# Has Netflix Instant Streaming peaked? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2011, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008 "2011-06-27T07:47:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/1 "2011-06-27T07:47:15Z")
I’m still happy with the service, watch it much more often than broadcast TV, and am not going to cancel my subscription anytime soon. But every time I look at my instant queue there are more things that are expiring soon, or have already expired. [FeedFliks](http://feedfliks.com/streaming) shows that while 381 titles are coming to streaming in the next 30 days, 334 will expire in the next _two weeks_. Every time I check the site, that seems to be the trend. Was it too good to last? Are the media companies killing Netflix streaming? Or is this just a short-term challenge? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/2 "2011-06-27T13:52:32Z")
It might be more than a short term challenge, as the studios are trying to price Netflix out of business. They all see a profitable business model, and think they can individually duplicate it. What will happen is there will be a host of different services, most of lesser quality, delivering only their own content, as if viewers want a Warner channel, a 20th Century Fox channel, a Sony Entertainment channel, _et al_. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/3 "2011-06-27T15:56:46Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > It might be more than a short term challenge, as the studios are trying to price Netflix out of business. They all see a profitable business model, and think they can individually duplicate it. What will happen is there will be a host of different services, most of lesser quality, delivering only their own content, as if viewers want a Warner channel, a 20th Century Fox channel, a Sony Entertainment channel, _et al_. I hope you’re not right. A market that fragmented won’t be good for anyone. Still better than cable/satellite though, I hope. I’ve been noticing more technical problems with the streaming too, it used to be bulletproof but now I have occasional glitches. And just when I finished re-watching the first season of _Life_, it’s no longer available on Instant for me to watch the 2nd season. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/4 "2011-06-27T21:17:08Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > But every time I look at my instant queue there are more things that are expiring soon, or have already expired. [FeedFliks](http://feedfliks.com/streaming) shows that while 381 titles are coming to streaming in the next 30 days, 334 will expire in the next _two weeks_. Every time I check the site, that seems to be the trend. I’ll just note that those “coming” titles include hundreds of episodes from the various _Star Trek_ series, each season collectively counted as just one title. Among the kind of things that I use Netflix instant for, I think the _minutes_ available are on a strong upward trend. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/5 "2011-06-27T21:25:01Z")
FYI, I think Amazon Instant Video has more titles available for streaming than Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/6 "2011-06-27T21:33:12Z")
Feedflix has many movies they say are coming to instant view that I saw over a year ago on Netflix. Are they recycling? There isn’t a single movie on that list I have any interest in seeing, much less seeing twice. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/7 "2011-06-27T21:43:53Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > FYI, I think Amazon Instant Video has more titles available for streaming than Netflix. I love Amazon Instant Video (granted, I use it when Netflix doesn’t have the movie I want to watch instantly right that very second…), but it’s a different thing, correct? With Amazon Instant Video you’re buying each individual movie/t.v. show. Everything I’ve watched I’ve had to pay per movie (I think around $3-$4)? With Netflix you’re paying the monthly rate ($7.99) and can watch an unlimited amount of stuff. (Edit: I just double checked and we pay $17.99 a month, though we have the blue ray package apparently.) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/8 "2011-06-27T22:20:04Z")
Netflix does recycle. For example, I saw that No Country for Old Men is returning. It had been streaming, then removed. Now it will be back. I’m on Amazon Prime, and won’t pay extra for streaming other than what Prime offers. I didn’t see anything on Prime that wasn’t on Netflix, at least that interested me. Also, the quality, streamed to my TV, isn’t as good as Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/9 "2011-06-28T01:58:56Z")
> [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](#): > > I love Amazon Instant Video (granted, I use it when Netflix doesn’t have the movie I want to watch instantly right that very second…), but it’s a different thing, correct? > > With Amazon Instant Video you’re buying each individual movie/t.v. show. Everything I’ve watched I’ve had to pay per movie (I think around $3-$4)? > > With Netflix you’re paying the monthly rate ($7.99) and can watch an unlimited amount of stuff. (Edit: I just double checked and we pay $17.99 a month, though we have the blue ray package apparently.) Yes, this is correct. You can also consider paying for Amazon Prime which includes some free streaming movies plus I think free shipping. I don’t use Amazon Prime so I don’t know all the details. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/10 "2011-06-28T02:07:46Z")
I had heard how good Netflix Instant Streaming was so I took a look and was shocked, considering the hoopla, how little was available. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/11 "2011-06-28T04:21:21Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > [FeedFliks](http://feedfliks.com/streaming) shows that while 381 titles are coming to streaming in the next 30 days, 334 will expire in the next _two weeks_. Every time I check the site, that seems to be the trend. A lot of those expiring titles get renewed right away. Netflix might have a one year license, and it’ll list it expiring in a year, but once that date comes it’ll have another year added on. For example, Louie was just “re-added” to Netflix, but as far as I can tell it never left my queue. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/12 "2011-06-28T06:01:04Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Netflix does recycle. For example, I saw that No Country for Old Men is returning. It had been streaming, then removed. Now it will be back. **1984** is also coming back after leaving a while ago. Is it possible they’re rotating things in and out due to bandwidth or other types technical issues? