Showtime Pulls ‘Dexter’, Other Shows Out of Netflix

It’s time to say sayonara to Showtime shows on Netflix. By the summertime, the television service will pull early seasons of “Dexter” and “Californication” on the online-streaming service. Wondering why you weren’t seeing any newer episodes of “Dexter” or never got introduced to “Nurse Jackie”?

Instead, the pulled shows will be available on Showtime’s online service. Other shows will remain on Netflix, so don’t worry if you’ve got a hankering to see Jonathan Rhy Meyers strut around in “The Tudors.” Thankfully, for many, Lionsgate-owned “Weeds” will also stay.

The Los Angeles Times reports that it’s basically an effort to buckle down on rights to first-run programs to encourage people to keep signing up for Showtime. HBO hasn’t been as friendly either to Netflix, doing the same thing.

But is it also the issue of getting jealous of another’s success? For instance, the Los Angeles Times offers this gem of insight, “…The television industry is increasingly viewing Netflix as a deep-pocket rival that could eventually supplant cash-cow premium cable channels.”

So yes, common folk will have to subscribe to the service, or buy the DVDs. Get ready to pony up, or be ready for a cheeto-poppin’, weekend-bummin’ TV marathon of ‘Dexter’ before it disappears.

(via Los Angeles Times)

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bob3905

Will HBO follow suit? Who is going to pay for three, four, five different streaming services each month? This is extremely short sighted by Showtime. I don’t even subscribe to them through my regular Comcast service. I’m trying to consolidate my bills into one or two for all my entertainment/communications. I’d never consider Showtime as a source for streaming media. I have my phone, Comcast and Netflix for that.
RichardSRussell

I want it all. I want it now. And I want it free. Is that so unreasonable?

Well, honestly …
stephenhope

Showtime and HBO are both stupidly hanging on to outdated models. I simply won’t pay their subscription fees for the two or three original shows I enjoy. If I could purchase individual shows on iTunes, they would get my money. All this means is that I’ll find them on one of the many pirate streaming sites.
http://freemantim.wordpress.com freemantim

I agree with Bob. I don’t pay for the premium channels on cable. I’m not going to pay extra for an additional stream service that likely wouldn’t work with the dependable devices I’ve already got in place to watch Netflix.

Oh well. Even with Showtime content being removed there are still plenty of other shows I still haven’t caught up on that I’m not missing out.
http://atlusworld.wordpress.com Anubus

I would be very surprised if this was a success for showtime, unless it is a dirt cheap service that works on multiple devices (Not going to happen imo). Willing to bet the barn that torrents for these shows will go up as they are pulled down from netflix.
jtermine

This is why we have bittorrent. We can get to the shows the day they are released. If these moron TV content providers would make this stuff available in a common place that was accessible to my iPhone, iPad, Sony LED TV, laptop, and car whenever I wanted it, I’d even PAY for this content. But since these content providers are intent on not providing the customer what the customer demands at a price the customer is willing to pay, we have bittorrent.