Wal-Mart, Netflix in DVD alliance

http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/19/technology/personaltech/walmart_netflix.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

looks like I'm going to quit renting from Netflix

Netflix Inc., the online DVD rental company, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday they have struck a deal to co-promote DVD sales and rentals, with Wal-Mart shutting down its online rental service to concentrate on DVD sales.

Shares of Netflix (Research) jumped 30 percent in premarket trade from a close of $15.50 on Wednesday on the Nasdaq.

Under the agreement, Netflix will promote Wal-Mart (Research) DVD sales to its 3 million subscribers, and Wal-Mart will offer its online customers the opportunity to sign up with Netflix at their current subscription price for a year.

We've been customers since they started.

Screw 'em.

why you were cancelling?

I'm furious with them!

Everyone is trying to kick Walmart out of their neighborhoods, and they go and do this?

and I got the corporate mailing address, so I can send a follow-up letter.

Nobody likes to get letters from lawyers .......................

Don't know what to do..I hate wal-mart. If netflix offers me any wal-mart research dvd sales..I will tell them to keep their offers because I go out of my way NOT to shop at wal-mart(a company that among other things..gives $3 million dollars a year to the idealogical bush agenda!!

What's a flick buff to do?:-(

eom

Option:)

not the same as netflix but ok. i am forced now to switch and to tell netflix why...i have been a netflix subscriber from the beginning. i too am a film nut...has anybody got any info on amazon?
what a bummer

although FWIW that's the service I'm using at the moment.

You could pirate them like many people do. Or rent them from a locally owned business. Or use NetFlixs but tell them you may cut back on the rentals over the Wal-Mart deal.

And with this thread from Lorien, I will take all into consideration.

"Lorien (1000+ posts) Thu May-19-05 01:36 PM
Response to Reply #17

26. Netflix is very political-big DEMOCRATIC contributors


aside from this awful Wal-mart deal, Netflix gives 100% to the Dems and promotes liberal documentaries."

and about as PRO Censorship as you can get. I stopped going there ages ago...Netflix was a godsend...esp Blockbuster drove out both other small mom and pop Video stores in our area.

I'm going to write Netflix with my concerns and if they're selling out I'm gone.

I'll just watch fewer movies which won't be a bad thing. I've got plenty of books to read.

I don't want to give up my movies, and I refuse to rent from blockbuster. What to do? I'll write and let them know where I stand, and let them know, any mail I get from them that has Walmart involved will be deleted immediately. I hope I don't have to cancel. :(

on the cancel button just yet.

From what I've read on these threads..netflix has been giving money to the Dems and I'm not ready to condemn them yet until I investigate furthur.

In return for a link to buy videos online from them, rather than Amazon etc. It will not work. Two different customer bases. Suck vacuum and die, Wal-Mart.

do business with them anymore since I hate Walmart. Or do I have to call?

All their top managers are big DEM contributors, and they have always promoted the most liberal DVDs on their site (F9/11, outfoxed, super size me, unprecidented, etc.).

damn! i CAN'T support walmart in any way shape or form. what am i going to do with huge TV, now?

ritual sacrifice?

i am cancelling my long subscription to netflix. am going to look into amazon and comcast too

Blockbuster is an even worse option. Also Amazon is a big rethug contributor. I checked Buy Blue or what ever it's called.

edit for stupidness

maybe you'll have to purchase movies, but you can get some really great deals sometimes, and most film/movie buffs watch movies over and over anyway

Also, as an alternative to Borders for books, use either Barnes & Noble or online how about powells.com

Hollywood Entertainment Corporation

BuyBlue.org's Position:
Rating: White - 50 %

Hollywood Entertainment currently has a 50% BuyBlue rating due to lack of political contributions for the 2003-2004 election cycle. While BuyBlue believes that lack of political contributions is a "blue" value as well because it shows a company is in business to do business and not influence the political landscape, we must rate these companies as "white" or "neutral" until we have more data available for other rating areas.


The #2 US video chain, behind Blockbuster, it runs about 2,000 Hollywood Video rental superstores in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

Hollywood Video stores also rent video games and game players, VCRs, and DVD players.

In-store video game department Game Crazy (in about 700 stores) buys, sells, and trades used and new game software, hardware, and accessories.

The stores are primarily located in strip malls or other high-traffic locales.

After receiving an unsolicited takeover proposal from Blockbuster, Hollywood Entertainment agreed to be aquired by smaller rival Movie Gallery for $850 million.


More:
http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=182

http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=76

Blockbuster appears to have been recently spun off from Viacom so it doesn't have its own trackrecord...but it did suck before.

aside from this awful Wal-mart deal, Netflix gives 100% to the Dems and promotes liberal documentaries.

