Video download service CinemaNow comes to Canada in August (aka Cineplex)

[PokerFace]

ALL of that information is very interesting, but Zip.ca recently signed an exclusive streaming contract with CinemaMeow:

Get Funny Cat Videos at CinemaMeow! All the funniest cat videos on the web in one place. Search from thousands of funny cat and kitten video clips.

Unfortunately for Zip, it only realized its error AFTER posting on Facebook that its streaming contracts with the studios were very close to being signed.

As soon as Zip and CinemaMeow can come to an agreement to void their current contract, Zip will then be free to partner with RoviWade and begin its much anticipated streaming service (nothing to do with abortion).

Once that happens, Zip can become a true triple threat (Streaming/Mail/Kiosks).

[oberst]

No, cat videos were for the late, unlamented Zip.tv site - oddly, they seem to have let the domain registration expire.

[PokerFace]

Yup, Zip let Zip.tv expire, but it appears that they want it back:

http://www.premodomains.com/zip-ca-l...o-get-it-back/
[Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent Expiration]

---------

Back on topic (CinemaNow):

http://www.digitalhome.ca/2011/11/be...video-service/

http://www.moneyville.ca/blog/post/1...-new-contender

[Eldar3333]

We tried CinemaNow last Friday on our TV (Panasonic L42E30)--registering/activation seemed to work fine without much hassle. Scrolling through selections on the TV does seem to take awhile (pauses between pages get tiring after a bit), so I got on their website to see what was available--wanted to try Captain America (which was listed), but couldn't find it back on the TV. Added to my "Wishlist" on the website, but the "Wishlist" on the TV was still blank. So, I contacted customer support via chat:

Geno: Please explain me the issue that you are facing ?
Customer: Just registered, and activated our TV; we're looking through the TV listings for Captain America, but can't find it (in new arrivals or by searching). I got on our computer and added it to our wishlist, but on the TV the wishlist is blank.
Customer: in the search window (on the TV) we typed in the full title, but it did not come up.
Customer: Looked under the action as well...
Geno: May i place you on hold while I can check the details and get back to you ?
Customer: Ok
Geno: Thank you.
Geno: Thank you for being on hold. only HD movies will be listed on your device and if you do not have HD version available then the movie will not be listed on the device.
Customer: ???
Customer: How do I make an HD version available?
Geno: It will be released by cinemanow once we have the movie on our website. I would suggest you to keep checking the website and you will be updated once the HD version of the movie is available on cinemanow.
Customer: So, you have SD and HD movies, but we are constrained to HD options because our TV is capable of HD? Seems kind of crazy, since the TV displays SD just fine.
Customer: I'm looking at other listings on your site--where does it have HD/SD info; under "Screen Format" most of what I see is "Color"
Geno: I will explain it to you. You will only have SD movies on your PC and only HD movies on your device. so it will not be classified on your PC or device.
Customer: I appreciate that you are "explaining" it to me, as there's no explanation anywhere else that I've seen.
Customer: So, are PC/device systems completely separate (ie, separate wishlists, liberaries, etc)?
Customer: Given what appears to be a much larger and current selection on your website, I feel it's extremely misleading to not have this distinction clearly made to the customer up front.
Customer: Making the customer feel like they're being mislead is NOT the way to make a good first impression.
Customer: Hello?
Geno: I understand your concern, I will have this as your feed back so that we will be able to be more user friendly.
Customer: So, to be clear, the PC/device systems are completely separate, aside from billing?
Customer: Is this correct?
Geno: Yes, when you have the movie in HD and SD it will be diffrent.
Customer: Do not patronize me. I know the difference between SD and HD. Either you're not understanding my question or you're being a jerk--either way it reflects poorly on you and the company you represent. If I decide to continue to do business with CinemanNow, I will follow up on this.

I was definitely running out of patience at the end. Anyways, we wanted to watch something, so we rented "Unstoppable", which happened to be available in 2 versions, with the HD version being an extra dollar--we tried the HD one. Barely into it we were told our connection wouldn't support HD (We have 7.5mbps with Shaw)--I restarted the stream and we had 4 bars (best quality) but I can't say the picture looked HD at all (PQ from our DVD player is much better).

