the bandwidth to support this.

Whilst Neon only being in SD is dumb, 4K really isn't that big a deal right now

1) very few people own 4K TVs (and yes, I realise it's a bit of a catch 22, but that's always the case with these things) and even those that do will struggle to tell the difference between 1080p and 4K
2) it requires speeds beyond quite a lot of NZ broadband connections (15Mbps) unlike HD which can get by easily on 5Mbps), and it's hugely beyond the vast majority of Aus broadband connection
3) there isn't very much content actually in 4K.

So whilst they will have it at launch, it's not an enormous competitive advantage right now (but probably will be in a couple of years if Lightbox and Neon don't catch up)

Neon in SD though.... yuck, reminds me of bad dvd rips in the early 2000's

Or VCD from the same period..

Regards,

Old3eyes

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1250291 3-Mar-2015 14:21

Killerkiwi2005:
NonprayingMantis:
timbosan: I think the stand out piece of information in the release http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=17209 is that they are offering 4K! Compare this to Sky's 1989 based offering on Neon in SD only, and how can you even compare the two offerings?

Sure, only a few shows are in 4K currently, but Netflix are pumping a lot into creating original content in 4K, and it shows they believe NZ (and AUS) has the bandwidth to support this.

Whilst Neon only being in SD is dumb, 4K really isn't that big a deal right now

1) very few people own 4K TVs (and yes, I realise it's a bit of a catch 22, but that's always the case with these things) and even those that do will struggle to tell the difference between 1080p and 4K
2) it requires speeds beyond quite a lot of NZ broadband connections (15Mbps) unlike HD which can get by easily on 5Mbps), and it's hugely beyond the vast majority of Aus broadband connection
3) there isn't very much content actually in 4K.

So whilst they will have it at launch, it's not an enormous competitive advantage right now (but probably will be in a couple of years if Lightbox and Neon don't catch up)

Neon in SD though.... yuck, reminds me of bad dvd rips in the early 2000's

yep, that definitely stinks.

HD makes so much sense - almost everybody has an HD TV, loads of content is in HD, and virtually every broadband connection can handle it.

the only reasons not to do it would be:

a) to protect your HD ticket revenues on normal sky digital
b) because you are too tight to pay CDN fees to stream high bitrates.

staticnz

151 posts

Master Geek

#1250292 3-Mar-2015 14:22

What happens after the 6 months free offer? Will I be locked in to pay the Netflix fee on top of the mobile contract for the next 18 months as well?

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#1250293 3-Mar-2015 14:24

NonprayingMantis:
timbosan: I think the stand out piece of information in the release http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=17209 is that they are offering 4K! Compare this to Sky's 1989 based offering on Neon in SD only, and how can you even compare the two offerings?

Sure, only a few shows are in 4K currently, but Netflix are pumping a lot into creating original content in 4K, and it shows they believe NZ (and AUS) has the bandwidth to support this.

Whilst Neon only being in SD is dumb, 4K really isn't that big a deal right now

1) very few people own 4K TVs (and yes, I realise it's a bit of a catch 22, but that's always the case with these things) and even those that do will struggle to tell the difference between 1080p and 4K
2) it requires speeds beyond quite a lot of NZ broadband connections (15Mbps) unlike HD which can get by easily on 5Mbps), and it's hugely beyond the vast majority of Aus broadband connection
3) there isn't very much content actually in 4K.

So whilst they will have it at launch, it's not an enormous competitive advantage right now (but probably will be in a couple of years if Lightbox and Neon don't catch up)

Whilst I agree with some of the points, without Netflix pushing 4K into NZ, I don't see anyone else ever getting content here in that format, and it makes a perfect match for all the 4K TV's that the stores now sell (and they now won't have to promise that it will make your DVD's look like 4K). Plus UFB is well underway, and will give a lot of NZ the bandwidth they need. And the fact Netflix PRODUCE 4K content is a big win for the format (and yes, a slightly smaller win for the consumer).

As for people viewing and resolving 1080p vs. 4K, that problem will run forever and a completely different problem. With 8K is coming (In Japan) and people will still sit to far away for their eyes to resolve the details. Even 1080p at 65" has a THX recommended viewing distance of only 6.5 feet http://www.thx.com/consumer/home-entertainment/home-theater/hdtv-set-up/. But I don't think technology should be constrained just because some consumers don't utilise what they are given to the best potential. BTW here is a chart I borrowed from http://carltonbale.com/does-4k-resolution-matter/

Demeter

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One NZ

#1250387 3-Mar-2015 15:53

I've never had a Netflix sub, so correct me if I'm wrong: But once you have an actual sub, discount et al, surely you could use it on any device and not be limited to using mobile data only?

