I’m surprised this hasn’t shown up on the forums this morning. It’s hitting all my news feeds. What do you think?
The deal means Plex users (again, US-only) will have access to a selection of TV and films streaming via the Plex app. The content is completely free, but it will be ad-supported. There may be a catch because we still don’t know what sort of content we’ll get—Plex doesn’t have a list or even examples of what you’ll be able to see. There’s also no specific launch date. We just know the Warner Bros. content will show up later this year.
I’m fine with this, given IMDBtv and Youtube do the same thing (ad supported movies). But given they’re involving another 3rd party, I hope they’re very clear what personal data they do need to share, why they need to share, and what they don’t share. As long as they’re transparent I’m on board. But who knows how transparent the WB will allow them to be.
The reason It’s not shocking is anyone with the sense God gave a goose could see this coming a mile away, even though we were assured that was not the case.
I think you are either misremembering this or you have phrased it so it could be misunderstood.
It was never denied that similar things like News or Web Shows will be coming. And these are ad-supported.
As for the privacy issues: the current policy covers this.
Content sources will get those data which pertain to their part. So they will get of course aggregated statistics when something was played from them and and where. Surely also data about the played ads are shared, so they can verify they get compensated properly.
What’s not gonna happen is that e.g. WB will get notified which movies a user has in his private Plex library etc.
And this is also already in the existing privacy policy.
"Still, Olechowski seemed cognizant that there nonetheless could be some backlash. 'Anytime we do anything, there are some who don’t like what we do,” Olechowski said with a sigh. 'It doesn’t matter what it is. And it’s a vocal minority, every single time.”
IE- the friction in the forums over our decisions has come from our customers inability to embrace change, not the the choices Plex has made.
Reading the Variety article was interesting.
Plex is adding (ad-supported) Warner Brothers content.
Plex wants to be the one stop shop for all things streaming media.
I understand that.
The problem is, due to the all the conglomerates that now own both creation AND distribution chain, Plex will never ever become it.
If Plex would stop trying to be what it seems every other media application is trying to be also, perhaps Plex could continue to stand apart from the crowd, as I feel they once did much better.
Oh, and this line from Variety.com article just irks me. I’d say that the author didn’t understand Plex, but, after the past 3 years, it’s not necessarily incorrect.
Key to this has long been the Plex Media Server, a piece of companion software
Companion?
Funny. I remember when clients where the companion components, and server was required.
I don’t mind them adding new features that, as far is I can tell, no one has asked for, what I mind is them doing this while there is thread after thread of bugs that they don’t seem to care to fix.
There was a bug where the server would not respect conversion of audio files to the Android app (and maybe iPhone?) that took 2+ years to get fixed.
There is currently a bug in the DVR Post processing that I have also encountered that was introduced months ago that has not been fixed.
As a programmer I realize that what I’m about to say is usually never the case, but neither of the aforementioned bugs should be hard to fix.
I just wish all the devs would put new feature development on hold for 2 weeks and fix as many bugs as they can find on the forum. Get Plex fully functioning before adding new features!
I can’t tell from your post if you are agreeing or disagreeing with the comment, but for myself;
the friction in the forums is not from my (or our) lack of embracing change, but when plex decisions affect our established usability/feature set and/or from unrequested additions being implemented instead of fixing longstanding bugs and actual user requests.
Sounds good to me. If they want to sell HBO subscriptions, add 100 add supported channels, and partner with sho knows who then great. it just means that PLEX is more likely to be around in 10 years and not get steamrolled by someone larger. They can’t live on PLEX pass fees forever. As long as they keep supporting customer supplied content, they can do whatever they want to expand the brand.
I find the comment frustrating/not in agreement. I think it’s really dismissive.
Ultimately there’s nothing wrong with adding streaming services in and of itself. Adding features is a good thing (if it’s not at the expense of something else). I dont think there was a groundswell of people clamoring to want this with their media server software but there’s certainly nothing wrong with adding it in and of itself.
The frustration comes from the fact these features are prioritized over a lot of usability fixes we’ve been asking for and to summarize the disconnect as a general user attitude problem (least to me) is concerning.
I also can’t help but wonder what the plans are for the server. The big Hollywood/media conglomerates haven’t been super keen on solutions that revolve around people hosting their own content as they want to control the mediums we use to watch their stuff.
as long as I can turn off Warner Bros. content, nag screens and menu items this is just another feature no one asked for.
My concern is that they will share info on my watching habits or content of my libraries. I find it hard to believe that WB will not request that and eventually insist.
I share a lot of the same fears about how much WB will have access to from our servers.
Another issue I foresee in this is, will we get a better means of customer support? Cause I can’t get responses/acknowledgement to my [BUG] posts for the Beta programs then add a bunch of post about “this or that not working with the WB integration” and I feel we’ll be SOOL.
Thanks for this. I appreciate you hearing the concerns of what I think is probably more than “a vocal minority.”
I have a reasonable level of trust for Plex, but WB is seedy as ■■■■.
How do we (or you for that mattter) know that once they’re integrated at whatever level, they won’t slip/hack in some tracking code? WB and their ilk are notorious for doing stuff like that.
The new UI is frustrating enough as it rams web content and news down our throats, what will make WB integration different?
