Streaming - Suits me fine!
With my schedule, traveling, and the potential for computer failure, I welcome streaming with open arms! I had a couple downloads that vanished when my last computer crashed and I was so bummed out!
Now, it is convenient in a starbucks, at the library, in any one of my rooms, I can kick up my feet and let the magic happen! I know it may not be for everyone yet, but please keep adding videos, because you have a subscriber here!
Views: 14
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Jones on -
I dig streaming, but if it's a video I paid for I want it to be in conjunction with a digital download that I can save. I use a service called Dropbox that automatically backs up my stuff and keeps the latest version of all my files synced on my laptop and desktop.
I would hesitate to buy a "streaming only" video. What happens if the company that sold it to me goes out of business? What if I want to watch it when I don't have internet access (like an airplane?). What if it's in flash and I want to watch it on an iPad?
Streaming is a huge convenience, but I also want a digital file I can save for my archives. The only reason to not offer that is so the content creator can try to control unauthorized distribution, which is a losing battle.
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Permalink Reply by MagicVault Magic Shop on -
Call me old school - but I prefer the old fashioned DVD.
It doesnt require me to have internet access - the dvd is portable. And its MINE. If the streaming service were to shut down, there goes access to the library.
Owning a DVD means its yours forever.
For those that like the best of both worlds, I have pushed my DVDs to my ipad for ultimate mobility.
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Permalink Reply by Wizard Headquarters on -
We love streaming too and offer plenty of magic streams at www.wizardhq.com. We hear you on the downloads, but while in the long run that may be a loosing battle for content owners (Steve Jobs thinks so also according to his comments), it is still the content owners call to allow it or not and all streaming providers are bound by that. So far content owners are VERY reluctant and area really the ones holding this back fo now. There is just a lot of fear (some justified, some not) by content owners to loose income.
The point of stability is an important one though. One way to check if you are dealing with a solid company is the domain registration. If the domain is at 4-5 years old and has more than 2 more years left on the current registration you are usually dealing with a solid operation. You can also always ask here in the forum what people think.
I am the owner of Wizard Headquarters and I personally guarantee you that you will never loose access to your video streams at www.wizardhq.com; we won't go out of business. We came out of the worst recession in recent history stronger than ever and are here to stay. Call Murphy's and ask them about us if you need independent confirmation.
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Permalink Reply by ExoMagic on -
Streaming video is big, really big. Look at the big-wigs in the media industry (movies, music, etc..) everything is becoming digitalized. It's nice to see Murphey's taking advantage of this, but some feedback I received from some of my customers at ExoMagic are the following:
* No option to be downloaded
* Must have internet to view content
* Puts a lot of trust in the vendors whom govern the streaming videos
* No combined offers with DVD/Download/Stream ability like some competitors
I understand that dealers like myself, WizardHQ, etc... won't be going anywhere, but it nerveless puts trust in the company over having a hard copy. Personally, for the price of an actual DVD, I would much prefer the hard copy over a streaming product.
Some competitors like PenguinMagic, TH11, & Ellusionist that are offering digital items, they are discounted due to the delivery method.
Just thought i'd toss in some of the stuff I've observed. Looking forward to some more responses to this topic.
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Permalink Reply by Wizard Headquarters on
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We hear the same things from our customers than ExoMagic listed here. I did have some discussions with Murphy's on some of these and they are definitely very interested in hearing our thoughts. In addition to posting it here (which is great) I hope all dealers offering streaming providing this feedback also to their respective Murphy account reps directly. We'll only these changes if enough dealers stay on top of requesting them.
I am very glad we have streaming products to offer now as to me this is going to be the future for delivery for 'method only' effects but we do need to get to the point where we are able to offering streams cheaper and bundling with discs and downloads. The biggest mistake the movie and music industry every made was never (not even to this day) to understand that people want the freedom of a portable download. Let's hope we can be smarter with magic products.
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Permalink Reply by Mayan Princess on -
So is this like Netflix but Magic videos?
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Permalink Reply by Wizard Headquarters on
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Pretty much :) but you never loose any video in your library. They remain there for you to watch indefinitely.
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Permalink Reply by Mayan Princess on
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Way cool. I have to check that out.
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Jones on
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Here's the thing... It's easy to say "I won't go out of business" and I respect that, but I still want a DRM-Free download when I purchase an item. That's what I love about Theory 11's stuff. Once I own it, I own it.
If you want to throw streaming in as a convenience bonus, I'm cool with that! Don't make it the only delivery method though.
The banks aren't stable. The government isn't stable. The biggest businesses in America aren't stable. How do you expect me to trust a magic dealer? I may like you as a business, but over the long haul I don't trust anyone that far out.
An elderly gentleman left me his library of magic books and videos when he passed away. I gained a world of good from this. I might want to do the same. Does the owner of any magic shop really believe in the integrity of their business beyond their own lifetime?
Bottom line. I won't buy a streaming only product no matter how good it is. All business is based upon some semblance of trust. As a customer I have to trust the seller, but at some point the seller has to trust me. If the content creator won't trust me with the product, then I refuse to trust them with my money.
There is a compromise...
I buy all my music from Amazon.com's MP3 Download service. They embed a watermark into every MP3 they sell. If I upload that file to a file sharing service they can track backwards to find out where it originated from. Everybody wins. I get my music in a format that anything can play. I'm not at Amazon's mercy as to how I use that file or where I listen to it at, but Amazon has some recourse for the folks who unfortunately don't respect intellectual property.
One final thought... Services like "Keepvid" allow you to scrape YouTube videos off the internet and download them. Do you really think someone won't figure out how to do the same thing with your streaming only service?
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Jones on
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This is the point where I make every dealer and probably Murphy's themselves want to reach out and smite me...
I found something I was interested in... The Art of Street Performing V1 by Cellini.
It appears that it's $59.95 whether I buy a DVD or get a stream. If I buy the DVD I can rip it to my computer and stick it in my "magic video" folder so it's with me at all times. (Internet or no internet). If I buy it streaming, I'm stuck watching it on a website. Since they're THE EXACT SAME PRICE, why would I buy the streaming version?
I'm a "want it now" person as much as the next guy, but that's ridiculous. It's a heckuva lot cheaper to stream video online than it is to print and distribute DVD's. Why aren't the savings passed on to me? Most people seem to forget that before iTunes the average CD was $20 - $25. Post iTunes it went down to $9.99. Why? Digital distribution is cheaper (and the music was overpriced in the first place).
If it's a file I get to download, I could justify it slightly more (ripping DVD's takes time and I have no use for the disc once it's ripped). Unfortunately in this scenario I'm paying *the same price* for less flexibility!
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Permalink Reply by Wizard Headquarters on
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Believe me I am having these discussions with the service provider. The DRM protections didn't work for movies and music and watermarks are actually the best way of giving consumers what they want (same as what I want as a consumer) - FLEXIBILITY. I hear you, we are discussing, it won't be tomorrow, but I think we will get there.
There are contingency options if any streaming selling goes belly up. Clearly consumers must never loose their videos, no matter what. This is being discussed also. Nothing I can share but I totally agree with your points.
We are working on it...
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Permalink Reply by Wizard Headquarters on
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Another excellent point - also being discussed right now (I feel like I sound like a broken record). The price point clearly has to change. It depends on the content owners however and it will take some time for them to 'get it'.
I am hopeful we can avoid the mistakes the music and movie industy makes to this day. It's all a work in progress...
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