I'm not cancelling today..I'm going to wait and see.

this info? I believe it but just curious..thanks!

it's discussed there. I beleive the information is available at Open Secrets.

Lorien!

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=478984&page=1

"According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Comcast Cable has given millions in political donations since 1998. The national Republican Party committees are its biggest organizational recipient, with donations totaling $851,000. President Bush is its biggest individual recipient with $109,000 in donations."

I'm sure my PS2 and future Nintendo Revolution will like it. :hide:

they know why I've dropped them.

Bastards.

I hate Wal-Mart more than I like Netflix.

I canceled my membership and then emailed them and told them why they lost my business. I'm sure they don't care but at least I said my peace.

and now they have gone over to the dark side. Crap.

Does anyone know of a good alternative? I live in a town with extremely limited resources in terms of video rental, that's why I use Netflix, which has a pretty good selection of obscure/classic/international type films. Is there another online rental service out there that HASN'T just done a deal with Satan?

Sigh,

The Plaid Adder

Yes WalMArt is an Eeeevil scum sucking repub doning community killing store. I don't see how them giving their subscription service (didn't even know they had one) over to NetFlix is going to empower them. Article says that NetFlix will promote WM DVD sales in exchange... I think NF will make a lot more money off this, and they are a blue company.

We killed our TV in December becasue of all the CRAP that is spewed and now rely solely on NF for our entertainment. Buying/renting at Blockbuster ain't an option.

I'm keeping the 'flix. That's all I'm sayin'!

It goes without saying that you can do whatever you want, but I wonder: how "evil" do you really think Wal Mart is if you aren't willing to give up a movie delivery subscription service in order to voice your opposition?

Ido not shop at wal mart, or target, Kmart or any other community killing stores. Do you?

I don't have cable, satellite or local TV stations. Nada. Do you?

I support my local community radio station with donations of time, money and treats during pledge drive. You?

I use mass transit to get to work (1 hour) instead of driving the 30 minutes. You?

I voice my opposition in PLENTY of ways.

Net Flix is still a blue company as far as I can tell... they will just be picking up wal marts customers and hopefully exposing them to movies that wal mart won't allow them to see.

As you said- I can do whatever I want- and I am not jumping on this bandwagon.

Peace- WL

edited for poor logical thinking- doh!

They just got a lot redder, so that as far as I can tell they are deep purple. As business partners, support for Netflix IS support for Walmart and vice versa. It's that simple.

So, you keep your 'script and I'll cancel mine. Ah, the circle of life.

:toast:

Even Ben & Jerry's products are sold at Walmart's super centers.

their ice cream. This is a deal that goes both ways. You (and every other netflix customer) will now start receiving letters and emails telling you of the wonderful deals at Wal-Mart.

This agreement isn't going to force those of us who won't cancel our Netflix accounts to buy movies from walmart.com.

advertising, they're reaching a lot more people. I know you will ignore it, but chance are good that many of the other 50,000 people won't.

And sometimes, I even shop at WalMart. So there!!! Canceling NetFlix would be like cutting off your nose to spit your face.

any suggestions for a similar service. Blockbuster sucks ass as well....

I have no clue what to do but I won't spend another dime on Netflix. Yes, Netflix took over Wal-Mart's online business and yes there is an agreement that they 2 companies would promote each other's services (netflix for renting, Wal-Mart for buying). BUt I'm sorry, Wal-mart isn't going to give away a service to Netflix unless they are getting something in return. I don't care how much I love Netflix (and I do), I won't get involved.

BTW, might I make a suggestion but sending a suggestion to Netflix about your unwillingness to support Wal-Mart Partners

http://www.netflix.com/ContactCustService?subject=Customer+Suggestion&type=101

I don't shop at Wal-Mart, but I see no problem with Netflix doing this deal. They are fighting BlockBuster. It is not as if Netflix has been bought by Wal-Mart. DVD-by-mail was Netflix's idea. I don't see anything wrong with them fighting for it.

Wal-Mart will probably buy them out as well

NetFlix hasn't and won't in the future touch me as a customer. Don't need their crap!

They're lying down with the devil, but then undercutting the devil's political party while the devil's back is turned!

If you had grown up in a segregated state the way I did, you would pick your battles carefully.

I won't shop Walmart, but I will wait to see what the options are before I act hastily. I also don't have TV at all--no cable, no Dish, no TV at all.

Netflix is run be liberal Democrats who not only contribute heavily to liberal causes but also push liberal agenda films on their website. So now they form an alliance with Walmart, which means Netflix will now use Walmart's money to support Democrats. So Democrats start dumping them? Shame on you.

