09-23-2010, 10:47 AM
Fretty Wrote:Netflix just arrived in Canada yesterday.
I've been eagerly awaiting this and of course signed up right away.
I have a couple questions for those spoiled people here who have had it this whole time I've been without it (I'm looking at you, Americans!).
1) I noticed that the new release movies aren't so "new" even compared to video rental stores. How delayed are the releases on Netflix in comparison? Depends on the studio. Netflix has deals with some companies where they have to wait a month from DVD release to have it available. In return they get a bigger library from the studio and the ability to live stream more material.
2) Does Netflix not carry any HBO TV series'? They carry them all. not for instant viewing tho, at least not most them.
3) Does Netflix have to strike a deal separately with each television company for each show? I've noticed that some shows are completely up to date (as in they have what was just aired on TV the night before) and some shows are full seasons behind or not carried at all. I wasnt even aware they show up to date shows...maybe just in Canada. Usually it is based off of DVD boxed set release for those seasons.
4) Do they only put up shows for limited times before removing them and then adding them back to their library again after a long duration? If so, what is the average availability duration for TV shows and movies once they are added to the library? In my experience, once something is put up there, it never goes away
5) If they are about to remove items from their library, is there a warning, countdown or removal date listed somewhere so I know how much time I have left to finish off a series before it's pulled? see#4
I wonder these things because certain shows, such as Dexter, are not available. I then decided to look into other popular titles just out of curiosity, such as Glee (I've never seen it, but I know it's popular), The Dark Knight, Spartacus Blood and Sand and none of them were available. Yet they had some new shows, such as Running Wilde, which was just aired for the first time the night before on television. I'm trying to decide if my wait was worth it, or should I even bother subscribing to Netflix for the long run if I can't guarantee they will have what I'm looking for.
Sounds like your Canadian Netflix is very different from the U.S. Netflix then. We have all of those shows available, but we don't have access to brand new shows.