Is Quickflix doomed?

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2886 posts

Uber Geek

#990814 19-Feb-2014 22:35

Doesn't really matter. Technology means Sky's grip will slip anyway. It's slipping now.

We already have access to a Netflix-type service in NZ - actually, it is Netflix! With a proliferation of content channels and ways of accessing it, including directly from offshore, they won't be able to sustain an iron grip through control of distribution channels and "exclusive" distribution deals.

Their distribution channel already has more holes than a colander, and that's only going to get worse. Plus, exclusive NZ rights will mean less and less as the ability to control the exclusivity slips, and it is easier and easier for people to bypass them (e.g., Netflix, Amazon, iTunes and whatever comes along tomorrow).

They will be like the movie theatres who had a cozy little monopoly as the only conduit that films could reach the public, and who abused their customer base egregiously (crappy dilapidated venues, high prices, 6-12 month delays to screen blockbusters, awful overprices snacks). Then technology and market change landed a series of sledgehammer blows that demolished their little rort (VHS rentals, VHS sales, DVD rental/sales at higher quality, parallel importing from Amazon etc allowed, blu ray rental/sales at even higher quality, torrents, Netflix.....).

Now they more or less have to play nice (even more when the last parallel importing restrictions finally lift shortly), and can't survive unless they offer a good experience (good venue, timely release....).

Give it a couple of years, Sky faces the same challenges, and its market power is slowly slipping through its fingers.

TVNZ/TV3 have the same issues - the profitability and value of free to air broadcasters has tanked in the last decade. Ironically, in significant measure, because Sky stole their audience base. Now, other parties are starting to nibble at Sky's lunch.

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hashbrown

463 posts

Ultimate Geek

#991030 20-Feb-2014 11:53

Forgetting about Sky, Netflix/Hulu for the moment. What about the other streaming providers?

AppleTV, Xbox and Playstations all have other reasons to be in someones home and supply mostly the same premium content. All Quickflix have over them is their rubbish TV and old movie selection.

Giggs

252 posts

Ultimate Geek

#991607 21-Feb-2014 09:04

Looks like we are going to get a new player in the market.

No word yet on what Telecom (Spark) hopes to deliver in terms of content though.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11207031

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#991939 21-Feb-2014 19:11

Interesting, and will only increase the pressure on Sky. Compared to some of the other entrants, Telecom is a fairly serious major player with deep pockets. This can (hopefully) only be good for the consumer.

As for the original topic of whether Quickflix is doomed, I suspect it is. If deep-pocketed elephants like Sky and Telecom seriously go to war for the consumer, and compete aggressively on price & content etc, I suspect the mice are likely to be squashed.

If I was an owner of Quickflix, I would be trying hard to sell the business to Telecom - while it still has some value, with the pitch that it would provide a ready made platform and some content to accelerate Telecom's entry into the market.

mattwnz

19994 posts

Uber Geek

#991941 21-Feb-2014 19:17

Giggs: Looks like we are going to get a new player in the market.

No word yet on what Telecom (Spark) hopes to deliver in terms of content though.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11207031

Or how they will be getting content to the TV . But presume it will be via TV since it is in the name. Perhaps they will also get a freebies channel like sky have in prime, to advertise it.

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek

#1001531 9-Mar-2014 00:35

Didn't think it was worth starting a new thread for, so sorry to dig this one up.
I was pretty happy when I took quickflix up on the trial offer. There is some kids content my 2 yr old loves and I love digging through late 80's -early 2000's movies and normally get them 3 for $10 weeklies from our local blockbuster. We watch very few new releases unless it is something really good. Best of all it is local and there is an app for the XBOX 360, our home media center of choice = no messing around with tomato routers, VPN's and watching off a computer.

