Netflix has become the first streaming company to join the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Hollywood’s most powerful lobbying group. This is the first time a non-Hollywood group has joined the group which consists of the six Hollywood studios. The MPAA has been a strong proponent of Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) in all technologies it touches and lobbies extensively for maximal reductions in use.
The Netflix-MPAA union coincides with the streamer becoming a card-carrying member of the Oscar race after securing an unprecedented 15 nominations on Tuesday morning. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and Sarandos are intent on upping the company's profile as a legitimate force in the movie business, and joining the MPAA will further that goal.
Additionally, once Fox is merged with Disney, the MPAA will have one less member, meaning a loss of as much as $10 million to $12 million in annual dues. Sources say the MPAA is courting other new members as well (Amazon could be a candidate).
Articles about Netflix have been featured a lot on SN in many different contexts.
Earlier on SN:
Video Streaming Services set for Cambrian Explosion (2019)
Netflix to Raise $2 Billion in Debt to Fund More Original Content (2018)
Netflix is the Latest Company to Try Bypassing Apple's App Store (2018)
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(Score: 2) by HiThere on Wednesday January 23 2019, @05:48PM (3 children)
If I were a Netflix customer, I'd consider this a good reason to switch to Fortnite. Even if it meant buying a MSWindows computer.
MS is evil and vile, but they aren't as bad as the MPAA.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday January 23 2019, @06:09PM (2 children)
Yeah, I saw the Netflix v. Fortnite article, but if you aren't gaming it makes more sense to replace Netflix with Kodi [soylentnews.org] or some other means of streaming or downloading.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday January 23 2019, @08:42PM (1 child)
Yup: this is why people download and share. Cut the crap and people wouldn't bother!
Plus, Netflix (et al) drop a show you want to see, you are SOL: you download it, it is yours when YOU want to watch it.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 3, Insightful) by edIII on Wednesday January 23 2019, @10:51PM
You're using Netflix incorrectly then. I think I get a 1/3 to 1/2 of my content via Netflix, and the rest via piracy.
When I wish to watch something that is on Netflix, it's just plain easier, or about the same amount of work on Kodi, to watch it. The moment Netflix drops a show, I use piracy instead. The interesting part is that if I pirate Netflix content, am I actually pirating Netflix content? I'm already entitled to watch it, and I flat out deny the ability of any copyright owner to dictate how I consume their protected work, or if I can consume it in 720/1080/4k/480p/3D/8k/etc. If I paid for a license, I can watch it any way I want, anytime I want, on any device I want, in any place on the planet I want.
Netflix makes it easy for me to be legal for quite a lot of content, and still, at a pretty damn cheap price point. It's still something like $15/mo, and I can remember in my ignorant youth paying a cable TV provider $139/mo. So I'm loathe to call them greedy or unaffordable.
The real question is how comfortable am I with part of that $15/mo going to the coffers of the MPAA. The answer is that I'm seriously considering getting rid of Netflix, and switching to straight 100% piracy for all content from now on.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.