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1250391 3-Mar-2015 16:00

Demeter: I've never had a Netflix sub, so correct me if I'm wrong: But once you have an actual sub, discount et al, surely you could use it on any device and not be limited to using mobile data only?

of course, but Vodafone's press release seems pretty intent on getting people to use it on their mobile phones over 4G

"We've got New Zealand's largest 4G network so our customers can have the best seat in the house on their mobile."

and

"Armed with Vodafone’s reliable 4G mobile network, customers will be able to unlock a world of movies and TV series while on the go."

and of course the bundle itself is with a mobile plan, implying it is a mobile-based service, rather than bundling with a fixed broadband plan like the Neon+Vf offer or Lightbox+Spark offer

freitasm

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#1250399 3-Mar-2015 16:19

Those words (in the press release) are very misleading, as explained above.

Wade

2225 posts

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#1250401 3-Mar-2015 16:31

A question for those with US Netflix accounts, how much 4K content is there? is it limited to a handful of movies or more widespread?

Sort of sounds like potential justification for a new tv lol

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1250405 3-Mar-2015 16:44

Wade: A question for those with US Netflix accounts, how much 4K content is there? is it limited to a handful of movies or more widespread?

Sort of sounds like potential justification for a new tv lol

not very much, and you do need to subscribe to the most expensive tier of Netflix to get it (which is $13USD, about 50% more than the $8 I currently pay)

http://www.cnet.com/news/4k-content-guide-what-to-watch-in-4k-today/

Killerkiwi2005

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1250407 3-Mar-2015 16:47

Heres the AUS list, currently 660 titles

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King   movie   9
Fight Club   movie   10
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring   movie   11
House of Cards   tv   15
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers   movie   16
Up   movie   115
Summer Heights High   tv   128
The IT Crowd   tv   137
Lost   tv   153
MythBusters   tv   167
Broadchurch   tv   188
Million Dollar Baby   movie   193
Fairy Tail   tv   209
Monsters, Inc.   movie   226
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl   movie   233
Marco Polo   tv   247
Sword Art Online   tv   248
BoJack Horseman   tv   249

myfullflavour

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Full Flavour

#1250410 3-Mar-2015 16:48

NonprayingMantis: Also, anybody else think it a bit odd that 'Netflix Australia and NZ' somehow already has 12m facebook likes :P

https://www.facebook.com/NetflixANZ?fref=ts

This morning they had a few hundred likes. Now if you try and navigate to the main Netflix facebook page it automatically redirects you to the regional version.

I guess Netflix have done a deal with Facebook and likes are counted across the entire group. Cool.

Other news, relevant to those in the Waikato & Bay of Plenty:

http://fullflavour.nz/ultra-fast-broadband/

After importing hundreds of Roku Streaming Sticks over the past 12 months, we've retired that offer and replaced it with a subscription to Netflix & Chromecast, free for 6 months.

Ties in with our move to BYOD (the Roku's required us to mess around blocking Google DNS etc).

freitasm

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#1250413 3-Mar-2015 17:21

Orcon is also going to offer a six months deal. Press release when I get home.

freitasm

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#1250442 3-Mar-2015 17:55

Orcon Press Release

With the impending arrival of Netflix in New Zealand, Orcon is offering new customers who sign up to any Orcon Unlimited plan on a 12 month contract from April 1 a credit equal to six months free Netflix.

The offer comes as Orcon announces the results of a survey of over 1500* Orcon UFB customers which shows that streaming is prolific amongst fibre users with 35 percent preferring online streaming as their primary means of watching television, twice as much as downloading (17%).

Orcon general manager Mike Shirley says, “This shows a change in the way customers are accessing content, with streaming and downloading combined overtaking traditional TV (48%) as the most common way to access TV and movies.”

“Customers are using a variety of devices to stream their favourite TV shows and movies and our research tells us that 71 percent of those with a streaming device are now watching less broadcast TV than they did prior to getting UFB,” adds Mr Shirley.

The Orcon research also named Netflix as the most popular streaming service with 88 percent of customers surveyed stating they would consider signing up to Netflix in the next 12 months. “Although, with the growing number of streaming services now available to New Zealanders, we wanted to create a streaming content credit that enabled our customers to choose their preferred streaming service, be it Netflix, Hulu, Lightbox, or any other,” stated Mr Shirley

In terms of the streaming benefits, surveyed customers were most in favour of ‘No advertising’ (60.5%), and ‘Not reliant on TV schedules’ (72.6%).

The six-months free offer follows the recent announcement that Orcon is upgrading its Global Mode Service so users will be able to switch between regions and watch content from different Netflix catalogues in the US and UK with ease.

“With more of our fibre customers favouring streaming as their main method of watching TV shows and movies, we want to give them access to even more online content and the Global Mode region-switcher will make it even easier for Netflix users to switch to different regions to view the content they want.“

The Global Mode region switching feature will launch in March free-of-charge to Orcon customers.

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