Now for the not impressed bit.
-They took my credit card details down for a "one off admin payment" of $5. Ok, no worries. Had not used it in a while and signed in to find it was still working. Looked through the dashboard and see there has been a $20 charge for the admin fee and a new months worth of quickflix. No email or anything else I can find to say do I want to join up after the trial, they have just joined me up. This is pretty underhanded.
-The selection of movies is ok, but not great. The choices make little sense. They have mad max 2, but not 1.
-The quality is advertised as HD, but it is generally little better than the old 700mb dvdrips.
-Anything new is an additional fee, although I knew this going in.
-If you want to cancel, you need to ring an 0800 number, you can't do it over email or online.
-You can't add movies to a watchlist, you have to find them each time - this sucks.
-The movies always restart, they do not resume. You better remember where you were and be good with fast forward.
-Why can I not queue up a movie on the computer where they are easy to find and then watch it on the 360? quickflix knows about both devices.

The price is almost cheap enough that I would keep it, but the experience is so poor that I am going to keep supporting my local blockbuster, just need to navigate their phone system on Monday and cancel my subscription.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek

#1001533 9-Mar-2014 00:40

Do Microsoft do a movie deal like their pay fee, stream all the music you like service? Xbox video actually seems to have a better selection than quickflix, but the pay per play is pretty steep for old movies.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

mattwnz

19994 posts

Uber Geek

#1001534 9-Mar-2014 00:41

paulmilbank: Didn't think it was worth starting a new thread for, so sorry to dig this one up.
I was pretty happy when I took quickflix up on the trial offer. There is some kids content my 2 yr old loves and I love digging through late 80's -early 2000's movies and normally get them 3 for $10 weeklies from our local blockbuster. We watch very few new releases unless it is something really good. Best of all it is local and there is an app for the XBOX 360, our home media center of choice = no messing around with tomato routers, VPN's and watching off a computer.

Now for the not impressed bit.
-They took my credit card details down for a "one off admin payment" of $5. Ok, no worries. Had not used it in a while and signed in to find it was still working. Looked through the dashboard and see there has been a $20 charge for the admin fee and a new months worth of quickflix. No email or anything else I can find to say do I want to join up after the trial, they have just joined me up. This is pretty underhanded.
-The selection of movies is ok, but not great. The choices make little sense. They have mad max 2, but not 1.
-The quality is advertised as HD, but it is generally little better than the old 700mb dvdrips.
-Anything new is an additional fee, although I knew this going in.
-If you want to cancel, you need to ring an 0800 number, you can't do it over email or online.
-You can't add movies to a watchlist, you have to find them each time - this sucks.
-The movies always restart, they do not resume. You better remember where you were and be good with fast forward.
-Why can I not queue up a movie on the computer where they are easy to find and then watch it on the 360? quickflix knows about both devices.

The price is almost cheap enough that I would keep it, but the experience is so poor that I am going to keep supporting my local blockbuster, just need to navigate their phone system on Monday and cancel my subscription.

I think it was reasonable clear that after the free trial, they would auto renew it and begin charging you. You had to make sure that you canceled it at the end of the free trial if you no longer wanted it. Didn't know there was an admin fee for joining though...
I just wish Telecom had brought quickflix, as they have the money to pump more cash into it to get better content, and quickflix have done the hardwork in getting onto lots of devices.

Gilco2

1556 posts

Uber Geek

#1001558 9-Mar-2014 08:16

when I joined originally it was clear that after the trial it would carry on to full membership and monthly charge of $10 unless you rang and canceled. One thing I dont like and has happened twice is I have been watching a movie and been half way or more through and it has disappeared. Thinking something wrong my end I check and go to select it again and it has disappeared from their selection.
Then before I got the chance to watch Glory it disppeared

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toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek

#1001880 9-Mar-2014 20:42

fair enough, that is on me that I missed that in the Ts&Cs. Still, how hard is it to send an email saying that this will be happening.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

steve2222

493 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1001983 10-Mar-2014 09:04

paulmilbank:
-If you want to cancel, you need to ring an 0800 number, you can't do it over email or online.

