Tag Archive for: Netflix

YouTube cuts videos to lower quality during Coronavirus

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YouTube are following in the footsteps of Netflix and will begin capping its data flow during the coronavirus pandemic. YouTube will being limiting all European streams to standard definition to manage the load on it’s network.

This is following advice from the EU Internal Market Commisson. Which was that everyone should limit their streams to standard definition. As it will minimie the network congestion as millions of people will be going online to kill time in isolation.

Thierry Breton from the commission spoke to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki to ensure the measures are put in place.

‘We are making a commitment to temporarily switch all traffic in the EU to standard definition by default.’

‘People are coming to YouTube to find authoritative news, learning content and make connections during these uncertain times,’ a spokeswoman for the video platform said.

‘While we have seen only a few usage peaks, we have measures in place to automatically adjust our system to use less network capacity.

‘We are in ongoing conversations with the regulators (including Ofcom), governments and network operators all over Europe, and are making a commitment to temporarily default all traffic in the UK and the EU to standard definition.

‘We will continue our work to minimise stress on the system, while also delivering a good user experience.’  YouTube Spokesperson

The video streaming service said that there has little change in the peaks for usage. Furthermore seeing changes mostly in usage patterns, with usage expanding across longer hours.

The switch to standard definition should free up traffic on European networks considerably. While Netflix said that they would see a 25% reduction of it’s traffic on Europe’s networks.

Mobile Networks

While mobile networks including O2, EE, Vodafone and Three all began to struggle. As people are starting to work from home. With many customers complaining online that they were unable to make calls. With some claiming business had already began to slow down dramatically.

‘Today the industry experienced an issue that meant some calls between different networks were unable to connect. Specifically, O2, Vodafone and Three were unable to connect to EE and EE customers were unable to connect to O2, Vodafone and Three.

‘At a time when the country needs connectivity most, it is important we work together rather than pointing fingers before facts have been determined.

‘As this was a problem for a multiple networks, there is a National Emergency Alert for Telecommunications and Ofcom call at 2:30pm this afternoon to determine the route of the issue to ensure this doesn’t happen again.’ O2 spokesperson told Metro

Furthermore YouTube also confirmed it was introducing a new area on its homepage. Which is dedicated to news about Covid-19 from trustworthy sources.

(Metro)

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Episode 348 (Don’t) Microwave Your Phone

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Netflix Price Changes

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Netflix are reportedly testing a really low new price plan. Furthermore it’s cheaper than the current basic package! However, as always with news too good to be true, there’s a small catch.

The new price plan would only be available on a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. The price? £2.99 per month which is a £5.99 per month saving on the current basic package. While it’s an £8.99 saving per month on the standard package.

So this new mobile price plan is rather appealing to commuters and those always on the go, who want to catch the latest The Witcher episode or Ozark or even a bit of Stranger Things.

As Netflix trialed the mobile price plan in Malaysia, India and Indonesia at the end of 2019, it may soon make its mark in other territories.

In an ever changing world where many young people have a smartphone but not a TV, the option to have a cheap unlimited video streaming service may be an attractive one.

So, if Netflix’s continued trials are a success, they may look to launch it elsewhere!

‘In Q4, we launched a mobile-only plan in Malaysia and Indonesia (which we introduced to India in Q3 last year),’ the streaming giant said in a letter sent to shareholders.

‘We’ve seen similar results with this plan driving incremental subscriber growth and improving retention.

We expect the mobile-only plan to be revenue-positive which will allow us to further invest in content to be enjoyed by our members and continue to feed the virtuous cycle. We plan to continue to test adding this plan, as well as additional ideas in other countries around the world.’

For £2.99 you’re only getting standard definition however. Though is high def, that much of a difference on such a small screen. For basically £3 a month, you can’t complain!

(Metro)

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Episode 337 Mo Gilligan

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The Witcher on Netflix

The Witcher on Netflix

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Well I don’t know about you but The Witcher looks FANTASTIC! We all know about the amazing games that are based on the same book series by Andrzej Sapkowski. But this is the first time we’ve seen a live action adaptation. We have to say that we are very very excited for what’s to come.

For those unawares The Witcher is an upcoming fantasy drama web series that’s created by Lauren Schmidt for Netflix. (Who recently revealed that she’s planning 7 seasons!)

Games Radar recently published an interview that Schmidt did with their sister publication SFX magazine and told them that they’re planning to set up stories that can capture audiences interest for years at a time.

