Netflix Separates DVD and Streaming; Creates Qwikster

Netflix announced today that they are splitting their DVD rental and internet streaming services into two distinct services.  The streaming service will retain the name and brand "Netflix" while the DVD will be labeled "Qwikster."  The same red envelopes will come to your doorstep, just with a different name attached.  Announced in an email to customers and on their official blog, the service will start sometime in the near future and each entity will bill separately and lose the integration.  The Qwikster site is already up and ready to start at qwikster.com

I was hanging in there.  I enjoy getting those little red envelopes in the mail, even though I have used the streaming service more and more since it started.  Let's be honest, I have only sent back a handful of movies the last couple of years.  Still, I liked that I could go on their website and know that if I really wanted to see a movie, my 1 DVD and streaming plan meant that within two days I would be seeing it.  Now I have to go to two different sites?

New services through Qwikster are also put forth, such as a video game rental, but this is not for me.  I tried other services (Gamefly) for video games and just did not like them, and I play a lot of video games.

Also, I think it is wrong to site other companies failures (AOL and Borders) in your apology/announcement.  Cheap tactic that did not make me rise to save you but pity your demise.  Times they are changing and this loss of inter-connectivity will break Netflix.

I don't mean to whine, but I thought we had a good thing going, Netflix.  You've changed.  Reed Hastings claims "I messed up."  Yeah, you did, and you lost another customer to your DVD rental, too.