No wonder Democrats can't win. We kill our own more viciously than we attack the other side.

who knows what they will do? All I have is my vote, voice & money. I'll look into it more before I do anything, but they had to know that this would anger many customers.

Like--dropping Michael Moore films, censoring their DVD's....

But nobody is 100% pure. How do folks get those TV's made by Union labor, working in ecologically pure factories owned by Democrats?

I'm not acting on it until I can locate a viable alternative

If Netflix WERE to change--like, censoring offerings--I'd consider dropping it.

But it's too soon to say.

My bad, my misread.

I despise Wal-Mart, too, but if people actually read the article, they'll see that Wal-Mart has conceded this part of their business to Netflix.

The good guys won, folks.

BTW, see this thread over in GD about Blockbuster 'testing' raising their DVDs-by-mail service.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3688099&mesg_id=3688099

www.DVDOvernight.com

Been using them for yrs - love it.
No subscription fees, you only pay for movies you rent.
Minimum 2, maximum 4 at a time.
You have almost 2 wks to rent / watch.
Lots of indies, foreign films.

They also have a plan kind of like NetFlix: you pay $40 per year, set up a "wish list", and keep 4 movies out as long as you like - no late fees.

didn't get into netflix because so far i'm not a big movie watcher, have waay too much classic stuff to catch up on that i can find in the library (as free as you can get, and my overdue fees help fund the construction of our new library :D), and had no interest in a subscription.

though i was thinking of trying netflix out recently for this summer (now that i'm gonna have a bit more time) i think i'll try this company instead.

Plus it had a good service.

Now it has merged with the worst of the big guys and one of the reddest companies out there. This seems like a total allianation of their exsisting customer base.

I actually see this as a good thing, we've finally found something where Wal-Mart can't sweep in and take over a whole business segment. From the Netflix press release, "As movie sales at Walmart.com continue to accelerate, the company is strengthening its commitment to this core business, and as a result, is discontinuing the Wal-Mart DVD Rentals service." This is PR-speak for, we couldn't do it, so we're cutting our losses.

Netflix gets a shot at all of Wal-Mart's existing DVD Rental customers, and Netflix subscribers get a bit of easy-to-ignore advertising that Wal-Mart sells movies.

I'm keeping my Netflix subscription, and will continue to buy from retailers other than Wal-Mart.

i've been a netflix subscriber since the beginning, and have been generally happy with them. Until Netflix stops providing the selection and service I want I'll stay a customer.

I still haven't been to Walmart, and have no intention of starting now.

Just had a thought - what will walmart customers think of Netflix's selection? They have all those independent films, foreign flicks, a whole category called "Gay and Lesbian Films" - who's gonna protect them from seeing something different?

Everything I've read about this is framing this as a victory for Netflix, and a failure for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart couldn't beat Netflix at their own game, and turned their program over to Netflix. Wal-Mart's customers can sign up at Netflix for a year at their Wal-Mart price.

All Netflix has to do in exchange is offer banners that remind their customers that they can buy DVDs at Wal-Mart.

I can live with that, if it means one less business that Wal-Mart runs out of business.

By JENNIFER BAYOT
Published: May 19, 2005

Wal-Mart Stores, the world's largest retailer, said today that it would no longer offer online DVD rentals and would instead direct its customers to Netflix, a startup company whose business model it copied.

Netflix, based in Los Gatos, Calif., began offering DVD rentals by mail in 1999 but has recently been threatened by nearly-identical offerings from Wal-Mart and another much larger rival, Blockbuster, the movie rental chain. Although the competition remains cutthroat, with Amazon.com expected to announce its entry soon, Wal-Mart's withdrawal from the market provides Netflix with a measure of relief.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/business/media/19cnd-movie.html?hp&ex=1116561600&en=682ff0e7b74a019a&ei=5094&partner=homepage

It's one less business that Walmart couldn't beat.

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Management


Management
Reed Hastings, Founder and CEO
Tom Dillon, Chief Operations Officer
Neil Hunt, Chief Product Officer
David Hyman, General Counsel
Leslie Kilgore, Chief Marketing Officer
Barry McCarthy, Chief Financial Officer
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Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer
http://www.netflix.com/PressRoom?id=1006&hnjr=3#rhastings




-----



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 19, 2005
http://www.netflix.com/PressRoom?id=5280

IR CONTACT: Deborah Crawford
Director of Investor Relations
408 317-3712


PR CONTACT: Ken Ross
VP, Corporate Communications
408 317-3931

Netflix Says Promotional Agreement With Walmart.com
Not Material to Company's Financial Performance
LOS GATOS, Calif., May 19, 2005 - In connection with today's joint promotional announcement with Walmart.com, Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) advised investors that it believed the agreement would not materially impact the company's current subscriber growth or financial performance and, as a result, the company is not revising the guidance it provided on April 21, 2005.

