The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion

[domino harvey]

"Tiers"... cable never really dies, does it

[movielocke]

Sounds like a plan to both decimate the popular licensed content that Netflix still has, while also making Netflix's pricing seem like a better value.

And with net neutrality dead At&T can force you to subscribe to their bundle as the only way to unthrottle Netflix to you. Since most people have no other internet option if you want Netflix, AT&T is going to make you pay them to allow it to work on your internet service (and probably also make Netflix pay them too)

[jedgeco]

I'd be surprised if they did anything that aggressive up front, since I think that would still raise some antitrust risk from Netflix. But I wouldn't be surprised if AT&T Fiber/Uverse/whatever customers got "fast lane" treatment for Warner streaming, or Warner streaming doesn't count against a data cap on AT&T wireless or Fiber services.

I did note how hilariously vague way the "three tiers" are described:

a movie-focused package, a premium service with original programming and blockbuster movies, and a third tier adding on its existing library and other licensed content

So a new movie tier, a really popular new movie tier, and an old movie tier?

[paulm]

I did note how hilariously vague way the "three tiers" are described:

a movie-focused package, a premium service with original programming and blockbuster movies, and a third tier adding on its existing library and other licensed content

So a new movie tier, a really popular new movie tier, and an old movie tier?

My reading/prediction of the tiers is

Tier 1 - Warner Bros. library content (hopefully more than the same batch of library titles that seemed to shuffle every couple of months between Netflix and Amazon, probably priced a buck or two lower than the base Netflix montly price)
Tier 2 - HBO (probably keeping the $15/mo price that cable HBO and standalone HBO Now costs)
Tier 3 - Both Tier 1 and 2 combined plus other licensed content like Criterion Channel (like VRV Premium is right now where it bundles together a bunch of separate services like Shudder, Boomerang, and CrunchRoll, probably at $20/mo or at least in line with whatever price Disney is going to come up with for bundling Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu)

[movielocke]

I'd say the tiers are going to be in increments of $15 off of a base price equal to netflix base price

so Tier 2 with HBO is the base price plus $15
Tier 3 with the kitchen sink is the base price plus $30

[jedgeco]

If HBO Now will also require a "base tier" subscription, there will be some angry people. (Although making it easier and/or cheaper to un-bundle HBO from a cable package would be a way to screw Comcast.)

[jbeall]

Since the FilmStruck thread is locked... FilmStruck's Demise Could Be Good for Movies
(I'm neither endorsing nor condemning the argument, just sharing the link.)

[Michael Kerpan]

jbeall -- I have one word for Prof. Groo's Filmstruck article -- malarkey...

[jedgeco]

"Don't worry about Filmstruck, because the Library of Congress is streaming Interior New York subway, Fourteenth Street to Forty-second Street, and anyway, His Girl Friday will melt to vinegar and the sun will consume the Earth one day" is a scorching hot take.

[domino harvey]

There's some decent ideas here, especially in the broad scope of considering the ephemeral nature of film or any popular artistic medium-- I am reminded of Godard's great comments in the early 80s that he loved taping movies off TV, because then he could put them on a shelf and never watch them again-- but then she goes into tired liberal hot takes against the canon and it's like whatever

[domino harvey]

Also should we invite her to post in rrenault's infamous Art films should look bad, just like poor people thread

[dwk]

Ryan Gallagher tweeted out that he got an email from FilmStruck giving him free digital copies for five films. So, if you were a subscriber, check your spam folders.

[Shrew]

I got one too. Unfortunately it's just for King Kong, Adventures of Robin Hood, Casablanca, and Singin in the Rain, A Star is Born (1954) off MoviesAnywhere. I wonder if this replaces the prorated refunds? I had 1+ month left on my subscription, but haven't seen anything on my credit card yet.

[perkizitore]

Ryan Gallagher tweeted out that he got an email from FilmStruck giving him free digital copies for five films. So, if you were a subscriber, check your spam folders.

If anyone doesn't need them, just send me a PM!

[movielocke]

Dang I’d love all those digital copies, but no email as of yet

[mfunk9786]

I got the prorated refund and the digital copies. Feeling like a real badass right now.

[Michael Kerpan]

As far as I can tell, I haven't gotten any recent emails from Filmstruck -- only from Criterion Channel (for instance, my only announcement of the shutdown was from CC).

[flyonthewall2983]

There are quite a few 70's Warner Bros. movies that were on Filmstruck that are now on Amazon Prime Video now

[MongooseCmr]

I only subscribed for the first ~6 months of the service and got the download code. I did just put in my email for the new channel so maybe that bumped me up on their list.

[onedimension]

Since the FilmStruck thread is locked... FilmStruck's Demise Could Be Good for Movies
(I'm neither endorsing nor condemning the argument, just sharing the link.)

Is that the “cultural Marxism” right-wingers are always invoking? I definitely wish I could see decomposing fragments of home movies instead of the “best” of a century of world cinema. Maybe I can make my own home movies!

[fdm]

I got download codes for the beta trial and for the real thing. Anybody want them?

[Mark L.]

I'll take them if they're still available!

[fdm]

Have one more download code left, but to perhaps clarify, it's for the free digital copies that were mentioned above.

Edit: ok, all gone now.

[OldBobbyPeru]

I'll take the code, if still available. My subscription to Filmstruck was a gift from my daughter, so I didn't get that email.

Still going through the five stages of grief over losing Filmstruck...

[flyonthewall2983]

WaPost: "FilmStruck wasn’t that good for movies. Don’t mourn its demise."

I'm seeing a lot of very heated responses to this on Twitter. Not even going to bother reading it right now, but thought it worth sharing to indicate how many absolutely shitty takes this year has produced.