Check out the alternatives in a post-Netflix world

NEW YORK - The DVD-by-mail service Netflix built its business on will soon be known as Qwickster. The rebranding follows Netflix's decision to split its DVD rental business from its online streaming service, a move that raised the prices for customers who want both by as much as 60 percent.

Netflix and the newly-minted Qwikster have a growing list of competitors that offer movies and TV shows streamed online, on DVDs, or through on-demand cable TV. Choosing the right service will depend on your appetite for video. Do you want the latest movies or the greatest classics? Would you prefer cheap or better on-the-go access?

Of the online options, Netflix has the most content available for streaming over the Internet, though cable TV providers have pay-per-view options with a better selection of recent movies. Apple and Amazon, meanwhile, let you rent a la carte if you don't want to commit to a monthly plan but want the latest movies.

Here's a look at some of the options out there:

Lance Whitney/CNET

Apple iTunes

Renting movies through Apple Inc.'s iTunes is another pay-per-view option to access the latest dramas, comedies or TV shows. You can rent regular or high-definition flicks and watch them on an iPhone, iPad, computer or TV set using an Apple TV set-top box.

Apple lets you rent first-run, high-definition movies the day they come out on DVD for $5 each, though most movies cost $3 or $4. TV shows are generally $1. You can watch rentals for a day or two from when you start playing them.

As with Amazon, renting movies through Apple is a good option if you want the latest releases as soon as possible. There are thousands of movies available, though iTunes doesn't have as many obscure, indie flicks as Netflix's streaming library. But, if you watch just a few shows or movies a month, it might be a cheaper option.

Amazon's Instant Video

Amazon.com Inc.'s service offers thousands of movies and TV show episodes for online rental. Rental prices range from $1 to $5. There is no Netflix-like monthly subscription plan, so this option is best if you're looking for an a la carte plan that lets you pick what you want to watch. You'll have access to a video for one to seven days once you begin watching.

Amazon is offering free movie streaming to shoppers who pay $79 a year for a Prime membership, which offers free two-day shipping and discounts on next-day shipping. The selection of movies, though, is much smaller than Netflix's. Amazon offers roughly 6,000 movies and TV shows for streaming over an Internet connection for its Prime subscribers. By contrast, Netflix offers more than 20,000.

With Amazon, you can stream movies and shows on computers or on TV sets using a compatible, Internet-connected device such as a Blu-ray player or a set-top box from the likes of Sony, Panasonic, TiVo or Logitech.

Blockbuster

Blockbuster

Under the new ownership of Dish Network Corp., Blockbuster has shifted to per-day pricing to better compete against Redbox and others. Just-released movies were lowered to $3 for the first day. Other new movies are $2 for the first day. Additional days are $1. These prices apply to DVD rentals as well as movies rented online.

Blockbuster offers no monthly streaming plan. Its DVD-by-mail subscriptions are pricier than Netflix's - $12 a month for one movie or video game at a time or $17 for unlimited two-at-a-time rentals. Netflix's DVD-only plan is $8 per month for one and $12 for two.

You can still return discs to any of Blockbuster's 1,700 remaining stores, if you have one nearby, and exchange them for new ones. You can also download Blockbuster movies to your compatible PC, tablet or smartphone. The company says movies available for download often accessible long before they are at Netflix.

Blockbuster makes sense if you live near its stores and prefer DVDs to streaming.

Cable

For those who don't want to cancel their cable service, cable TV providers such as Comcast and Time Warner offer on-demand options to their monthly subscribers.

Time Warner charges $5 for a new movie release and $2 for older movies. Other cable TV companies have similar pricing. Movies are sometimes free, including those that come with a subscription to HBO or other premium channels.

Of course, you need monthly cable service. The average cost of Comcast Inc.'s basic package is about $60 for TV service, about 100 digital channels, music channels, video on demand and XfinityTV.com. Time Warner Cable Inc.'s average monthly package also runs about $60 and gives access to more than 100 channels.

Comcast gets movies often on the same day they are available on DVD and says many of its indie films are available as soon as they come out in theaters. That makes it an option if you can pony up a bigger monthly subscription fee and value seeing recently released films. Being a subscriber also gives you access to its offerings online and on the iPad and iPhone.

Time Warner Cable has a catalog of about 10,000 movies. It also gets movies the same day they come out on DVD, giving it more recent content than Netflix streaming. Time Warner Cable has an iPad app and you can watch its content inside your home -though not at coffee shops or other public places- with Wi-Fi.

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/ Greg Sandoval/CNET

Hulu and Hulu Plus

Parent companies including The Walt Disney Co., News Corp. and Comcast Corp. are looking to sell the online video service, but that hasn't stopped it from offering thousands of TV show episodes and movies to its viewers.

Besides a free option, Hulu Plus subscribers can pay $8 per month for more content, high-definition viewing and access on the iPad and newer-model iPhones, as well as video game consoles and high-end TV sets from Samsung, Sony or others.

Hulu's content skews more toward TV shows than movies, though both are available. It's a good option for those looking to watch shows such as the "Daily Show," "Family Guy" or "The Office."