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/13 "2011-06-28T14:04:45Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I had heard how good Netflix Instant Streaming was so I took a look and was shocked, considering the hoopla, how little was available. As I said in another thread, if you’re looking for any _specific_ title, you’re not thinking of it ideally. That’s what the DVD service is for. The streaming is more like a swath of TV channels (without commercials) than like a comprehensive on-demand library. If you just feel like watching _a documentary_ or _a drama_ or whatever, there are always plenty of moderately good ones you’ve never seen and probably wouldn’t have thought to rent. Occasionally you find a gem. And you can work through, or dip into, some long series.+ ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/14 "2011-06-28T14:15:08Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Yes, this is correct. You can also consider paying for Amazon Prime which includes some free streaming movies plus I think free shipping. I don’t use Amazon Prime so I don’t know all the details. I think it is cheaper than Netflix streaming, and yes you do get free 3 days shipping on Amazon orders as well. Right now it just doesn’t have the same library that Netflix has, but they add stuff all the time and it might be a valid competitor later (though I don’t know if that is what they are headed towards, or what determines what’s in their library, or what)… ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/15 "2011-06-28T15:18:53Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > I think it is cheaper than Netflix streaming, and yes you do get free 3 days shipping on Amazon orders as well. Right now it just doesn’t have the same library that Netflix has, but they add stuff all the time and it might be a valid competitor later (though I don’t know if that is what they are headed towards, or what determines what’s in their library, or what)… This thread has just taught me that Amazon prime members (me) can watch free online videos at Amazon! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/16 "2011-06-28T15:38:06Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > But every time I look at my instant queue there are more things that are expiring soon, or have already expired. [FeedFliks](http://feedfliks.com/streaming) shows that while 381 titles are coming to streaming in the next 30 days, 334 will expire in the next _two weeks_. Every time I check the site, that seems to be the trend. I know it’s been said, but seriously, most of those titles will be renewed. We had a thread about Buffy, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse leaving Netflix streaming. They were all there, fully renewed, the day after their expiration date. Legend of the Seeker season 2 expired. There was a one day lapse in its renewal. It happens frequently and I would even guess it makes up the majority of expirations. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/17 "2011-06-28T23:51:31Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > I think it is cheaper than Netflix streaming, and yes you do get free 3 days shipping on Amazon orders as well. Right now it just doesn’t have the same library that Netflix has, but they add stuff all the time and it might be a valid competitor later (though I don’t know if that is what they are headed towards, or what determines what’s in their library, or what)… It’s actually free two day shipping on all items sold by Amazon, but not including 3rd party sellers. I have a web-enabled TV, and Amazon streaming picture isn’t nearly as good as Netflix, and the interface is poorer, it is much more difficult to search, it doesn’t remember your place in a series if you go back to it at a later date, and I couldn’t find a way to save favorites to view at a later time. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/18 "2011-06-29T14:53:31Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I had heard how good Netflix Instant Streaming was so I took a look and was shocked, considering the hoopla, how little was available. My boss and I sometimes argue about the value of Netflix streaming. He thinks it sucks - he wants to watch a movie instantly, he looks it up and it’s not available instantly. So, the way he tries to use Netflix streaming it does suck. I use it by browsing what’s available to stream. There’s almost always something new I haven’t seen or something I have seen that I wouldn’t mind seeing again. I don’t go looking for stuff that isn’t there, so I’m rarely disappointed with it - I think it’s great (watched the first season of Damages and the first 2 seasons of Sons of Anarchy recently - yay!) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/19 "2011-06-29T14:55:36Z")
Yes, as long as you don’t go on looking for a few specific shows or recent movies, you should be amazed by all that is there. I go on their site and add one movie or show and their suggestions lead me to dozens of others. I think I’ve spent more time adding stuff to my queue than I have watching, but either way I’m very happy with the service. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008/20 "2011-06-30T01:23:32Z")
To me, Netflix Instant is far and away superior to the DVD service. Even though I live in a city with its own distribution center, I’m looking at a 2 day wait. TODAY I want to watch a 90’s comedy, in two days I may want to watch a French film or a Britcom or a thriller. If you take the time (say, 3-5 hours, not all in a row necessairly) to rate a few hundred movies/tv shows and you then add things into your instant queue that you either 1) want to re-watch or 2) is rated a 4 or above for you, you should never run out of a selection. I have 267 things in my Instant queue and only 165 in my DVD. Yes, if you use it as a true “on demand” service, you’ll never be satisfied. Also, if you’re not using FeedFlix **go there now!** This improved our watching markedly. You put stuff at the top of your queue that is leaving within the month so you’re never blindsided. I think the studios are trying to stifle Netflix but it won’t last. Small sampling of my queue: Every season of 24, tons of SNL stuff, MST3K, the IT Crowd, the Larry Sanders show, Dexter, the Tudors, MI5 and tons of stand up and documentaries, $8-10 a month and FeedFlixs has us at like 15 cents a “movie”, a movie being a disc, so even cheaper per episode of TV. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-netflix-instant-streaming-peaked/587008.md?page=2)