Got an e-mail from Netflix yesterday, and it seems there is no longer going to be a quickster. They will keep DVD and Streaming under one roof, just like people want. Seems the negative feedback worked, and the CEO just totally messed up. I am quite glad, though it might be a mistake changing back after announcing.

Dear Jonah,

It is clear that for many of our members two websites would make things more difficult, so we are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVDs.

This means no change: one website, one account, one password…in other words, no Qwikster.

While the July price change was necessary, we are now done with price changes.

We’re constantly improving our streaming selection. We’ve recently added hundreds of movies from Paramount, Sony, Universal, Fox, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, MGM and Miramax. Plus, in the last couple of weeks alone, we’ve added over 3,500 TV episodes from ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, USA, E!, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Discovery Channel, TLC, SyFy, A&E, History, and PBS.

We value you as a member, and we are committed to making Netflix the best place to get your movies & TV shows.

Respectfully,

The Netflix Team

So not only has Netflix doubled it’s prices, but it is now splitting off the DVD division to become a new company called Qwikster, and the subscriptions are now completely separate. And I say WTF!

They are obviously giving up on DVD all together, and I have given up on Netflix Streaming. Already Netflix streaming does not have nearly a good enough selection to possibly replace new discs (nor the quality of new discs), plus I don’t think steaming is going to work in the current environment when most broadband providers have instigated data caps, and look at the deal with STARZ. STARZ refused 10 times the money of the old deal to do streaming, so no one is going to do streaming of their newer films or shows!

Personally I have given up on Netflix streaming, and picked up a ROKU 2 to do Amazon Prime Instant Streaming. We already pay for it, since it gives the 2nd day shipping on any item from Amazon, and the streaming is included.

Sure the streaming is not as good, the selection is smaller, and it is hard to figure out what is available, and at least Star Trek has some interlacing issues when seen on an HDTV, but it is still good enough.