Well, we
all have read the online DVD rental market is getting exciting with new
competition and price drops, now we can read that the once postponed Netflix UK
launch is drawing near. Netflix has hired Frank PR as it
prepares to deploy in the UK later this year. They are hoping for the same
success in the UK as they are enjoying right now with 2.1 million subscribers in
the US.
arrival will bring it into competition with the world's largest film rental company, Blockbusters, which entered the online market this autumn, as well as around 20 online DVD companies, which include Lovefilm.com and ScreenSelect. Market research groups estimate the UK DVD rental market will be worth more than £375m by 2006. More than 40% of UK households have a DVD player, with that figure predicted to rise to 83% by 2008. Netflix head of UK PR Nick Chaloner refused to comment on the agency appointment. The account is understood to be led by Frank managing director Andrew Bloch. The agency also declined to comment. |
The article indicated that there is no word yet on the
projected date of the launch. Or even of course pricing, however in the US,
customers can rent three DVDs per transaction for a monthly fee, which
in the US is $21.99 (£12.30). Let's just hope that the pricing is the same for
our friends in the UK or even less! It seems the purchase of
optical pre-recorded content i.e. music albums, is not a good deal at
all.
I just got an email from another CD Freak visiting over in England who was
apalled at recent prices he found there. For instance, chart album
CDs were selling at a price of £13.95, working out as US$25.17! Music DVDs went up from around album CD price last year of under
£10, to £19.99 which with current exchange rates is US$36.06.
This is an outrage. Maybe if people start spending
disposable income renting more DVD's, leaving less for music, that will in turn
put pressure on the music industry to give consumers over there a better deal.
If they think that isn't possible, maybe they should look again at how many
households have a DVD player sitting in the living
room.
Source: Digital Bulletin
