Looks as though it won't be long before Netflix may have company. Seems like Google would like You Tube to have content more like TV. They're even arranging it in "channels".
http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/google-youtube-channels-coming-soon/
As more and more of this type of content (streaming video) comes to the internet and it becomes more and more sophisticated, the CRTC is going to end up trying to juggle cats. There is already a distaste among users to anything resembling regulation of content on the internet. Its not only TVs that are used to view Netflix. Its laptops, i-Phones and i-Pads etc. The fact that some consumers view the content on their TV doesn't take away where that content is coming from, the internet.
I don't think the type of content is relevent either. In a short while, much like the music industry, there will be productions that are specifically targeted to the internet. In the past the quality of video available on the internet left TV providers feeling smug and self assured. The internet was no threat to them! Now they've woken from their slumber to find fairly big players like Netflix and soon Google/YouTube, "stealing" away "their" customers. I wasn't aware I was theirs? Besides if the CRTC was so concerned about our delicate Canadian sensibilities, perhaps they and the gov't would look toward some regulation of internet porn first, but I doubt it LOL. They probably spend alot more time looking at it than into it.
Streaming video, no matter if the source be Netflix or any other internet based source is here to stay. I believe the train has already left the station on this one. Unless our democratic government (no matter who that may be) decides to go all "China" on us and filter our internet so as to protect us from the barbarian hoard from the south and their hooligan influence, and don't forget those decadent Europeans either. They could get Conrad & his merry men to save us from the great un-Canadian hoard at our gates! I don't think it would be wise.
The Netflix price model may also be the future, again look to the music industry. Their profits are in the toilet, but the artists are still earning, and they don't always need a producer or alot of funding to reach their fans. Fans don't have to buy the whole album or CD for the two songs they like.
Many current TV consumers are vocal in their dislike for the way TV content is currently bundled. I constantly hear "
why do I have to pay for all these channels I don't watch, why can't I pay only for the ones I want?" The Netflix bargain basement price "all you can eat" model is one type of response to this. The price is low, there is good value and the content will become more current as time goes on, I have no doubt. Meanwhile network TV becomes less and less interesting. Not many months ago the networks were screaming at the CRTC to make those thieves over at the cable companies pay for content. Shaw bought some of those networks, so did Bell. I wonder if
they still feel a need to pay themselves? The whole issue of Canadian content and government oversight of media in Canada is a joke.
I have Netflix, I watch it a bit. More than enough to justify the cost. If Netflix can run a profitable business case at these rates, good for them. If they raise their price beyond reasonable or become no longer available I guess I just save $8 a month. Won't keep me up at night, at least not like it seems to be keeping the TV network/content people up.