So, this past Monday I sent them an email with the chat transcript asking for some answers--so far all I have is a ticket#.

Right now getting 100 airmiles to sign up with Netflix seems like a no-brainer.

[hugh]

Thanks for your story.

[Eldar3333]

Received this afternoon

Agent Response:

I really apologize for what happened previously. I'm sure it will not happen again. Customers satisfaction is the most important things for us. So I do escalate your words to the concern department.

If you have any suggestions or If there anyway I can assist you further, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be glad to help you further.

We appreciate the opportunity to assist you.
The RoxioNow Support Team

Now I eagerly await action from the "concern department".

[Jake]

Sounds like support is offshore. They certainly do not have a very good grasp of the English language.

[Eldar3333]

Originally Posted by Jake

Sounds like support is offshore. They certainly do not have a very good grasp of the English language.

Yeah, I figure that's the case. I hope I'm not being too hard on anybody, but it is frustrating not being able to get an answer to what I figure should be a straightforward question: why doesn't the selection on the website match what is accessible by my TV? and will/when will that change?

[Eldar3333]

It seems like their system was updated recently or something, as there's now a whole bunch of movies that were formerly only on their website that are now showing up on our TV.

And wishlist selections seem to synched between the two as well.

Well, I still wonder what response customer support will have...

[daddyg]

I recently received a $50 Cinemanow gift card for buying a TV at BB.

I have activated an account at Cinemanow online and loaded the card onto my account and I would like to be able to use it on my SmartTV (Cinemannow is one of the Apps), however it seems that they want me to enter in credit card info to activate my devices to stream to.

Does anyone who has used this service know if you are required to enter CC info? Is there a way around this? I like to limit the amount of online vendors I give my CC info (for security reasons) to and since I am using a gift card to watch movies, I don't see the need to enter it.

Any ideas?

[hugh]

Sounds like a programming screw up. I would contact Best Buy since they own CinemaNow and sold you the gift card and find out how they expect you to use the card.

[daddyg]

Thanks Hugh, I'll try that.

I can see the $50 on my account, but it appears you need to enter CC info before you can have your TV as a device on your account. Even though they insist "you won't be charged for entering the info"

I'm just a little wary of having my credit card info on a lot of online websites.

[hugh]

I don`t blame you. The reality is that Best Buy sold you the card and as such should ensure that you are able to use it.

[Eldar3333]

Originally Posted by hugh

Sounds like a programming screw up. I would contact Best Buy since they own CinemaNow and sold you the gift card and find out how they expect you to use the card.

I hope daddyg can get help from Best Buy--I asked staff in store, and they only had marginal knowledge of the service. I sent some emails to Best Buy customer service about the problems I was having with CinemaNow customer service--they were better than CinemaNow customer service (but that isn't saying much) but in the end they didn't offer me any options other than CinemaNow customer service (who is the problem, imho).

My initial complaint has resolved itself--seems to be a bit of lag between when something shows up on the website and when it appears on my TV listings, and there doesn't seem to be the huge discrepancy there was a few weeks ago. At this point I'm just keeping my ticket with CinemaNow customer service alive till someone demonstrates some understanding of my complaint--I feel it could be a long, long time.

[RoviEntStore]

Hi Eldar

This thread showed up on my radar and thought try to help out a little from what I have seen on the last page of this thread.

I'm sorry you have had a frustrating experience with our support team. Can you send me the ticket number so I can see the full history and how it was handled? I'm part of the management team and can have it reviewed.

As for credit card requirements: since the cards are generally in round numbers but the prices of purchases and and rentals vary, the credit card allows coverage of any minor overages. For example, if you have a $50 card, and have used up $48 in credit, you would not be able to rent a new release for $3.99. Having your card attached, allows the rental to go through and then once purchased, you can opt to stay on or close your account. Hopefully, you decide to stay on ;^)

Jon
CinemaNow Support