“When you look at all the services out there, Netflix today is still kind of the best option,” says Bryan Gonzalez, director of the Social & Digital Media Technology Labs Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California. “The reason I say that is Netflix is a subscription model that a lot of mainstream users understand and enjoy.”
Gonzalez says that many digital alternatives to Netflix boil down to pay-per-view while Netflix’s streaming library offers viewers all they can watch for one price. It’s kind of like comparing an all-you-can-eat buffet to a small-plates menu.
“I feel a lot of users were with Netflix because it was cheap and easy,” Gonzalez said. “Now that the Netflix user base is stirred up, they might be exploring their options.”
So for those whose goodwill toward Netflix is at an end, there are other options, including DVD-by-mail rentals, video streaming and pay-per-view choices.