Netflix, which is now known predominantly as a streaming service giant, is shutting down its original business plan. The company has announced that it will officially be winding down its DVD rental service.
There’s no dramatic reason behind the change, with the decision coming from a shrinking demand for physical rentals. The company says that it has become “increasingly difficult” to offer quality service that meets Netflix’s standards.
Netflix broke into the DVD mailing market all the way back in 1998 and since then has managed to mail over 5.2 billion movies to nearly 40 million customers. It wasn’t until 2007 that Netflix jumped on the on-demand video streaming trend and by 2009, it was the company’s preferred offering. However, the company didn’t offer this service in Canada.
By 2016, with Netflix already well into producing Netflix Original content, the company moved the mailed rentals to DVD.com and began to offload the mailing operations. This included the move to stop mailing DVDs on Saturdays.
The decision could also be a way of rejuvenating what has been a slow start to the year for Netflix, with the first quarter showing low profits and modest subscriber growth. By ditching DVD mailing, Netflix could cut some costs, even if it’s not enough to make any drastic changes.
Netflix’s last movie discs will be shipping out on September 29th, 2023. After that, those looking for physical movie rentals will have to make a run for the nearest Redbox kiosk.
Curious about what’s good on Netflix this month? Find out here.
Netflix is being sued for defamation and misappropriation of likeness or right of publicity by Taylor Hazlewood after his photo was used in a new true-crime documentary without his consent.
The 2023 documentary The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhikerfeatured a photo of Hazlewood alongside a convicted murderer with the text “you can never trust anyone” and audio playing behind the photos, saying “stone-cold killer.” Hazlewood claims that the photos were taken from his Instagram page without his knowledge or consent.
The new documentary revolves around Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, the center of a viral internet video back in 2013. Dubbed “the homeless hitchhiker with a hatchet,” McGillvary gained public interest after he rescued a woman by killing her assaulter with a hatchet before describing the incident to KMPH-TV News. He was later convicted for the murder of an attorney in an unrelated incident.
Hazlewood began to receive messages from friends after an Instagram picture of him holding a hatchet surfaced in the film. Near the end of the documentary, his photo appears with the narrator asking “Is this a guardian angel or a stone-cold killer?” following a description of McGillvary’s murder.
As a result of the incident, Hazlewood says he has suffered stress, anxiety and reputational harm. This has led to the man suing the streaming service in Texas state court, where he looks for over $1 million and punitive damages.
This begs the question, was it a slip-up from the company or did Netflix really pull any images they could find of people posing with hatchets? According to Hazlewood, it was no mistake.
“The use was not incidental. Instead, it was Netflix’s employees’ negligently searching for images of people holding hatchets to support their narrative.”
Netflix was the centre of more controversy last month, where they managed to escape another defamation lawsuit over accusing a retired police officer of planting evidence in the documentary Making a Murderer.
Netflix has yet to issue a statement on both the initial incident as well as the lawsuit.
The second season of Apple TV+’s Prehistoric Planet launches on May 22nd, according to a new trailer for the upcoming TV show.
The trailer’s YouTube page description reads as follows:
“Prehistoric Planet season two continues to bring Earth’s history to life like never before as the series presents new dinosaurs, new habitats and new scientific discoveries while taking viewers around the world in an epic five-night adventure. With new dinosaurs like the Tarchia, one of the largest Ankylosaurus, to returning fan-favorites like the Tyrannosaurus rex, and many more, Prehistoric Planet returns with an all-new season of prehistoric wonders.”
As a big fan of the series’ first season, I’m excited to see dinosaurs back in action.
Apple TV+ costs $8.99 per month, and the first seven days are free for new subscribers.
After working together on Knives Out and The Gray Man, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas have reunited for a new romantic action-comedy, Ghosted.
Directed by Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman), the film sees Cole (Evans) fall head-over-heels for Sadie (de Armas), only to discover she’s a secret agent, leading them on an international mission. It’s also worth noting that Ghosted was written by Rhett Reese and Toronto’s Paul Wernick (Deadpool series) and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (Spider-Man: No Way Home).
