[MickeS]

So, TiVo has two issues facing them:

- monthly fees, for a service that many people perceive as not much of a service (program guide updates)

- competition from other downloading platforms, PPV, VOD and cable DVRs

With the new TiVoHD and "progressive downloads" from Unbox, I believe they have finally got a very competitive and not outrageously priced product.

But the problem is: how to get existing customers to use it, and how to get new custmers interested in paying for something that they might not feel is worth it?

I say give every customer 1 free movie every month! Not any movie - like the $0.99 specials they have, it could be, say a choice of 10 new releases every month. And unlike the specials, it wouldn't be a rental, it would be a free purchase, that like other Unbox purchases would be stored on their server and available for download again, and for viewing any time.

But it would be free, it would get people hooked on Unbox, and it would make the service fee a lot more meaningful for many people.

Anyone agree?

 

[Test]

So, TiVo has two issues facing them:

- monthly fees, for a service that many people perceive as not much of a service (program guide updates)

- competition from other downloading platforms, PPV, VOD and cable DVRs

With the new TiVoHD and "progressive downloads" from Unbox, I believe they have finally got a very competitive and not outrageously priced product.

But the problem is: how to get existing customers to use it, and how to get new custmers interested in paying for something that they might not feel is worth it?

I say give every customer 1 free movie every month! Not any movie - like the $0.99 specials they have, it could be, say a choice of 10 new releases every month. And unlike the specials, it wouldn't be a rental, it would be a free purchase, that like other Unbox purchases would be stored on their server and available for download again, and for viewing any time.

But it would be free, it would get people hooked on Unbox, and it would make the service fee a lot more meaningful for many people.

Anyone agree?

Good idea, tivo movie of the month...

 

[bicker]

I don't want one thin dime of my subscription going towards Unbox until it provides closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

 

[MickeS]

I don't want one thin dime of my subscription going towards Unbox until it provides closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

Maybe that would be a good thing for bringing CC to the Unbox download. There would surely a be a lot more people finding out about the lack of it at least.

 

[supersportsfan]

You know, I really like the idea...however, the biggest issue; the fact that this requires giving away a $15 dollar movie every month, to every subscriber...I know it is easy "write it off" as a promotional thing for Amazon, but still, just the idea seems like it might not sit well.

I do, however, think it is a great idea to give away a free rental every month. Hey, at $3.99, I wouldn't complain .

I will even expand my idea:

How about a free rental every month that expires 24 hours after you start watching it, while moving regular rentals to 48 or 72 hours? I know that might be a big incentive for many people to start renting. Just dreaming though...

 

[urkel-Os]

You know, I really like the idea...however, the biggest issue; the fact that this requires giving away a $15 dollar movie every month, to every subscriber...I know it is easy "write it off" as a promotional thing for Amazon, but still, just the idea seems like it might not sit well.

I do, however, think it is a great idea to give away a free rental every month.

The free rental is a terrific idea, and I think it would work really well to get folks to pay for additional Unbox content in a "first taste is free" kind of way. Additionally, if Amazon provided the freebie in HD, they'd have a real winner on their hands. But that's just dreaming...

 

[MickeS]

You know, I really like the idea...however, the biggest issue; the fact that this requires giving away a $15 dollar movie every month, to every subscriber...I know it is easy "write it off" as a promotional thing for Amazon, but still, just the idea seems like it might not sit well.

I do, however, think it is a great idea to give away a free rental every month. Hey, at $3.99, I wouldn't complain .

I will even expand my idea:

How about a free rental every month that expires 24 hours after you start watching it, while moving regular rentals to 48 or 72 hours? I know that might be a big incentive for many people to start renting. Just dreaming though...

Good points. However, the expiration time is controlled by the studios and is the same across all outlets, so Amazon or TiVo can't control that. I am not sure how much control the studios have over the prices.

As for a free rental every month, I don't think that's enough to make the TiVo fee seem worth it as an extra value. They already have the $0.99 specials every week. The restrictions on rentals vs the convenience of having "ownership" of the download make a big difference. For example, when you "own" the video, you can delete it off your TiVo after watching it, and download it again if you want to watch it again. The "remote storage" aspect of the "ownership" is very attractive (to me, at least) now that the downloads allow for viewing while downloading.

 

[JaneiR36]

I don't want one thin dime of my subscription going towards Unbox until it provides closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

Wow. Thank you for mentioning this. I just did a forum search 'cos I was thinking about replacing my Netflix subscription with Amazon unbox. CC is a must for me. My hearing is fine, but I don't want to miss anything, plus, at night, I turn down the volume and the CC's really help that.

The cost of unbox seems quite high? I thought it was like $0.99 for all movies, whereas most seem to be $3.99 for a rental (just like BlockBuster), and others like Spidey 3 are $14.99. That's an entire month of Netflix! I would rather get rid of having to deal with the DVD's at all, but the cost is an issue. Looks like I'll just continue walking to the mailbox until the price comes down a little bit.

 

[bicker]

I have never considered Unbox a replacement for Netflix. They'll need to match Netflix monthly prices somehow to reach that level. Maybe 12 DVDs per month for $16 (and 4 hours of television = 1 DVD). However, even as a stop-gap (nothing to watch on television/impulse purchase), until they deal with the closed captioning problem, they're basically not getting out of the starting gate here.

 

[dogan]

I really wish they'd come down on the rental prices or adjust them a bit for the time frame. 3.99 for 24 hours . . . meh. That's not even close to competative. With Redbox, Netflix , Blockbuster, and you can really count Ipod in the mix for some things even though they're aren't rental, their buy prices can sometimes outdo the rentals on TV eps.

Amazon doesn't even incurr the cost that comes with renting a physical copy of the video out. If someone wants to rent a copy they never are in the situation where they can't rent it because its out of stock like the other companies.

A redbox like "delete at will" system would be ideal if you ask me. Under 24 hours is 1.00 (or maybe 1.50 for convenience), Under 48 is 2, and so on. Until like the 15th? day where it's yours to keep.

Unless its a weekend though, who's going to have time to watch something 2x durring the work week in a 24 hour period.

 

[Mikeyis4dcats]

Wow. Thank you for mentioning this. I just did a forum search 'cos I was thinking about replacing my Netflix subscription with Amazon unbox. CC is a must for me. My hearing is fine, but I don't want to miss anything, plus, at night, I turn down the volume and the CC's really help that.

The cost of unbox seems quite high? I thought it was like $0.99 for all movies, whereas most seem to be $3.99 for a rental (just like BlockBuster), and others like Spidey 3 are $14.99. That's an entire month of Netflix! I would rather get rid of having to deal with the DVD's at all, but the cost is an issue. Looks like I'll just continue walking to the mailbox until the price comes down a little bit.

the $14.99 is to BUY the movie, not rent it.

 

[ZeoTiVo]

Good idea, tivo movie of the month...

yah, make it a season pass option even. :up: