Renting movies used to be such an adventure.
Not only did you have to deal with the two-day “new release” rentals versus the weeklong rentals, you also had to hope, pray and sacrifice a baby animal in hopes the movie you wanted to see was in stock.
Then, after the argument of when the movie is actually due back, you rush to the video store and successfully deposit the movie in the drop bin four minutes before they close — only to realize the movie is still in the DVD player at home.
Fortunately for you, Netflix is here and booming with popularity thanks to its convenience and ease of use.
Unfortunately for Blockbuster, it’s losing stores every day — partially because of the advancement of technology and partially because it makes movie renting an Olympic sport.
Netflix’s success has skyrocketed in the past few years thanks to its “Watch Instantly” streaming feature.
With so many devices able to stream “Watch Instantly” — such as video game consoles, iPhone/iPad, some cable boxes and set-top boxes like Google TV, as well as your computer — there’s hardly any reason to physically rent a movie or even watch television programs at all. They’re all right there at the click of a button.
However, Netflix’s quick success has turned some of its allies against it.
“Watch Instantly” has become popular thanks to the deals Netflix made with movie and television studios allowing them to stream content.
Yet, some companies seem to disapprove of Netflix’s success and are trying to sabotage the company.
And any company trying to bring down Netflix is an enemy of mine.
CBS announced its intentions last month to pull its Showtime content from Netflix.
For Netflix users, this deal means popular programs such as “Dexter,” “Weeds” and “Californication” will soon be unavailable to stream on “Watch Instantly.”
I know I’ve had the first two seasons of “Dexter” sitting on my Instant Queue for a while now — it looks like I better get to them.
Johanna Fuentes, Showtime spokeswoman, confirmed that all episodes of Showtime TV series currently running on the channel will be pulled from Netflix when the current distribution deals expire this summer, according to DSLReports.com.
Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey replied by saying Netflix is “perplexed by this.”
“We have great Showtime shows available on our service, and we expect to continue with those shows. We have a very good relationship with CBS and all its channels,” Swasey said, according to DSLReports.com.
As someone who does not get the channel Showtime, this news is depressing.
Netflix is the only way I can watch these shows other than buying the DVDs, so now I have no way to view them.
But I guess that’s Showtime’s and CBS’ point.
It would seem CBS is tired of not receiving the royalties from people watching its shows via Netflix.
By removing content, people would be required to subscribe to premium cable channels to catch their favorite shows.
There is no way I could subscribe to a channel (or package of channels — thanks, Cox Communications) to watch one or two shows.
Plus, there’s no way I’m canceling my Netflix subscription. The DVDs in the mail and the thousands of remaining movies and shows in “Watch Instantly” are worth more than a few Showtime shows.
In the end, this move will hurt CBS and any other studio thinking of following suit.
Sure, some people will cave in and pay, but it won’t be enough to supplement what money the companies would be losing from Netflix.
In the meantime, I have some “Dexter” to catch up on.
Adam Arinder is a 21-year-old communication studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
 
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Contact Adam Arinder at [email protected]