Although the company acknowledged there was an initial ‘cancel reaction’ in Canada and the other markets which have already received paid sharing, that churn was quickly offset. “For example, in Canada, which we believe is a reliable predictor for the U.S., our paid membership base is now larger than prior to the launch of paid sharing and revenue growth has accelerated and is now growing faster than in the U.S.,” wrote Netflix in its Q1 2023 earnings letter.
Overall, the company says it’s “pleased with the results” of paid sharing in Canada, New Zealand, Spain and Portugal,” which it says are “strengthening our confidence that we have the right approach.” As part of these efforts, the company says it will expand paid sharing to the U.S. by the end of June.
As of February, Netflix requires all Canadian users to set a primary streaming location so the company can recognize those who are sharing the account elsewhere. The company is charging $7.99 to those who want to add an extra member who can share their account. It’s worth noting, however, that it’s not clear to what extent, if any, Netflix has been enforcing these rules so far. Last month, a MobileSyrup survey found that the majority of respondents have still been able to share accounts without penalty.
If you’re in Canada, has Netflix blocked you from sharing an account yet? Let us know in the comments.
In related news, Netflix posted 1.75 million new streaming subscribers in Q1 2023, which was below analyst estimates of 2.06 million. Overall, the company reported earnings of $1.31 billion USD (about $1.75 billion CAD), which was down from the $1.6 billion USD (roughly $2.14 billion CAD) it brought in this time last year.
Amazon now provides an alternative to traditional subtitles through a new Prime Video option known as Dialogue Boost for select Amazon originals.
The feature allows the user to increase the volume of on-screen dialogue, without increasing background noise or additional environment sounds or music. The feature is available in low and high boosts, depending on how much audio assistance is needed. Dialogue Boost can be found in the audio menu of compatible titles and can be turned on the same way subtitles would be.
The AI-based technology operates by isolating audio and intensifying speech in scenes that have been determined to have overwhelming background noise. The option is currently exclusive to Prime Video members and is only available on select Amazon-produced titles.
Users who are curious about certain titles’ compatibility with Dialogue Boost can check the details page for availability.
While the feature may seem practical for some, Amazon says the implementation will help those who are hard of hearing. The company plan to add Dialogue Boost to more titles later this year.
Amazon Prime Membership, which includes Prime Video, is available for $9.99/month.
Curious about what’s new on Prime Video Canada? Find out what’s coming to the platform in April here.
Disney has revealed the full list of movies and shows that are coming to its Disney+ streaming service in Canada in May.
This month’s highlights include the second season of the acclaimed Star Wars: Visions animated anthology series, American Born Chinese featuring Everything Everywhere All At Once‘s Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Shu and James Hong and The Kardashians Season 3.
May 3rd
Ed Sheeran: The Sum Of It All [Disney+ Original]
Pandora: Beneath the Paradise (New Episodes) [Star]
Pose (Season 3 Premiere – All Episodes Available) [Star]
Psy Summer Swag 2022 (Premiere) [Star]
May 4th
Star Wars: Visions (Volume 2) [Disney+ Original]
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (Disney+ Original]
May 5th
Entrelazados Live!