Both Hulu and Hulu Plus show advertisements, though on Hulu Plus there are movies available without commercial interruption.

Redbox
Redbox, a unit of Coinstar Inc., has more than 27,000 bright-red DVD kiosks in grocery stores, drugstores and elsewhere around the U.S. Customers can rent DVDs for $1 per night. Blu-ray movies are available for $1.50 per night. Depending on how many movies you watch, this could be a cheaper option than Netflix, but the options are more limited. Each kiosk holds 200 newly-released titles, which are updated every Tuesday. Through concessions with Hollywood studios, Redbox has agreed to delay renting titles from Universal, Warner Bros. and Fox until nearly a month after the DVD versions go on sale. Netflix's DVD plan has similar restrictions. With its budget-conscious, family-friendly approach, Redbox is a good option for hurried families looking to pick up a movie on the way home from the grocery store.

Vudu, from Wal-Mart

Walmart.com offers streaming movies and TV shows through Vudu.com, the video streaming site it bought nearly two years ago. Many movies are available for streaming a la carte, the same day they come out on DVD. Renting cost $1 to $6 and buying movies costs $5 and up. There are no monthly subscription plans.

Netflix (new, streaming-only plan)

After the company's rebranding takes effect in a few weeks, Netflix will refer only to the company's online streaming plan, which costs $8 a month. Subscribers get access to Netflix's trove of more than 20,000 movies and TV shows. In a blog post late Sunday, CEO Reed Hastings also promised "substantial" additional streaming content coming in the next few months.

Qwikster

This the "old" Netflix under a new name. Qwikster will offer online DVD rentals, shipped to you in the red envelopes Netflix has become known for. The prices are unchanged from July, when Netflix announced it was separating its streaming and DVD rental plans. To have one DVD out at a time, subscribers will pay $8 a month. Two DVDs at a time cost $12 per month.

[letum_morsmortis]

I'll stick with Netflix, they are after all cheaper then going to a brick and mortar store and better then blockbuster in every way.

lets face it, Netflix never charges late fees, and if you go with the online only option then you never need to order a DVD and if NF doesn't have it there are other routes to go that are um lets just say in the grey sites and even Hulu.

LMM

[mari1963]

Once again cbs has missed an important part of the story. There is also another alternative- It's called Roku. For 59.99 you purchase a roku box once, and you will have unlimited entertainment, music, movies, tv series. It's great! Roku.com !

[s-flames]

For the price i still think Netflix is the best choice. All the other options have you paying more if you watch movies and television shows regularly.

[bobbie9395]

As unhappy as I am about the big increase in pricing, I will stick with Netflix/Qwikster. It has many, many of the old TV shows and old black and white movies that I love. They also offer several British murder mystery series that I enjoy. Anything I want to see I can get on Netflix. I rarely turn my TV on anymore. I don't have to drive anywhere, either. All I have to do is turn on my computer, or check my mailbox. After reading the above descriptions of the other streaming/DVD providers, I'm still way ahead money-wise.

[rwsmith29456]

As much as I can afford it, I would like a service that has a large variety of old movies, rare movies, documentaries, independent movies, etc. Most mainstream movies don't interest me.

[xcelatit]

http://www.cinemanow.com/ you forgot to mention that, and that Netflix doesn't have many new movies to stream, mostly family/kids...
CinemaNow and Amazon has best selection, but also note that Movie Companies are restricting streaming, for example try to find the move "the American (2010)" online to rent/stream - you can't because Focus Features film, restricted the rights. Cinemanow has problems, streaming because you have to have a solid internet connection to stream or the movie won't play, that means something more than 10MB Download speed, Amazon Streaming is the best quality.. Redbox and Blockbuster should start streaming ...

[stltennisguy]

LIBRARY - that's right, the library offers FREE DVD rentals (at least in St. Louis). They might not have 20,000 but my wife and I rent movies all the time - and they are typically newish-releases.

[Froghammer]

It is really as easy as that. I know it, I live it and try to get others into the fun. It makes no sense to me why anyone would pay for something that is available for FREE. My library has offered titles I couldn't find at any pay for service and because I don't have to pay for the service I am more likely to try new things. J=Kudos to you and to public libraries.

[m0u5y]

Our library is not only closing, but offers cheesy old black and white horror flicks.

[rf35]

I use to love Netflix, but now I've gone over to Blockbuster. They seem to have more of the movies I want on Blu-ray. If they would pen a deal for streaming through the Wii or streaming HD through a Blu-ray player, that would make for the ideal plan for me.

[SoftwareHollis]

http://hollistibbetts.sys-con.com/node/1986607

[SoftwareHollis]

For more detail on this topic, read "Customer-driven vs. Driving Customers Away" at Sys-Con Media. http://******/lw8vR

CEO Hastings said in his so-called apology "companies rarely die from moving too fast, and they frequently die from moving too slowly".

Well, companies also die from doing stupid things, and they especially die when they get arrogant enough to think that THEY are in control, rather than the MARKET and Customer being in control. Not even Google, Microsoft or Apple think that they are in control.

There are a lot of options out there for customers. Never assume that your customers need you, and that they "can't" leave.