By Kristi Turnquist, The Oregonian The Oregonian
View full size Doug Beghtel/ The Oregonian Changing viewer habits-- moving to non-store video rentals and streaming--have brought once-giants Hollywood Entertainment and Blockbuster to their knees. Movie Madness owner Mike Clark thinks he's succeeded by offering a huge selection, 74,000 titles, and hard to find titles at his SE Belmont store.
If anything underscores how the once relatively simple matter of watching media has evolved, it's the recent outrage prompted by Netflix's decision to raise its prices. The company, which offers DVDs by mail or streaming services, announced July 12 that some plans were going up by as much as 60 percent.
For customers like me, who were paying $9.99 a month for unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs, this Netflix email landed in our inboxes with a thud. The new rules: either unlimited streaming (no DVDs) for $7.99 a month; or unlimited DVDs (one out at a time) and no streaming, for $7.99 a month. To get both these plans, the new cost will be $15.98 per month.
There were other changes, too -- effective immediately for new customers, kicking in Sept. 1 for existing ones -- though many of us were too peeved to keep reading.
But once the initial braying from thousands of betrayed customers died down, other voices have piped up to note that they're sticking with Netflix anyway. As the New York Times' David Pogue put it, the $9.99 plan was "the world's best deal in TV and movies." And the new pricing means that Netflix has "gone from an extreme terrific value -- to an average one."
The Netflix hubbub is a reminder of how complicated it can be to watch what you want in a media world boasting hundreds of TV channels, plus access to movies as diverse as Charlie Chaplin silent comedies, foreign documentaries and blockbusters from a few months ago. And consumers are having to learn how to navigate the numerous ways there are to keep up with it all.
Video on demand? Watching online? A Roku box? What's a Roku box?
For media omnivores like myself, Netflix has been a valuable central clearinghouse for both movies (especially older and/or obscure titles) and TV series (especially catching up on ones we originally missed -- I'm looking at you, "The Wire"). But the more we dig, the more we discover that Netflix is just one of the many, ever-increasing variety of options. Here are some items to help feed our media appetite:
Blockbuster: There are still a few Blockbuster video stores left around Portland, but the company is also seizing the Netflix price hike to boost the profile of its store, mail and streaming services (Blockbuster's website tells Netflix customers "Seeing red? Switch to Blockbuster Total Access Today"). The site offers movies, TV shows, games; on-demand options to stream; renting by mail without a subscription (most titles are $4.99 for a seven-day rental, $3.99 to stream). Subscriptions start at $11.99 per month for the one-DVD/Blu-ray-at-a-time plan. Blockbuster also promises that many new releases are available 28 days earlier than Netflix or Redbox.
Hulu Plus: Though you can watch Hulu.com for free, the number of complete episodes of current TV series is limited. By contrast, the $7.99/month Hulu Plus offers entire seasons of current and older TV series, and movies (including titles from the high-quality Criterion Collection). Another difference -- Hulu.com programs are streamed to computers. The subscription-based Hulu Plus broadens that, with many (though not all) choices available to stream to TVs, smartphones, tablets and other devices. Hulu Plus programming comes with limited advertising.
Redbox: Those who want to pick up a DVD right away can opt for these red kiosks, located in supermarkets, drugstores, outside convenience stores and some fast-food outlets. For about a buck, you can either rent directly on site, or go to the website and reserve a title to be picked up at a specific location. Discs must be returned by 9 p.m. the next day, unless you want to pay extra for another rental period. This also isn't the best choice for movie buffs who prefer romantic comedies starring Cary Grant, not Katherine Heigl. The emphasis is on recent movies, not classics. redbox.com
Amazon Prime: In addition to offering benefits on shipping and other Amazon services, the subscription program ($79 per year) includes unlimited instant streaming of TV and movies. There's no advertising in the streaming content, which you can watch on your computer or your TV, using devices such as a Roku box.
What's a Roku box? A streaming player that connects to your TV. You can use the Roku box to stream content from Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus and others directly to your TV. Models start at $59.99 (other streaming players include Apple TV).
iTunes: In addition to music, Apple's media megalith offers movies and TV to buy and download. An episode of "Pretty Little Liars" is $2.99, for example; one of "Falling Skies" is $1.99 (because it's standard definition, not high-def). You can also rent TV shows and movies and stream them to your TV (if you have the Apple TV streaming player) or watch on various Apple devices.
VUDU: A box and on-demand movie service that offers instant access to movies and TV shows, and operates independently from a computer or cable/satellite service. A broadband Internet connection is required to rent or buy titles, which can be watched on VUDU -enabled devices, such as Sony PlayStation 3, Blu-ray players and HDTVs. One-time rentals generally range from 99 cents to $5.99. No monthly subscription is required, and there are no late fees.
GreenCine: If you crave movie choices more eclectic than the latest releases, this cinema buff-friendly option offers DVD rental by mail. Sure, you can rent recent hits like "Limitless," but you can also find the 2010 documentary, "Hey, Boo: Harper Lee and 'To Kill a Mockingbird,'" about the book's mysterious author, Nelle Harper Lee. Subscription plans range from $9.95 to $49.95 per month. greencine.com
MUBI: Defined as "an online movie theater where you watch, discover and discuss auteur cinema." In other words, if you want to pay $1 to watch Luis Buñuel's "Un Chien Andalou" right now, or $3 to see Andrei Tarkovsky's "The Mirror," this is your place. Films are available to stream, and discussion and interaction with your fellow cinephiles is encouraged (sample forum topic: "Is it degrading to refer to films as popular culture?"). You can watch on a pay-per-view basis or by a $12/month subscription, which lets you watch as many movies as you want each month. mubi.com
Comcast Xfinity: Cable subscribers can go to the On Demand page on their TV (or online) and find movies ("The Adjustment Bureau" rents for $4.99 for two days, for example,) and several episodes of TV series on broadcast and cable channels.
TV websites: Recent episodes of many shows are often available for watching on your computer on the websites for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and many cable channels.
Video stores: You remember these, don't you? Places where you can peruse the merchandise and rent on the spot? Portland has some fine examples of independent video stores, including Movie Madness , 4320 S.E. Belmont St.; Video Verite , 3956 N. Mississippi Ave., (note: Video Verite is owned by Marc Mohan, a contributor to The Oregonian); and Videorama , 2310 N. Lombard St., 2640 N.E. Alberta St., 1136 N.W. Lovejoy St., and 7522 N. Lombard St.
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