FX’s Great Expectations (New Episodes) [Star]
Planners (Season 1 – Premiere) [Star]
Queen Elizabeth II: A Royal Life – A Special Edition of 20/20 (Premiere) [Star]
Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Season 2 Premiere All Episodes Available) [Star]
Three Ways (Feature Film Premiere) [Star]
May 10th
Dois Tempos: (Season 1 – All Episodes) [Star]
FX’s Class of ’09 [Star]
Homeland (Season 8, all episodes) [Star]
Impuros: (Season 3 – Premiere) [Star]
Lambert Contre Lambert: Au Nom De Vincent (Season 1, all episodes) [Star]
The Muppets Mayhem (Season 1) [Disney+ Original]
Race (Season 1 – Premiere) [Star]
Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa (Season 4, all episodes)
May 12th
Crater [Disney+ Original]
May 19th
White Men Can’t Jump [Star]
May 24th
American Born Chinese (Season 1, all episodes) [Disney+ Original]
Abbott Elementary (Season 2 – All Episodes Available) [Star]
Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life (Season 2) [Disney+ Original]
The Clearing [Star]
Crazy Love (Season 1, all episodes) [Star]
Entrelazados (Season 2 premiere, all episodes)
Link: Eat, Love, Kill (Season 1, all episodes) [Star]
Every week, MobileSyrup outlines some of the most notable movies and TV shows that recently hit Canadian streaming platforms.
Our ‘Streaming in Canada’ column typically focuses on new content from Amazon Prime Video, Crave and Netflix, but other services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ are mentioned when relevant. Premium video-on-demand (PVOD) platforms are also fair game as movies continue to come to digital early.
Finally, we’ll highlight shows or movies that are made by Canadian companies, involve notable Canadian cast or crew and/or are filmed in Canada.
Amazon Prime Video
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season 5) [Amazon Original]
Amazon Prime Video Canada premiere date: April 14th, 2023 (first three episodes, new episodes every Friday) Genre: Comedy-drama Runtime: Nine episodes (around one hour each)
With a new job, Midge finds herself closer than ever to the success she’s dreamed of, only to discover it’s farther than she thought.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls) and stars Rachel Brosnahan (House of Cards), Alex Borstein (Family Guy), Michael Zegen (Rescue Me) and Tony Shalhoub (Monk).
Original theatrical release date: September 16th, 2022
Amazon Prime Video Canada premiere date: April 14th, 2023 Genre: Slasher Runtime: 1 hour, 42 minutes
A sheltered young woman’s aspirations to become a movie star lead her to commit violent acts.
An origin story for the villainous elderly woman from last year’s X, Pearl was co-written and directed by Ti West (X) and features Mia Goth reprising her role as the titular character while also co-writing the movie. It’s worth noting that a third film from West and Goth, MaXXXine, is currently in development.
An Amazon Prime Video subscription is included at no additional cost with an Amazon Prime membership, which is priced at $99/year.
The full list of movies and shows hitting Amazon Prime Video Canada this month can be found here.
Apple TV+
The Last Thing He Told Me [Apple Original]
Apple TV+ Canada premiere date: April 14th, 2023 (first two episodes, new episodes every Friday) Genre: Thriller Runtime: Seven episodes (around 45 minutes each)
A woman becomes closer to her stepdaughter as she searches for her husband after his mysterious disappearance.
Based on Laura Dave’s novel of the same name, The Last Thing He Told Me was created by Dave and Josh Singer (Spotlight) and stars Jennifer Garner (Alias), Angourie Rice (Mare of Easttown), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) and Aisha Tyler (Archer).
Crave premiere date: April 16th, 2023 at 10pm ET (first two episodes, new episodes every Sunday at 10pm ET) Genre: Comedy-drama Runtime: Eight episodes (around 30 minutes each)
In the final season of the hit HBO series, Barry’s arrest leads Cousineau to be hailed as a hero but soon brings about shocking consequences.
Barry was created by Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live) and Alec Berg (Silicon Valley) and stars Hader, Stephen Root (King of the Hill), Vancouver’s Sarah Goldberg (The Report), Henry Winkler (Happy Days) and Anthony Carrigan (Gotham).
Crave premiere date: April 14th, 2023 (first episode, new episodes every Friday) Genre: Sketch comedy Runtime: Six episodes (around 30 minutes each)
Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis and Skye Townsend return for more sketches alongside guests like Sam Richardson (The Afterparty), Kyla Pratt (The Proud Family), Colman Domingo (Euphoria) and Yvette Nicole Brown (Community).
A standard Crave subscription is priced at $19.99/month, with Starz costing an additional $5.99/month. A mobile-only subscription is also available for $9.99/month.
