Any interest in a Bitcoin-based Netflix clone?

[lucasjkr]

Why would people drop Netflix in order to pay the same amount for pirated content with a lot less flexibility? You won't be able to stream to a tv, for instance. And with the size of your library, small as it is in comparison to Netflix, how many users will you need to achieve break even just for the storage, before even thinking about bandwidth?

Besides, I'd bet that the Bitcoin userbase is considerably more tech savy then ordinary users, much more willing/able to torrent their content. Why pay you when they can get the same exact content for free?

Just don't see how this could succeed, even if this is based on pirated content. To do it legitimately, paying licensing fees to the copyright holders, would make it even more unachievable

[raShJu3]

Hey lucasjkr, Thanks for your feedback. Good points.

Why would people drop Netflix in order to pay the same amount for pirated content with a lot less flexibility?

This geared towards users outside the US. Nettflix and Hulu are not available outside the US.

You won't be able to stream to a tv, for instance.

Incorrect, users can connect their laptop / android phone to a tv.

And with the size of your library, small as it is in comparison to Netflix, how many users will you need to achieve break even just for the storage, before even thinking about bandwidth?.

For storage we break even on < 30 users.

Besides, I'd bet that the Bitcoin userbase is considerably more tech savy then ordinary users, much more willing/able to torrent their content. Why pay you when they can get the same exact content for free?

Torrenting can be time consuming. On this service content will be well organized and instant viewing.
Also since files are on site, you can access your shows away from your main pc.

Just don't see how this could succeed, even if this is based on pirated content.

Alas, we will try our best. Sites like tvonline and viptv have made it work

To do it legitimately, paying licensing fees to the copyright holders, would make it even more unachievable

I agree doing this legitimately is not possible.

Thanks.

[raShJu3]

It would be good, bu unlikely to get the same content as Netflix. They would not allow it to live.


I think make Netflix accepts BTC is more feasible

Hi catena5260, we are outside the US so we are not under US legal jurisdiction.

[raShJu3]

I've always wanted a website like this one: http://viptv.net/ (in terms of quality and quantity of offered shows to watch) that did the same thing for movies.

This is similiar to what we are planning. They have more tv shows than we planned on starting with. (400 vs 150) But we want to include movies.
 The price point seems high, viptv and tvonline.cc charge $30 for unlimited monthly service, and $.25 per epsidoe.

What is it about viptv.net that you like?

Through my time of using them, the price breaks I did for buying in bulk: I get about 10-17 cents per episode. I don't really think it's that high considering the money is spent per episode I watch, so I'm only paying for what I want to watch, and get to watch them without commercials in contrast to paying for a subscription for a website like Netflix that (to my understanding and I might be wrong) charges per month whether you use it or not.

I mostly use it to supplement my tv viewing. I don't get certain channels, and so I watch those shows from those channels through this website.

So what you're saying is, you'd prefer the pay-as-you-go model.
I never thought of it that way. Essentially if stop watching shows for a few weeks, you are not charged. We will definitely consider adding a pay-as-you-go plan in the future.

[denri]

i am interested in a Bitcoin-based Netflix site.

[cheekychap]

The only advantage of this would be to people living outside the US. However a lot of other countries have their own options.

[noma]

If its illegal, then why would someone chose this over torrents?

[raShJu3]

If its illegal, then why would someone chose this over torrents?

Convenience and ease of use. Some shows have many episodes, torrenting and organizing the files will take a lot of time.
Also you can watch shows from any device, not just the device you downloaded the files on.

[raShJu3]

The only advantage of this would be to people living outside the US. However a lot of other countries have their own options.

 Netflix does not offer all of the popular US based shows and movies. The Netflix library has some notable gaps like HB O stuff. 

[cheekychap]

The only advantage of this would be to people living outside the US. However a lot of other countries have their own options.

 Netflix does not offer all of the popular US based shows and movies. The Netflix library has some notable gaps like HB O stuff. 

Thats true, that might be one thing you could improve on.

[raShJu3]

i am interested in a Bitcoin-based Netflix site.

 Cool, will definitely let you know when we have something ready.

[cheekychap]

Just a suggestion, since you would not have many expenses. Maybe, you can make it cheaper than netflix, say around 5$. That way, a lot of people who use Netflix might also shift to this. But you will definitely have to do the math to see, if it will be profitable.

[RodeoX]

I would love it. Especially a pay-per-view system. But I think you are going to need about $10 million dollars to get the airing rights to just a few popular shows.

[MakingMoneyHoney]

I've always wanted a website like this one: http://viptv.net/ (in terms of quality and quantity of offered shows to watch) that did the same thing for movies.

This is similiar to what we are planning. They have more tv shows than we planned on starting with. (400 vs 150) But we want to include movies.
 The price point seems high, viptv and tvonline.cc charge $30 for unlimited monthly service, and $.25 per epsidoe.

What is it about viptv.net that you like?

Through my time of using them, the price breaks I did for buying in bulk: I get about 10-17 cents per episode. I don't really think it's that high considering the money is spent per episode I watch, so I'm only paying for what I want to watch, and get to watch them without commercials in contrast to paying for a subscription for a website like Netflix that (to my understanding and I might be wrong) charges per month whether you use it or not.

I mostly use it to supplement my tv viewing. I don't get certain channels, and so I watch those shows from those channels through this website.

So what you're saying is, you'd prefer the pay-as-you-go model.
I never thought of it that way. Essentially if stop watching shows for a few weeks, you are not charged. We will definitely consider adding a pay-as-you-go plan in the future.

Yes. Sometimes I go weeks if not a month or so without watching when I'm busy, and then I'll have some free time and catch up on a season and half of a show in a couple of a days. I wouldn't like paying for time I'm not watching, but I don't mind paying for watching all the times I do.

[wunkbone]

I would love it. Especially a pay-per-view system. But I think you are going to need about $10 million dollars to get the airing rights to just a few popular shows.

Companies like Netflix will generally not pay a flat fee for broadcasting their content. They will generally pay on a per viewer basis (or some other way that is based on how many times and how many people watch particular shows).

The same is essentially true for affiliates of the "big 4" broadcasters - NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX

[RodeoX]

I would love it. Especially a pay-per-view system. But I think you are going to need about $10 million dollars to get the airing rights to just a few popular shows.

Companies like Netflix will generally not pay a flat fee for broadcasting their content. They will generally pay on a per viewer basis (or some other way that is based on how many times and how many people watch particular shows).

The same is essentially true for affiliates of the "big 4" broadcasters - NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX

Ah, well I stand corrected then. I thought they had to put up huge money to secure broadcast rights. Perhaps it would not be so expensive to start.

[TheNewAnon135246]

I don't see how this would work. You can't compete with Netflix since they have a huge database and Popcorn Time is a really popular (free) alternative.

[noma]

I don't see how this would work. You can't compete with Netflix since they have a huge database and Popcorn Time is a really popular (free) alternative.

Seems, the op plans to launch this for various reasons. The primary reason being that Netflix isn''t available in countries outside the US.

[rammy2k2]

u have no power to be like netflix, unless of course, site will be illegal, and im sure thats what u meant

[TheNinja]

Asking people to pay $5 on a monthly basis to watch on an illegal site...that'll be interesting to see how it turns out. It doesn't seem like it'd be successful...