[hugh]

Netflix said today that it has entered into a number of new licensing agreements with a range of leading content providers that will add hundreds of new titles to its catalog of movie and television titles.

The company says some of the new titles are available now and others will be made available over the next few weeks.

The following is sample of some of the new titles available in Canada.

• Seasons 1 and 2 of the television series “Weeds,” which follows a single mom (Mary-Louise Parker) as she progresses from a small town pot dealer to a big time player in the drug trade, from Maple Pictures; season 1 of Sony’s “The Big C,” which tells the story of a suburban mom, diagnosed with cancer, who tries to find humor in the disease; and season 1 of the Emmy-nominated television series “Undercover Boss,” which follows senior executives working undercover in their own firms to investigate the inner workings of the companies, distributed by New Video for All3Media International.

• Seasons 1 through 4 of the TV series “The Tudors,” starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry the 8th; season 1 of the popular Canadian television show “Men with Brooms,” an offbeat comedy that follows a reunited curling team from a small Canadian town; and seasons 1 and 2 of “Republic of Doyle,” the Canadian comedy-drama that follows a father and son duo who partner as private investigators. Season 2 of “Republic of Doyle” will be available from Netflix the day after episodes air on the CBC in Canada. All of these shows are being licensed from the CBC.

• “Best of” episodes and the last two complete seasons of Global TV’s “Saturday Night Live,” and seasons 1 through 5 of the Canadian comedy show “The Kids in the Hall.”

• Seasons 1 and 2 of “Merlin,” which tells the story of the young wizard Merlin and the future king, Prince Arthur - available in the first half of 2011, and seasons 1 and 2 of “Pulling” the popular comedy that follows the lives of three single females living in London, all from FremantleMedia Enterprises.

 

[tuskalin]

this new annoucement isn't great. How about getting a quality show like "The Wire" licensed so that people can discover that.

 

[jshel101]

this new annoucement isn't great. How about getting a quality show like "The Wire" licensed so that people can discover that.

In your opinion it isn't great. I, on the other hand, think it is great. There are some quality shows coming. What about The Tudors? This is an excellent show, IMO anyways

 

[nakedgord]

this new annoucement isn't great. How about getting a quality show like "The Wire" licensed so that people can discover that.

Netflix US tried to get HBO programming but was turned away by HBO.

Anybody know if Netflix shows are licensed at a flat rate or per view? Aside from stuff like Kids in the Hall (not including The Tudors since it's a Showtime co-prod) most Canadian TV is pretty bad and if Netflix is going to force me to pay for that it's becoming more like a Canadian BDU instead of an alternative.

 

[ScaryBob]

Netflix US tried to get HBO programming but was turned away by HBO.

That's OK, I can get it from the local library for free (also TMN for now.)

It makes sense for Netflix to obtain Canadian content for their Canadian service. I've got to wonder if they know how many Canadians dislike Cancon and prefer US content?

 

[nakedgord]

It makes sense for Netflix to obtain Canadian content for their Canadian service.

It makes sense in the sense Shaw complained openly a cpl days ago about them having to buy Cancon but Netflix doesn't. I suppose this'll help hedge that off but if I was them I wish they would have held off and used cancon as a carrot to be excluded from bandwidth caps or atleast for customers to be charged a reasonable rate for overages.

I've got to wonder if they know how many Canadians dislike Cancon and prefer US content?

It's not just US - the UK and even Australia has some excellent stuff. It's like with some rare exceptions that slip through the cracks they try to make programming we won't like.

 

[hugh]

I was surprised at what Netflix was adding. I'll state the obvious, if you want HBO shows then subscribe to HBO. The Wire is also available on DVD.

 

[ScaryBob]

Virtually all HBO produced shows are available on DVD about a year after they debut on TV. Between Zip and the local library, they can be watched at a very reasonable cost.

 

[hugh]

I am currently watching

season 1 of Sony’s “The Big C,” which tells the story of a suburban mom, diagnosed with cancer, who tries to find humor in the disease

from SuperChannel.

I was surprised to see it on Netflix.

 

[mike10]

yeah and there season only ended a couple of weeks ago netflix got it really quickly

 

[madhi19]

Since when is Global TV producing Saturday Night Live? lolll

 

[nakedgord]

Since when is Global TV producing Saturday Night Live? lolll

Good point. I guess that's another example of Netflix starting to play the Canadian TV game instead of importing the US model and buying the Canadian online rights directly from NBCU.

 

[jem]

Netflix added a bunch of other shows along with this announcement. I've been waiting for Leverage Season 2 since Netflix.ca went live, and now it's here. I consider it a good investment every month.

 

[GrimJack]

Global has to license it in Canada because they probably have the sole internet broadcasting rights which they would receive as part of their licensing of SNL for television broadcast.

I've seen this gripe a lot about netflix and I'm not sure what people expect them to do, the properties aren't always owned by the same companies north and south of the border and the Canadian companies sometimes have a vested interest in not making the content available outside of the traditional broadcast system.

Jeremy Clarkson had a great writeup about this in his newspaper column responding to people who complain about the BBC not just broadcasting Top Gear online for the whole world. Unfortunately I think it's behind the Murdock paywall now as I couldn't find it again to link it directly.

 

[nakedgord]

^
I understand Global likely has the broadcast rights but there's nothing saying, either now or when contract renewals are up in the US, Netflix couldn't persuade NBCU to duel licence the rights or get them as an exclusive anf cut Global out.

In the US Netflix has the rights to shows for the last few decades - but we get best of's?

It's that type of inferior service that'll make me consider if I want Netflix or not.

For NBCU or BBC it's usually the networks themselves that decide to put up these walls - they rarely exist in DVD for example.

 

[TKG26]

just signed up for the free month after browsing the very thin library i was sure to put a reminder on my calendar to cancel my membership within the next 30 days

 

[StickyDragon]

Still a very weak selection. There really isnt even enough to make me bother using the free month. Sure there are 2 or 3 movies that I am mildy interested in, but not worth the hassle of having to end my subscription next month.

I really love the idea of Netflix, but until they have a selection of movies at least as current as what TMN/HBO would show, then it's really not worth it IMO. Any movies that are available here tend to be ones that I have never heard of or ones that I couldnt be bothered to watch in the theatres, DVD/PPV, or TMN.

 

[SiriusRiderFan]

anyone know how long Netflix keeps titles in it's library? For instance someone who is interested the 'The Trudors' for example, you start watching season 1, then 2, then all of a sudden 3 & 4 are gone? Does that ever happen? or can you save it somehow?

 

[crazycanuck]

I got the free sub trial a few weeks ago and am pleased so far and will keep the subscription going. It's only $8 people

 

[Pinza]

My problem is not the $8, it is the increased Bandwidth useage.....