The full list of movies and shows hitting Crave this month can be found here.
Netflix
American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing [Netflix Original]
Netflix Canada premiere date: April 12th, 2023 Genre: Documentary Runtime: Three episodes (53 to 63 minutes each)
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, this documentary offers new archive footage, chilling reenactments and exclusive interviews to shed new light on the horrific incident.
Stream American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing here.
Obsession [Netflix Original]
Netflix Canada premiere date: April 13th, 2023 Genre: Erotic thriller Runtime: Four episodes (33 to 43 minutes each)
A respected surgeon has an erotic infatuation with his son’s fiancée, threatening to upend everyone’s life in the process.
Based on Josephine Hart’s Damage novel, Obsession stars Richard Armitage (The Hobbit trilogy), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) and Rish Shah (Ms. Marvel).
The full list of movies and shows hitting Netflix Canada this month can be found here.
Paramount+
Waco: The Aftermath [Paramount+ Original]
Paramount+ Canada premiere date: April 14th, 2023 Genre: Crime drama Runtime: Five episodes (around one hour each)
This series explores the aftermath of the disastrous 1993 FBI standoff in Waco, Texas that galvanized American militia movements.
The series is a sequel to 2018’s Waco from the same creators, John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, and stars Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals), John Leguizamo (When They See Us), Giovanni Ribisi (Sneaky Pete), David Costabile (Breaking Bad) and J. Smith-Cameron (Succession).
Razer has launched its new Stream Controller X all-in-one streaming hub in Canada. Along with other major regions, Canadians can get their hands on this fully customizable controller deck, featuring 15 programmable LCD buttons, now available for $209.99.
Razer has expanded its streamer support by continuously launching streaming gear within its ecosystem. The Stream Controller X enhances the streamer’s control of their broadcast by supporting 15 Switchblade Buttons, which users can customize to their preference.
Razer’s Controller X supports most high-profile streaming software, and features plugins to enable the use of several apps. For instance, users can set shortcuts to Twitch, OBS Studio, Philips Hue, Spotify, Razer Key Light Control, Razer Audio Mixer Control, Voicemod and more.
All programmable shortcuts are built into a series of 15 LCD buttons featuring their own icons. The Stream Controller X is built into a magnetic stand with a 50-degree angle. The stand itself also has a grip to avoid sliding on a desk or table.
Razer has a long lineage of offering gaming gear across accessories, gaming PCs and even apparel. The Stream Controller X is another example of the company gaining a foothold in the streaming world, targeting a market Elgato largely dominates. The Elgato Stream Deck MK2 is the company’s most comparable device to the Stream Controller X as it provides similar features.
Razer’s Stream Controller X appears to have a smaller footprint compared to competitive devices. This could help reduce clutter within a streaming setup. Additionally, this will likely speak to those currently in the Razer ecosystem — especially if they’re using the likes of Razer Key Lights and Seiren microphones.
What was once viewed as an all-in-one alternative to cable has become an oversaturated space in which pretty much every big entertainment company has its own platform and associated exclusive content. That space only gets messier when you consider FAST (free, ad-supported streaming TV) channels like Pluto TV and frequent confusion over where to stream titles in Canada that are produced exclusively for U.S.-only services like Peacock.
Given that, we’re thinking about favourite streaming services. After all, there’s likely one that you gravitate toward the most, be it Disney+ for the original Marvel and Star Wars content, Crave for HBO titles like The Last of Us and Successionor even Amazon’s Prime Video simply because it’s included with Prime.
Admittedly, we’ve asked this twice in the past — once in 2019 (before the launches of Disney+ and Apple TV+) and later in April 2022. But even in the year since our last poll, we’ve seen a lot of streaming developments, particularly when it comes to Netflix, whose recent show cancellation spree and password-sharing crackdown have been met with significant pushback.
With all of that said, what’s your favourite streaming service? Let us know in the poll below.
