Netflix has been pushing streaming video for some time. Which makes sense as it represents the future while physical media such as DVDs represent the past. The problem is not everyone is ready for the future, and some are even confused about the present.
Netflix Talks DVDs
Netflix is actually talking about DVDs again. Wonders will never cease. In an official blog post Netflix directed customers to dvd.netflix.com, where they can sign up for DVDs-by-mail for $7.99-per-month.
When I saw this news I wasn’t going to cover it. Because it wasn’t really newsworthy. Because it was nothing new. But then something strange happened: the blogosphere assumed Netflix was bringing back DVDs, even though it had never got rid of them in the first place. Now that’s news.
The Real Story
This announcement caused much confusion across the blogosphere today. Some heralded the return of the DVD-only subscription plan as if it was a complete turnaround, backpedaling, and a return to the good ol’ days before the price hike and Qwikster debacle. Which is is nonsense.
Wired is the only site which has nailed the real story here. Which, in a nutshell, is:
DVD and streaming were once combined for $9.99, then Netflix split the two, offering both for $7.99 apiece. Streaming became the company’s main focus, so new subscribers were dissuaded from signing up just for DVDs. Then Qwikster happened. Then Qwikster disappeared. And it became difficult to sign up for the DVD-only plan. Today’s announcement merely reinforces the fact people can still sign up just for DVDs-by-mail for $7.99.
Conclusions
The Netflix advertising its DVD-only plan is only partly newsworthy. It does suggest the company has resigned itself to the fact that physical media is going to be hanging around for a little while longer yet.
However, the story of how this news was covered is much more interesting. It underlines what a mess Netflix has made of its business over the past year or so. Even normally-sane tech bloggers are confused as to what Netflix is and isn’t offering at the present time.
If I was CEO Reed Hastings I’d be making sure everyone knew the present situation as it actually is.
