Netflix’s Problems Have Only Just Begun

"Netflix Adds Spatial Audio to Over 700 Titles (But It'll Cost You)

Enjoying the cinematic sound experience requires a $19.99/month Premium Subscription...

Last year, Netflix worked with audio specialist Sennheiser to develop AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio for a "movie theater experience" via directional audio filters. Now that technology is being put to good use across more than 700 Netflix TV shows and movies...

The sound enhancement is achieved without requiring surround sound speakers or home theater equipment, which also means it works regardless of whether you are watching on a TV, computer, tablet, or phone..."

So Netflix must be thinking they have so many lousy films that no one wants to watch maybe people will just want to listen to them instead.

Linked page includes a demo:

https://www.pcmag.com/news/netflix-adds-spatial-audio-to-over-700-titles-but-itll-cost-you

 

Does anyone know if this will also affect VPN usage? Because I sometimes use the Dutch and US version, so the Netflix app will see two different IP's.

 

Netflix starts cracking down on password sharing in four countries
By Rebecca Picciotto - February 8, 2023

Netflix: An Update on Sharing

 

I've done some reading and it's a bit confusing. Some say it won't affect VPN usage, and others say it might indeed cause serious problems. One thing is for sure, if my VPN stops working, it's bye bye Netflix, especially because their content is getting crappier by the month, both in Holland and the US anyway.

 

And crappier by the month in Canada as well, mostly mediocre garbage. I'm pretty sure it's even worse here than in the US. Also with their crack down on login sharing soon to happen this month, requiring an additional $7.99/month for additional users outside the primary location, we are probably going to cancel our subscription. The Standard plan plus an additional user would be $24.49/month, so unless their content improves I can't justify paying that.

 

In the grand scheme of things $24.99/month isn't a lot. I look at is this way, if I went out just once a month instead of watching Netflix it would easily cost me at least triple that amount, so basically Netflix is saving me money. I agree the programming is getting worse but there is still enough to keep me occupied a couple nights a week.

 

True enough, and honestly I easily spend half that amount already on a fast food meal deal, but it's just that I barely watch Netflix anymore. Instead I have a subscription to TSN+ and very recently Crave, so those have provided, so far, better entertainment bang-for-the-buck value than Netflix. Also, please see my post below to Bill...

@Bill_Bright

To respond to your post in another, unrelated thread: I get the TOS and legality of it all, but besides the individual being a close family member, the current subscription cost is barely worth it because of the crappy content, and now by adding an additional $8 to the plan, it makes it next to unjustifiable for me at least. In fact, I think it would be reasonably fair if the Standard plan, which includes two supported devices at a time in the same household were also to allow the second device to be in a different household, even if Netflix were to restrict that second household to a family member of the Primary household. This latter condition seems reasonable and fair enough.

 

Crappy content (in your opinion - and that's fair) is a totally separate - but valid reason, unrelated to sharing or new price plans.

I happen to like much of the content. But not all. And for sure, once I've seen it, I've seen it. That said, just recently they added more, which is good.

And direct family members was not the issue. 60 year old siblings, one living in Onterio, Canada the other in Miami, Florida are direct family members. I live in Nebraska. My 40 year old son lives in Missouri. Should we be sharing?

As I said in that other thread,

My biggest gripe is if I want to watch all the shows I would like to, I would not only need to continue my subscription to Netflix, but also subscribe to Amazon Prime, Paramount Plus, HBO and HBO Max, Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, Hulu, Showtime and probably a dozen others I forgot or don't even know about - this on top of my already outlandish $268/month cable/Internet bill. And when there is only 24 hours in a day.

Oh well.

 

Yes it's horrible, and it's not just Netflix who is getting worse. HBO Max and Prime Video are also going downhill. You know it's bad when YouTube Free has more interesting movies than the big streaming companies.

Here is the content that Netflix and Prime Video (Dutch versions) have added in the last month, it's mostly crap. There are hundreds of movies I'd still like to see, but I gave up on it. I will soon buy a mediabox that allows me to stream movies on Tubi and Freevee, via VPN.

https://www.filmvandaag.nl/video-on-demand/netflix/nieuw-op-netflix?show=movie
https://www.filmvandaag.nl/video-on-demand/amazon-prime-video/nieuw-op-amazon-prime-video?show=movie

 

I take it all back!

While the terms of service may have said sharing was not allowed, it appears Netflix themselves promoted sharing back in March of 2017 when they Tweeted,

"Love is sharing a password."

I suspect this was a classic case of the right hand not knowing what the left was doing, but, oh well! That's why organizations have PR and marketing departments that [are supposed to] work together, with the same primary goal.

 

Well, I am a paid subscriber. I hope all these new subscribers will help fund new content.

 

I wonder when they will launch it in the rest of Europe. I'm also interested in Netflix's stock again, I think they might surprise in Q1 2023 because of this new ad-supported plan. That's why it has probably climbed almost $40 in just 2 days on Wall Street.