I still can't believe Sony's vision for the PS3 was people would want to work more hours to get one and want it more than anything else tbh.
Worst business decisions ever.
- Thread starter CastletonSnob
- Start date
This probably falls under the whole WB/Discovery merger debacle, but I'm calling this out specifically.
As a cost cutting measure, HBO Max delisted a BUNCH of shows. Here's a list:
Of note, this means shows like Infinity Train, The Fungies, Mao Mao, OK KO, and Summer Camp Island have NO legal means to view them.
A statement from the creator of Infinity Train:
www.cbr.com
And Victor and Valentino is still technically ongoing...though I guess this means we're probably on the final season.
This DOES mean that Uncle Grandpa is sealed away forever, though....so it's not ALL bad news, at least. There's some positives, here.
Apropos of nothing, there's peg legs and eye patches next to the door. You have to buy your own parrot, though. Do what you gotta do.
As a cost cutting measure, HBO Max delisted a BUNCH of shows. Here's a list:
Sesame Street Loses Some History: HBO Max Pulls About 200 Episodes
Based on reports earlier, it appears that HBO Max has pulled approximately 200 episodes of the classic children's show Sesame Street.
bleedingcool.com
Of note, this means shows like Infinity Train, The Fungies, Mao Mao, OK KO, and Summer Camp Island have NO legal means to view them.
A statement from the creator of Infinity Train:
Infinity Train Creator Says Piracy Is Now the Only Way to Watch It
Infinity Train creator Owen Dennis responds to the series' removal from HBO Max following the streaming service's removal of the Cartoon Network show.
www.cbr.com
And Victor and Valentino is still technically ongoing...though I guess this means we're probably on the final season.
This DOES mean that Uncle Grandpa is sealed away forever, though....so it's not ALL bad news, at least. There's some positives, here.
Apropos of nothing, there's peg legs and eye patches next to the door. You have to buy your own parrot, though. Do what you gotta do.
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I heard about this. It is weird. Like, I understand cancelling things in the process of being made as a money saving measure. But to delist stuff that's already been made and is just up for streaming, that makes no sense.
Only thing I can think of is if they're delisting here so they can put them on a more premium tier later?
Still, I hate streaming. It used to be the cost effective alternative to cable. Now it's become even worse than cable ever was.
Only thing I can think of is if they're delisting here so they can put them on a more premium tier later?
Still, I hate streaming. It used to be the cost effective alternative to cable. Now it's become even worse than cable ever was.
The only thing that makes sense to me is that they're planning to cut down on the number of servers/computers that are hosting their content and just don't have room for all of it. Like, if they WERE using 100 servers to host HBO Max stuff before they might be planning to cut that down to 50 or something to save on server fees.
Which is a bad idea, but I believe I've read the new management wants to focus on Broadcast TV first and foremost, so...probably expect server or hosting problems in the near future for HBO Max? Maybe? This is all just speculation from me, but...given how cost-cutting focused the new management has been, I could see it happening.
Because these...are NOT the kind of shows you put on a "premium" tier. These are the shows nobody watched or have other issues surrounding them. (As much as I hate to say that about Infinity Train). If they did this with Harley Quinn or something...MAYBE, but not Uncle Grandpa.
Which is a bad idea, but I believe I've read the new management wants to focus on Broadcast TV first and foremost, so...probably expect server or hosting problems in the near future for HBO Max? Maybe? This is all just speculation from me, but...given how cost-cutting focused the new management has been, I could see it happening.
Because these...are NOT the kind of shows you put on a "premium" tier. These are the shows nobody watched or have other issues surrounding them. (As much as I hate to say that about Infinity Train). If they did this with Harley Quinn or something...MAYBE, but not Uncle Grandpa.
People say this a lot recently and I don't get it.
I'm saying this as someone who exclusively uses free streaming services (I mean I do technically have a subscription to Peacock but that's only because it's included with my internet plan, I never actually signed up for it) but the simple facts that you don't have to rent any equipment, aren't locked into a contract, and can literally cancel your subscription at any time without having to pay any cancellation just inherently makes streaming a better proposition than cable or satellite ever was, even with the fuckery that HBO Max or other services do.
It's purely about residuals; as long as those shows are available, some tiny trickle of money is going to the creators (i.e., not HBO). With the shows erased from existence, no one will ever see another eighth-of-a-penny.
MegasXLR and Beware the Batman were both cited as series that got "tax written off", but both have remained available on digital market places.
As of the time I'm posting this, Infinity Train and most of the other effected Cartoon Network series are still available on iTunes for purchase.
And, to no one's surprise, copies of DVDs for pulled shows have skyrocketed in asking price and become sold out at retailers overnight.
After HBO Max Removal, Infinity Train DVDs Are Sold Out And Going For Wild Prices On eBay
With the news of HBO Max pulling animation, physical copies of shows like Infinity Train are going for hundreds of dollars on eBay now.
www.gamespot.com
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This is why I kept getting DVDs/Blu-rays.
Thinking about this last night, I wonder if the reason some of this stayed up on the digital storefronts was because the royalties/residuals were lower than maintaining the content on a streaming platform. I’ve generally understood it as “tax write off” means they can’t monetize the content, at least not for a certain period of time or incurring some sort of fee/fine. But I’ve yet to see content completely disappear, so I’m wondering/suspecting other factors are at play on some of this. Batgirl is probably completely dead, though, since it was never commercially released at all.
With the storefronts, each episode/season likely has a set rate, and is dependent on people seeking out the material to purchase. On a streaming platform, HBO was probably incurring a recurring rate JUST for the sake of keeping the content available to stream whenever.
I’m not sure those savings are really going to be that significant, however. And probably not worth the tremendous backlash they’ve received over the past couple days.
With the storefronts, each episode/season likely has a set rate, and is dependent on people seeking out the material to purchase. On a streaming platform, HBO was probably incurring a recurring rate JUST for the sake of keeping the content available to stream whenever.
I’m not sure those savings are really going to be that significant, however. And probably not worth the tremendous backlash they’ve received over the past couple days.
For more context on residuals:
www.cnbc.com
Here's why HBO Max is pulling dozens of films and TV series from the streaming platform
HBO Max is pulling 36 TV shows and movies to cut costs and shift its strategy.
www.cnbc.com
Absolutely, Blockbuster's decision to pass on the opportunity to acquire Netflix is often cited as one of the worst business decisions in history. At the time, Netflix was just a fledgling DVD rental-by-mail service, and Blockbuster's refusal allowed Netflix to evolve into the streaming giant we know today, demonstrating the significance of recognizing disruptive innovations. This pivotal choice not only reshaped the entertainment industry but also highlights the importance of lead data enrichment and understanding consumer preferences. Blockbuster's reluctance to embrace the digital shift is a stark reminder that failing to adapt to changing technologies and consumer trends can have dire consequences for even the most established of companies. This cautionary tale serves as a stark reminder of the ever-evolving nature of business landscapes and the risks associated with underestimating emerging trends.
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We don't know if Netflix would have moved into streaming the way it did if it HAD been bought out by blockbuster. They could have squashed Netflix's experimental streaming thing before it was even a thing. (The buyout offer was proposed back in 2000)
They probably would have, since blockbuster made it's money on rentals of physical media. But the other side of that coin is that it would have probably taken less than another decade for some other enterprising system to replace netflix in that market. We'd be right where we are now, the only difference would be names.
Sega is pretty much the literal definition of "Right hand not knowing what the left is doing."
They weren't able to hide it from me!
Probably the most on topic post we've ever received from a bot.