“We don’t have a second season yet – God willing we will – but right now it’s just about, ‘How do you set up stories that really capture audiences for years at a time?….The worst thing we could do is put all of our energies just into season one, and not be thinking about where these characters can grow to.” 

Nothing is better than a long story arc, gives us time to breathe and we can connect with the characters more. So we’re all for it!

The Witcher Plot

The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia. He is a monster hunter who traverses an unnamed continent, hunting down lots of different monsters and creatures. All with a HUGE sword! The Geralt saga has spanned five books, released between 2008 and 2017. While the author (Sapkowski) has also written other short stories which also take place in the same realm as Geralt.

Based on the best-selling fantasy series of books, THE WITCHER is an epic tale of fate and family. The story of the intertwined destinies of three individuals in the vast world of The Continent, where humans, elves, witchers, gnomes, and monsters battle to survive and thrive, and where good and evil is not easily identified.

The trailer was dropped at Lucca Comics and Games 2019 as a part of a special panel with The Witcher cast (Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra) and Showrunner, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich!

The Witcher begins streaming on Netflix on December 20th 2019.

(Quartz / Games Radar) 

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Disney + Saving Money?!

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Disney + looks like it will be cost savings. According to CNET, it will launch with support for 4 simultaneous streams and 4K included for $6.99 a month. SERIOUSLY undercutting Netflix. Subscribers can even create and manage up to 7 profiles on a single account too.

In comparison Netflix currently costs $9 a month base and that’s for standard definition and one available stream. If you want HD streaming that’s $13 a month and you get 2 simultaneous streams. Want 4k and 4 streams, thats $16 a month!

The change in price for Netflix has been blamed for the dip in US subs this last quarter, a first for Netflix since 2011. Consequently this slowed Netflix’s growth and stock took a little tumble too. 

Disney’s ESPN and Hulu bundle for Disney+ won’t have simultaneous streaming benefits. But the bundle will cost $12.99 and they will get 2 simultaneous ESPN+ streams and one basic ad-supported Hulu stream.

Notably, Disney’s ESPN and Hulu bundle for Disney+ won’t have the same simultaneous streaming benefits. With the bundle, which will cost $12.99, subscribers will only get two simultaneous ESPN+ streams and one basic, ad-supported Hulu stream.

While Netflix has a much wider and robust library than Disney right now. Disney is filing out it’s library with a ton of original shows. CNET also reports that Disney will be releasing new episodes of original series on Disney+ weekly. This is a huge difference to Netflix. Who choose to launch all the episodes at once. This strategy looks to expand the lifespan of it’s earlier slate of programming.

Loads of Shows

Disney are bringing a Ms Marvel series to it’s platform, a show centered on She Hulk and Moon Knight. They also announced recently a live action lady and the tramp adaptation which will be shown exclusively on Disney +. Furthermore an Obi Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor will also be home on the platform.

Other Disney + shows, include numerous other Star Wars series like The Mandalorian a seventh season of The Clone Wars; shows focused on popular Marvel characters Hawkeye, Falcon / the Winter Solider, and Loki. It doesn’t stop there either as there will be streaming exclusivity for other high profile films such as Frozen 2 and a live action The Little Mermaid.

(The Verge)

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Netflix Movie Theatres

Netflix Movies will release 10 films in Theatres!

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Netflix will release Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Theatres first on November 1st before hitting streaming on November 27th. Therefore it looks like, Netflix Movies are here to stay and they look like to be taking over the theatre room too!

It took a while to get on to the big screen through months of negotiations. But Netflix did it. It highlights a struggle between the new medium in Netflix and the old in the traditional film industry. Theatre chains like AMC insisit on a 90 day period of exclusivity before hitting streaming services. While, theatres of course want as many bums in seats for as long as possible. While Netflix want to keep adding new content to their services to attract new subscribers. You can see the problem here.

Netflix has been seeking awards recognition and the prestige that the traditional medium gets. Traditionalists like Steven Spielberg who are vocally against streaming has once said that  all Netflix’s releases are “TV movies”. Has suggested that Netflix shouldn’t even be eligible for awards like the Oscars. Netflix wants to be in theatres for a bid to get the big awards. As they traditionally require a theatre run before being considered for a nomination. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences shot down a suggestion that the rules be changed. Not changed to make it easier for streaming services to win awards, but to make it harder!

Netflix is planning to release 10 movies at the end of the year. With a theatrical run before release online. Such as Steven Soderbergh’s The Laundromat which will be in theatres Sept 7th before making an appearance online on October 18th.