Netflix remarked that teaming with Walmart.com strengthens the Company's competitive position as the popularity of Walmart.com and the Web site's traffic offer an opportunity for increased awareness and referrals to the Netflix service.

Netflix CFO Barry McCarthy is expected to comment on today's announcement during his presentation at the JP Morgan 33rd Annual Technology Conference in San Francisco. As previously announced, Mr. McCarthy's presentation today at 9:45 a.m. Pacific Time, will be webcast live. The webcast will be available on the investor relations portion of the company's website: http://ir.netflix.com.

About Netflix

Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world's largest online movie rental service, providing more than three million subscribers access to over 40,000 DVD titles. Under the company's most popular program, for $17.99 a month, Netflix subscribers rent as many DVDs as they want and keep them as long as they want, with three movies out at a time. There are no due dates, no late fees and no shipping fees. DVDs are delivered for free by the USPS from regional shipping centers located throughout the United States. Netflix can reach nearly 90 percent of its subscribers with generally one business-day delivery. Netflix offers personalized movie recommendations to its members and has more than 500 million movie ratings. Netflix also allows members to share and recommend movies to one another through its Friends™ feature. For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the impact of the Walmart.com - Netflix promotional agreement on Netflix's financial performance and the opportunity for increased awareness and referrals from such agreement. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ, including, factors associated with the implementation and execution of the promotional agreement, the willingness of existing Wal-Mart subscribers to convert to the Netflix service; the limited number of existing Wal-Mart subscribers; and the likelihood visitors to walmart.com will accept offers promoting the Netflix service. A detailed discussion of other risks and uncertainties that could impact Netflix's financial performance is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2005. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

relatively speaking:
http://buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=76

http://buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=34

Netflix is pretty blue based on political contributions:

http://buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=8

Just so people know, before they rush into new commitments...

All this means is that Netflix has defeated Walmart in the online DVD rental arena, you should be happy. Walmart is giving up, can't you people read?

Make sure you hurt one of the few companies that are huge Dem contributors. Very smart.

They give 100% to Democrats, this is just a business deal, and besides, how many Netflix customers will buy their DVDs from Walmart now because of this? Not many, I'd imagine.

I use netflix so I don't have to buy dvds. The only dvds I buy are music, and I usually buy those directly from the artist's website. Still sux.

I use Blockbuster.com now. Please don't tell me they are Red or I will have to cry.

Netflix is pretty damn blue. Amazon and Blockbuster are pretty damn red.

I get too many things that I can't find at my local rental store.

I did send them a note in their suggestion form:

_________________

WTF?!?!?!?!?!

I read that you are teaming up with one of the most evil companies in existence, and I'm sure you know who I mean. I am going to have to seriously think about dropping my membership. I have recommended Netflix to many people over the last year, and now I am horrified at this betrayal. What are you thinking?!?!?!?!?

Get the fundies to express their outrage at Walmart.

I'm thinking of a press-release like, "Walmart teams-up with Porn Vendor."

In fact, I have a copy of Season 1 of "The L Word" in my hand that I'm returning in the mailbox right now.

It only took me a couple hours to watch the whole season because I forwarded to the good parts.

Oh, man!

http://caclean.org/problem/latimes_2005-05-03_01.php

Reed Hastings, chairman of the movie rental company Netflix, reported Monday that he gave $200,000 to support the proposal to redraw legislative boundaries - an idea opposed by Democrats, who control the Legislature, and by many Republican legislators. Hastings said in an e-mail that he gave the money in hopes that the measure would open the way for the election of more moderate legislators.

he's one of Ahnuld's buddies

Remember, tell the fundies: Walmart is now selling Porn.

Hot, lesbian, girl-on-girl porn like "The L Word."

Oh, man...

The only way I'm cancelling is if they start to censor their offerings to be "family friendly"(ala Walmart)

If you look in the top right corner of the Wal-Mart banner there is a close icon which makes the banner disappears for good, even when you log out and log back on. We will have to wait and see what happens in the furture, but for now it appears Netflix is actually giving us the choice as to whether we want to view Wal-Mart ads everytime we log in or not. I really hate Wal-Mart, but it honestly does not appear as if this is a very close relationship with Netflix.

Rats, I wish I had done so sooner so that I could cancel the membership.

Thanks for the heads up!

and no more recommendations to friends and relatives either.

Nice job, guys.....