Star Trek Interviews
25 Top Cars in Movies
Beginners Guide to Star Trek
Who Could Join Avengers 2?
F&F6 Review
You are here: Home / Features / LOVEFiLM vs. Netflix – Your Guide to Movie Streaming

LOVEFiLM vs. Netflix – Your Guide to Movie Streaming

January 10, 2012 By 9 Comments
StumbleUponRedditPinterestShare

Quality and Speed

This is what might sell it for people right here. The quality of the picture that delivers to your device and the speed in which it gets there. From the demos that we saw yesterday, Netflix does look very impressive. The speed from selecting a movie to it playing on the screen was almost instantaneous but this again may well be due to the 50mb internet connection that I have here at HeyUGuys South London Towers.

In comparison, LOVEFiLM is just as fast to load but the big difference is the quality of the broadcast. Netflix has an HD option which you can tick to allow the system to increase the quality of the stream. The player will then buffer the content (while it’s still playing) to allow you to view in HD and the quality really is excellent and so Netflix wins this one hands down.

The PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360 consoles will both output to full 1080p for picture on Netflix while the Wii will broadcast in 480p but this is due to the limitations of the device. No HD as yet for LOVEFiLM but not doubt this will come along in due course. Netflix also broadcast there streams in 5.1 surround sound which is another win for the new kids on the UK block.

Conclusion

For those of you wanting to know which is the best when it comes to all things LOVEFiLM or Netflix I’m afraid I don’t have a definitive answer for you. It all depends on what you’re looking for in your streaming provider. If it’s cost, LOVEFiLM wins by £1, if it’s quality, Netflix wins it but more than likely it’ll be down to choice or platforms when the cost is so similar.

LOVEFiLM currently have a large selection of movies to stream and the same can be said about Netflix. The big BUT at the moment however is that if it’s choice you’re after, you need to be signing up to the LOVEFiLM DVD Subscription service which is by far and away the winner when it comes to offering choice. Simply have a look at the graph detailing filmmakers and actors and you’ll see just a few examples right there.

Streaming movies is very much in it’s infancy but I love the fact that Netflix has now come onto the scene in the UK. They are a massive player and with LOVEFiLM now owned by Amazon, the competition can only be good for the consumers. 2012 will prove decisive and LOVEFiLM have the advantage of recognition and 2 million subscribers already. The expansion of Netflix’s library will be a significant factor as they have the ground to make up.

We haven’t even looked into other providers like Sky Go but with all these new technologies, things are only going to get better. Who will win in the battle for supremecy…. only time will tell!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Intelligence / Social Media / Home Rental /

Available Platforms / Choice / Quality and Speed / Conclusion

Title: LOVEFiLM vs. Netflix - Your Guide to Movie Streaming
Reviewed by David Sztypuljak on Jan 10
Rating:

« Previous    

1 2 3 4

Like HeyUGuys on Facebook




  • http://twitter.com/ianloring Ian Loring

    Which Sony Blu Players have you guys got Netflix on? My BDPS-370 streams Lovefilm but as of 5 mins ago Netflix still wasn’t on there. Great article though.

  • http://www.heyuguys.co.uk HeyUGuys

    Hi Ian,

    Good question. I’m just going through my research which is rather extensive and I might have put an x in the wrong box. Removing it for now as I think you may be right. Sony have Netflix on PS3 and Sony Media Streamer at the moment. Just checking and will update you if I find my source on BD player.

  • http://twitter.com/ianloring Ian Loring

    Cracking cheers bud. Absolutely desperate to get it on my 370 as the streaming through the Wii is the only way I can get it through my TV at the moment and that’s… a little rough looking!

  • http://twitter.com/markx1r mark r

    only yesterday when Netflix launched, LOVEFiLM reduced the price of their streaming only service from £5.99 to £4.99
    really ? please can you verify this as all i can see is £4.99 for 3m before it reverts back to £7.99m

  • Baz_mann

    I’ve tried to get Netflix on my Sony Bravia Internet TV, and it isn’t available. Luckily I have a PS3, so can get it on there. Lovefilm is, of course, available on both. I don’t think quantity of available movies is very important, as 90 % of streaming content on both is the rubbish no-one wants. Currently, if you have Film4 and a Hard Disk Recorder with a big memory, you effectively have access to an instant movie catalogue far better than either of them. Be interesting to see what Netflix put up when everyone’s free trial is over in a month’s time to try and keep them.

  • http://www.heyuguys.co.uk HeyUGuys

    Hi Mark,

    Just checked and it turns out that LoveFilm only have this offer of £4.99 until tomorrow, 11th January and then it goes back up to the standard price. I’ve just updated the post to refelect this and here’s a recent tweet from LoveFilm showing the £4.99 offer. It does seem odd that it isn’t on their website though. It’s still showing as £5.99 for me.

    http://twitter.com/LOVEFiLM/statuses/156782307217375232

    Dave

  • http://twitter.com/markx1r mark r

    i’ve literally just heard their ad on capital radio and they say you wont find this offer on the homepage, it is only available via lovefilm,com/unlimited which is where their tweet takes you – daft i agree

  • http://www.sapphiresmodel.com/ Iain

    I’ve tried streaming from Lovefilm before and even on a 20meg connection the picture quality is somewhere between VHS and DVD – a definite culture shock when you’re used to HD loveliness!  

    Unless the picture quality of netflix’s streaming service is better I don’t think I’ll bother!

  • Dave

    Hi
    The £4.99 digital only package is still available, however at the moment only via Xbox, PS3 and iPad.