Netflix released 4 films in 2018, Bird Box, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Mowgli, and the Academy Award-winning Roma. To be considered for an Oscar, films must be in theatres for at least 7 days in an LA county theatre.

Netflix Movies release schedule

See below Netflix’s upcoming theatrical film releases:

  • The Laundromat​
    Sept. 7th (theatrical), Oct. 18th (Netflix)
  • Dolemite Is My Name
    Oct. 4th (theatrical); Oct. 25th (Netflix)
  • The King
    Oct. 11th (theatrical); Nov. 1st (Netflix)
  • The Irishman​
    Nov. 1st (theatrical); Nov. 27th (Netflix)
  • Earthquake Bird
    Nov. 1st (theatrical); Nov. 15th (Netflix)
  • Marriage Story
    Nov. 6th (theatrical); Dec. 6th (Netflix)
  • Klaus​
    Nov. 8th (theatrical); Nov. 15th (Netflix)
  • I Lost My Body
    Nov. 15th (theatrical); Nov. 29th (Netflix)
  • Atlantics
    Nov. 15th (theatrical); Nov. 29th (Netflix)
  • The Two Popes
    Nov. 27th (theatrical); Dec. 20th (Netflix)

(The Verge)

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Netflix DVD

Netflix has shipped 5BILLION DVDs!

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Netflix is still in the business of streaming, don’t worry! But long before streaming came around Netflix was a DVD rental service. Simply order the DVD on Netflix, get it shipped to you and ship it back. Simple!

However, the disc based service is not dead!

Netflix’s DVD/Blu Ray service is still a part of it’s business and has just shipped it’s 5 billionth disc! Which Engadget are reporting as Rocketman. 21 years ago the deliveries began. Many of those discs shipped back when streaming was a bonus feature at Netflix. But it’s a HUGE achievement, when if you think about it less and less people actually have dedicated disc players now.

The physical media side of Netflix is relatively small compared to what it once was. In 2011, there were 14 million disc subscribers, now, there’s 2.4 million. In comparison there are 151 million streaming customers. Despite the relatively small number in the grand scheme of things. There were $46million in quarterly profits from it. Which is really small as Netflix has spent more on developing individual shows.

While it’s such a huge achievement, Engadget are calculating that even if everyone rented 1 disc a month from now, it would take almost 35 years to hit the 6 billion mark. In a world where streaming is so commonplace it’s a reminder that a lot of us don’t have the facility to stream and have to use physical media!

(Engadget)

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Top Boy Starts 13th September

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Top Boy was a hugely popular TV show when it first aired in 2011, since being off the air in 2013 people have been clamoring for it to be brought back to the silver screen. Well Drake purchased the rights to Top Boy and Netflix announced in 2017 that it was planning a revival.

Now we can finally witness a first trailer for the long awaited return of Top Boy. The new series will pick up where it left off with Dushane returning to the gritty streets of London to reclaim his crown as king of the underground drug business.

Top Boy starts streaming on Netflix on September 13th.

Top Boy: Plot

Series 1 of Top Boy will focus on a new story in and around the Summerhouse estate. Both Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson will be reprising their roles as Dushane and Sully, respectively; as well as new cast members including Simbi ‘Little Simz’ Ajikawo, Micheal Ward and David ‘Santan Dave’ Omoregie.

(Engadget)

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Breaking Bad Movie

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

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The Breaking Bad movie which has been making little waves on the internet lately has officially been announced! We did hear little mumurings of a Breaking Bad movie before the official announcement, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise. But now, it’s official! It’s called El Camino and is a Netflix exclusive. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie looks like it’s going to be a wild ride!

Announced via a teaser,  El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, will premiere on October 11th 2019. The clip revolves around Skinny Pete, reveals a little bit of information about the plot. It seems to revolve around Jesse Pinkman, maybe escaping captivity? “Putting Jesse Pinkman back in a cage”

While there’s no word on whether or not Walter White would appear, Bryan Cranston was aware that a movie was happening. But wouldn’t say if he was playing his character.

The movie won’t be coming to theatres and reflects how important Netflix was to Breaking Bad. Vince Gilligan did claim that “kept us on the air” by helping viewers catch up and watch the final episodes. While the sister show “Better Call Saul” is available on regular platforming in some countries, it’s only available on Netflix in others. So it looks like being a Netflix Only movie would be the likely place for it to go.

(Engadget)

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