I thought that too - until I went on-line and followed the prompts and it let me cancel on-line.

I got an email straight away to confirm that my sub was cancelled and did I want to do an on-line survey for them on why I was leaving.

So in short: I never had to call anyone to cancel.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#1001986 10-Mar-2014 09:25

gehenna:
Jas777: Quickflix if you really think about is doomed to fail because the core audience it should be targetting will not use it as they use Netflix or download all their content.

Presumably you have some statistics or references to back up that statement?

why on earth would you expect stats and references on an opinion about the future fate of a company?

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#1002014 10-Mar-2014 10:24

I don't think QuickFlix is doomed but I think acceptance of the Sky monopoly on content in this country leads to some strange outcomes.

I think watching shows and movies breaks down like this:

Sky - Expensive and not very flexible but with a decent range of content. They own the rights to most things most people want to watch but and they know any 'innovative' service will cannibalize their customer base, even Igloo. Remember Global Mode offered by that ISP

iTunes - Expensive but flexible (with Apple devices) with a good range of content. They know they are the only 'legitimate' option to Sky and they can charge what they like.

NetFlix/Hulu via VPN - Cheap, flexible but requires ability to set it up and support it. Excellent content range. While it isn't illegal you would be a brave business person to offer set up and support as a paid service. These companies may come to NZ eventually but at present can't justify the cost to buy the rights. They sort of try to stop people breaking T&C by accessing from here but how hard does any company try to stop people paying for services?

QuickFlix - Cheap, flexible but with limited content. A great idea but without help it will be hard to challenge the Sky content range and therefore become a worthwhile value proposition

Piracy - Cheap, flex, great content range; but it's illegal. It's also unreliable and a bit inconsistent so people tell me.

If you ask me it comes down the fact that it is easier to stop legitimate services such as QuickFlix from gaining a market share or stopping services such as NetFlix/ Hulu from being available here than it is to stop piracy. Until this becomes the problem of someone who could actually challenge the Sky content monopoly we won't see a change in the landscape.

ShowMe TV, a streaming service offered by an ISP, might have legs but it all comes down to content.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

jonathan18

7407 posts

Uber Geek

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#1002043 10-Mar-2014 11:07

crackrdbycracku: I think watching shows and movies breaks down like this:...

I think the other key point is that, other than Sky, these aren't equivalent services that can be considered in isolation to deliver a complete package; none of the "competitors" can offer the range that Sky has. As others have pointed out the reality is Netflix, for example, isn't a substitute for Sky and I'm not sure if the range can be considered "excellent". The big holes are:

* sport (doesn't interest me, but this isn't the case for many others!)
* delays between original broadcast and Netflix availability, and
* completely missing key content from some providers (esp. HBO and Showtime).

This last one is the biggest frustration for me, given that the only options to plug that gap (other than sign up for Sky) aren't legal.

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#1002051 10-Mar-2014 11:18

@jonathan18:

* sport (doesn't interest me, but this isn't the case for many others!)

This is slipping for example EPL on that streaming service the name of which I can't remember. I don't watch much TV sport but I'm guessing this is pretty much the goose which lays the golden egg for Sky. The problem is the value proposition: 'If you want to watch the All Blacks live you are going to have to pay this much ... ' is hard to swallow. As a bundle with a monthly fee it is easier to market.

* delays between original broadcast and Netflix availability

To a greater or lesser extent this effects Sky as well. Plenty of shows, and more so movies, take a while to turn up there compared to a torrent.

* completely missing key content from some providers (esp. HBO and Showtime).

Does iTunes miss this kind of content? I'm not a current user but my understanding was it was pretty comprehensive.

Thing is I don't think anybody needs to be a replacement for Sky. The alternative is rather a range of pick and mix services where you pay for the stuff you want, and don't pay for the stuff you don't want. Most people have Sky for one or two things they really want and basically tolerate paying for the other stuff they don't.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

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