Ezyflix signs up more content providers: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and ABC

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freitasm

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#133990 11-Nov-2013 12:05

Received today:

EZYFLIX.TV PARTNERS WITH SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT & ABC TO DELIVER HOT DIGITAL CONTENT ACROSS ALL DEVICES

Viewers across New Zealand hungry for the hottest international video content can now access hit titles like Breaking Bad, Weeds, The Tudors, Community, The Twilight Saga and The Host following the announcement of an exciting partnership between Access Digital Entertainment (ADE) and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

The collaboration allows ADE’s new online streaming and download-to-own service, EzyFlix.tv, to offer both movies and television franchises from the prestigious studio, the latest of which will be available following their first broadcast in New Zealand.

ADE has also finalised an agreement with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Commercial giving consumers in New Zealand and Australia the ability to stream or buy titles like Angry Boys, Summer Heights High, Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends and Thorne.

Craig White, CEO and co-founder of ADE, said that local consumers are demanding more timely access to new release movies and television shows, and are tired of feeling like they’re behind the rest of the world.

“EzyFlix.tv has more than 2000 titles on offer and is the only service in the country offering users digital television content to buy. We are thrilled that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and the ABC have chosen to partner with us to provide New Zealanders with better access to the programs and films they love,” he said.
EzyFlix.tv offers ‘season passes’ to television shows including alerts to each episode’s availability, along with bite-size options will also allow users to ‘snack’ on TV. For example, consumers can purchase an episode of a hit show from just $2.99.

Mr White said EzyFlix.tv is the first service of its kind in NZ, providing affordable and convenient video content to rent or own without any subscription fees, contracts or the need for a set top box.

“EzyFlix.tv allows people to build their own online movie and TV library in the cloud and does not lock users into one device or ecosystem – you can download a digital file and play it back anytime, anywhere and on any device including a range of PCs, smartphones, tablets and Smart TVs, either on or offline.”

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NonprayingMantis

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#930631 11-Nov-2013 12:07

$2.99 an episode. Waay to expensive IMO when I can watch as much as I want on Netflix for $15 (including my unblock-us subscription cost). So if I watch more than 5 episodes of TV per month this service is more expensive (and I watch a LOT more than 5 episodes per month)

Maybe if it was $1 per epsisode...

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#930641 11-Nov-2013 12:18

NonprayingMantis: $2.99 an episode. Waay to expensive IMO when I can watch as much as I want on Netflix for $15 (including my unblock-us subscription cost). So if I watch more than 5 episodes of TV per month this service is more expensive (and I watch a LOT more than 5 episodes per month)

Maybe if it was $1 per epsisode...

I thought EzyFlix was more of a Vudu/Amazon type service.

Interested to see if the latest content on EzyFlix is even on Netflix yet.

The prices dont seem too bad especially when comparing them to the same things on Vudu/Amazon

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#930654 11-Nov-2013 12:35

EzyFlix recommend 3 Mbit/s minimum bandwidth for HD streaming. This would indicate their HD streams are roughly that bit rate or slightly lower (overhead). I hope they do not stream 1080p because that would look awful in the extreme.

JimmyH

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#930987 11-Nov-2013 19:14

It's a step in the right direction, and finally seems to have realised that a decent range of content is needed.

However, I won't subscribe.

1. I had a look at the terms and conditions. They are way too one-sided.

2. It's not clear how bad the DRM is. For instance, if I "buy" a film or episode, on my quick read through it if doesn't say how DRM-encumbered the download is, and whether it's tied to having an ongoing account or the device it was downloaded on etc.

3. Prices are way too high:

3A: Movies (I just looked at the Hangover III, which has both "rent" and "buy" options). $24.99 in SD and $29.99 for a digital download I own (in whatever proprietary encumbered format?) is too much. I can buy the disk for that. At least I know it will work anywhere, and I can lend it, onsell it and put it in upgraded equipment as well. $6.99 to rent in SD and $7.99 to rent in HD - you have GOT to be kidding. DVDs and blu-Rays (and the quality of a blu-ray will be way better than their crappy apparent 3Mbps) from my local video store are much better value than this, and don't eat up my data cap.

3B: TV - better, but still too steep.

So, if they drop the pricing, have top-notch steaming quality, and get clearer on the DRM (and it isn't too toxic) I might be interested. Until then, I'll pass.

NZtechfreak

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#930992 11-Nov-2013 19:17

JimmyH: It's a step in the right direction, and finally seems to have realised that a decent range of content is needed.

However, I won't subscribe.

1. I had a look at the terms and conditions. They are way too one-sided.

2. It's not clear how bad the DRM is. For instance, if I "buy" a film or episode, on my quick read through it if doesn't say how DRM-encumbered the download is, and whether it's tied to having an ongoing account or the device it was downloaded on etc.

3. Prices are way too high:

3A: Movies (I just looked at the Hangover III, which has both "rent" and "buy" options). $24.99 in SD and $29.99 for a digital download I own (in whatever proprietary encumbered format?) is too much. I can buy the disk for that. At least I know it will work anywhere, and I can lend it, onsell it and put it in upgraded equipment as well. $6.99 to rent in SD and $7.99 to rent in HD - you have GOT to be kidding. DVDs and blu-Rays (and the quality of a blu-ray will be way better than their crappy apparent 3Mbps) from my local video store are much better value than this, and don't eat up my data cap.

3B: TV - better, but still too steep.

So, if they drop the pricing, have top-notch steaming quality, and get clearer on the DRM (and it isn't too toxic) I might be interested. Until then, I'll pass.

Nailed it.

Still though, getting more content is part of the battle, so as you say it is a step in the right direction.

EDIT: Took a look at their movies to get an idea of range, every single one I looked at to rent was available in SD only (and in one case only available to buy). Shan't be looking again for a while.

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freitasm

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#930995 11-Nov-2013 19:24

JimmyH: 2. It's not clear how bad the DRM is. For instance, if I "buy" a film or episode, on my quick read through it if doesn't say how DRM-encumbered the download is, and whether it's tied to having an ongoing account or the device it was downloaded on etc.

Good luck getting a video service that does not have DRM.

Apple iTunes: DRM but at least you can play in up to five device, deauthorise devices and copy around
Amazon Instant Video: DRM, can only be downloaded to one device, can't deauthorise without contacting customer service
Ultraviolet: DRM, streaming only

I use Amazon Instant Video for rentals, Apple iTunes for movies I want to own.

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JimmyH

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#931682 12-Nov-2013 19:18

Yeah, sadly I know, and I didn't really expect it to be otherwise.

My point was more that it was unclear exactly what the DRM was and how toxic it was to use, rather than any realistic expectation of there being none.

I might stream from a site for "rental" viewing, if they had something I wanted to see and the pricing was competitive(*), but I doubt I would purchase to "own" using the same route. At the moment good old fashioned plastic disks are a better option - better quality, and the DRM is a known quantity. I know it will play on any player I buy, know it will play if I lend the disk to a friend, know that it won't become unplayable if Ezyflix fails and some authentication server is taken down, and know that the DRM is easily circumventable should I feel the need to do so (e.g., moving onto my media player).

Plus, old fashioned disks are cheaper. I was in JB HiFi today buying a birthday present for someone. They have many of the TV series that Ezyflix lets to "own" for $19.99 or $24.99 in their $18.99 bin - with a "buy one get one free" deal. So better and cheaper as well.

* Although, if I did this much, Netflix is a much better value proposition.