Is Prime Appealing Enough to Shutdown Netflix?

There are many Internet-based movie rental and TV series subscriptions available, which have become very popular in the last few years. Many people have noticed the closing of many movie rental stores, like Blockbuster. These closings are due to the more convenient way of receiving and watching movies or TV series; one of the most popular and well-known subscription services that has somewhat directly shut down movie rental stores is Netflix. Just as technology has changed so many things in the past decade, we are now seeing the effect that technology has on movie rentals.

Netflix allows subscribers to view movies and TV shows unlimitedly for $7.99 a month, or around $96 a year. People watch these rentals over the Internet on their TVs with a Play Station 3, Xbox, or Wii gaming system; viewers also have the option of streaming the rental on a computer. Another service that Netflix offers to subscribers is the unlimited rental DVDs that they mail to the subscriber for rental without due dates, and therefore no late fees; this service is $2 extra per month. Blu-ray is available on Netflix. In order to allow potential subscribers to try it before buying it, they allow a free 1-month subscription that entitles each Netflix service to be used.

Amazon has recently put out a product called Prime that allows unlimited, instant streaming of movies and TV shows. It is $79 a year. The videos are capable of being viewed on computers, TVs, Blu-ray players, and many other TVs that are able to connect to the Internet. HD is available for Prime. This membership has other benefits than just movies and TV shows for a cheap price per year; it entitles members to fast 2-day shipping on Amazon products. Prime, like Netflix, entitles potential members to a free 1-month trial.

There is not much of a difference between Netflix and Prime. Both services allow unlimited, instant streaming of movies and TV series, and both require Internet connectivity. The costs are slightly different, with Amazon’s Prime being $17 cheaper per year. It also gives members extra benefits, while Netflix services only include movies and TV series. Netflix has a wider library than Prime does, but both offer new releases, which is a common category of movie rentals. Neither service has commercials or ads in their videos, yet both services provide HD streaming.

An interesting topic is what will be the next big subscription service that beats out Netflix. Will it be Amazon’s Prime? There is much hype about Prime, but is there enough of a difference in it, including its extra benefits, to encourage people to subscribe to Prime instead of the so well known Netflix? And, is Prime appealing enough to draw Netflix subscribers away from Netflix and onto Prime?

Because there is such a small difference in Netflix and Prime, the best way to decide which subscription is right for each individual’s lifestyle is to try out the free trials on each of the services. Some households might not have the correct TV components to work with one service, and therefore the other service would be the right option for them. The movie and TV series may also be slightly different, therefore getting a feel for each of the libraries would be a great way to decide which service is a better personal fit.

Although Amazon’s Prime is not yet appealing enough to take over what Netflix has become, it has high potential to become the next “big thing.” Just as Netflix ended Blockbuster’s business, Prime may be the next Internet-based movie rental subscription that outruns the huge accomplishments of Netflix.

Technology in the World as we know it

Whether it is on television, on the computer, on a Smart Phone, or any other application, the fact of the matter is that technology has taken over the world of media. If someone wants to access news it is just a matter of what Internet website or technological device they will use to obtain it. People are losing jobs in the newspaper and magazine world because of this issue. As these perspective industries are doing whatever it takes to make strides in their business to keep it alive, I just don’t think it will work because of the effectiveness of these technological advances in the world of news. I think it is safe to say that paper products, when it comes to news, are on the way out. It’s all about accessibility in news, and right now that easy access comes in the form of the Internet and devices.

Technology is everywhere we look. It affects our everyday life in many various ways. When I think of what area technology has grown the most, I feel like it is in the world of Media. The way we get the news has changed drastically over the past couple years. The days of having a paper boy are long gone due to the “Apps” one can download on an iPad, on the internet, and on television. Due to this drastic change in the way we can receive news, the newspaper industry and magazine industry has seen a major decrease in profit. When you think about it, why would we buy a magazine or read the newspaper when we can access the news through various forms of technology? I feel like the only reason why newspapers and magazines are still in existence is due to their “pastime” like persona that each has had for a number of years. I read something recently that stated the main problem with newspaper and magazines these days is that they don’t charge enough for subscriptions. They basically give away their product, mainly out of desperation to get the news out to perspective readers.

Technology has opened up a new world in media. Twitter and Facebook are taking over the world when it comes too social networking. When someone has a Twitter or Facebook account they can “follow” such news entities as CNN, Fox, ESPN, and many other news networks. Also, if someone has one of the new popular Smart Phones they can receive instant email updates, or tweets from these perspective networks telling them breaking news or other useful information.

When signing on to NYtimes.com (New York Times), one can access information from existing links such as sports, business, entertainment, politics, and many others. This is also the case with any other newspaper. This whole idea of social networking on these news websites makes them more appealing to viewers because the readers are allowed the opportunity to post comments on certain articles and can actually be involved in the news, which is something newspapers and magazines cannot offer.

Newspapers everywhere are realizing that their time is coming to an end. Statistics have been showing that the number of readers has been falling each year. The people of this generation don’t seem to appreciate the past time of sitting down and reading the newspaper. It’s all about quick and easy, and all about clicking the mouse and getting the information right then. I feel like the Internet is constantly being updated while you have to wait until the next morning to retrieve the days news when it comes to newspapers. The only reason why newspapers are still being put onto newsstands is because of the habit we have formed from reading them. As far as we know it, the generation of the newspaper is going to be gone very soon. It just doesn’t stand a chance against all the technology that is being put into our world.

When it comes to electronics a lot of people look to brands to find the best quality. Usually the best brands are supposed to equal the best quality which means that the consumer trust in the name of the brand. We give the brands meaning as to how good the product is. For instances brands like Sony ,

Phillips,








Samsung,








and Vizio

are great brands when it comes to electronics. These are the things that we trust, that we feel will not fail us in the long run the better the brands the more us we get. Well I’m here to let you know that sometimes just having a good brand name is not enough are having the newer product.

Okay about a two years ago me and my soon to be husband moved in together, he had this old 1980’s Orion Television and I had a 1999 Phillips Magnavox
(My fiance's TV on left and My TV on the right)

Well this particular day there was a thunder storm roaring outside and we decided to watch a movie and thunder stuck the building that we were staying in and all the power in the apartment went off everything came back on within about 30 minutes even my fiancé’s 1980’s Orion T.V. My Phillip’s Magnavox on the other hand never regained any type or form of life. Orion, before I meet my fiancé was not a brand that I had ever heard of before and I did think that Phillips was a better brand and thought I had the better Television but in the long run through any weather the Orion which would have also been consider a dinosaur compared to the Phillips out lived the younger TV and is still alive to this day. The only problem that we have now is that the sound comes and goes as it pleases. I guess it was built to last.