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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Netflix’s Internet video service is adding more marquee attractions as it braces for a new competitive threat from cable-TV provider Comcast Corp.

As part of an effort to offer more exclusive material, Netflix locked up the right to show “The Artist” and other movies from The Weinstein Co. before the films are released to leading pay-TV channels such as Showtime and HBO.

Just a few hours after Tuesday’s announcement about that multiyear deal, Comcast unveiled plans to undercut Netflix with a less expensive version of a service that will stream old TV series and movies to devices with high-speed Internet connections.

The Comcast service, called Xfinity Streampix, will be available this week to the company’s subscribers. It will cost $5 per month, below Netflix’s $8 monthly price for its Internet-streaming service. Some Comcast customers who pay for multiple services, including high-speed Internet access and phone, will get Streampix at no additional cost.

Although it appears Netflix’s library is more extensive, Streampix could be good enough for some households looking to supplement their cable-TV service with a package that has on-demand video on computers and mobile devices.

That possibility apparently unnerved some investors who have long worried about Netflix losing its early lead in Internet video as more rivals enter the market. Netflix’s stock lost $4.45, or 3.7 percent, to close Tuesday at $117.40.

Comcast, which is based in Philadelphia, will join two other large companies, Amazon.com Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., already offering video streaming services. Earlier this month, Verizon Communications Inc. announced that it is teaming up with Redbox’s DVD rental-kiosk network to introduce an Internet video service later this year. The pricing for the Verizon-Redbox venture hasn’t been disclosed.

Netflix, which is based in Los Gatos, Calif., also offers a DVD-by-mail rental service. But that has been losing millions of customers in recent months as the company has intensified its focus on the streaming service.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has said that he views cable TV as his company’s biggest worry. So far, Hastings has identified Time Warner Inc.’s HBO channel as Netflix’s toughest competition, but that could change if a cable provider such as Comcast can develop a compelling service.

By countering Netflix, Comcast hopes to hold on to customers, many of whom have been canceling their cable subscriptions to save money. Some of those former subscribers have been able to get their entertainment fixes from Netflix, whose Internet streaming service began this year with 21.7 million U.S. subscribers.

Comcast, by contrast, had 22.3 million video subscribers after losing 459,000 customers last year.

Based on the line-up included in Tuesday’s announcement, Streampix will have much of the video already available on Netflix. The list of overlapping selections includes the past seasons of popular TV series such as “The Office” and “Lost” and older movies such as “Brokeback Mountain” and “The Big Lebowski.”

Recently, Netflix has been trying to differentiate itself by buying the rights to more original series ? a strategy that has worked well for HBO and CBS Corp.’s Showtime.

The licensing agreement with Weinstein marks another step in Netflix’s push to hone its competitive edge.

Getting the streaming rights to critically acclaimed fare such as “The Artist,” which is nominated for 10 Academy Awards, also may help Netflix keep its subscribers happy as other popular selections disappear from the service’s video library. Netflix will lose the rights to stream many movies from Walt Disney Co. and other studios when a three-year licensing deal with the Starz Entertainment channel expires next week.

The Weinstein agreement will give Netflix some movies within a year of their release in movie theaters. Besides “The Artist,” the deal covers foreign-language movies, documentaries and other films in the Weinstein vault. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-02-21-US-TEC-Netflix-Internet-Video/id-722ae996f10f49c3aac32900d6dc2d04

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AVOS, the startup behind the newly re-launched Delicious.com, has acquired the link-saving service Trunk.ly, the company announced in a blog post this afternoon. AVOS, which is led by YouTube founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, says that Trunk.ly’s “technology and insights will accelerate link-saving and searching capabilities in Delicious.”

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/lD1ENG-p1jo/

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Last updated 50 minutes ago

For any local business owner, dealing with an angry customer in person or on the phone is sometimes just part of doing business. And poor customer experiences have the potential to turn into a negative review or comment ?on a review site, social media page, or other website. But situations like these don?t have to affect your online reputation?? especially if you can recognize the issue early and turn that negative experience into a positive one. Plus, how you handle a customer complaint will not only resonate with that particular customer, but will also reinforce your customer loyalty strategy with other existing and potential customers. So, here are a few tips to keep in mind when you to respond to an angry customer to avoid getting a negative review and strengthen your overall customer service strategy. ?

Address a Complaint Immediately
If a customer appears upset in your store or on the phone, find out what the problem is immediately, and most importantly, ask what you can do to correct it. Being able to recognize an unsatisfied customer and quickly address their complaint is the first step in mitigating a potentially damaging situation before it turns into a negative review for your business.

Don?t Start an Argument
Whether or not a customer has a legitimate complaint, don?t get defensive, make up an excuse, or assign blame Instead, assume ownership over the situation and take responsibility for what you can. If the error is on your end, apologize for the mistake and assure the customer you will take the necessary steps to resolve the issue. Chances are, if you remain cool, calm and professional with them, the customer will calm down and be more understanding as well.

Consider Offering a Freebie or Refund
In some cases, a discount, refund, or complimentary product or service, can help smooth over a minor situation and help the customer leave with a positive impression of your business. If your mistake was small, such as double-booking an appointment, compensating the customer for lost time or resources is a great way to show them that you still value their business. However, be aware that a simple discount may not work for every situation, as more serious problems may require more serious solutions. ?

Address the Root Cause of the Issue
When a customer has a bad experience with your business, there is often an underlying business issue at hand. Was the service unsatisfactory? Was your product damaged? Were your employees rude or unhelpful? Once you determine the problem, take the steps to correct the fundamental cause of the grievance. Addressing the root cause of the issue will not only show the customer you are serious about customer service and help solve the issue at hand, it will also help you avoid experiencing similar issues later on with other customers. One way to address issues like these is to train employees on how to deliver even better customer service. You can also turn this into an opportunity to educate your staff on how to answer phone calls, respond to customer questions, and deliver prompt and friendly service. You may even want to create an employee handbook that outlines proper employee behavior and procedures.

Deliver Great Customer Service ? Always
By making?great customer service?a top priority for your business and employees in your store, on the phone, and online, you help can drive positive reviews and?word of mouth?that will likely outweigh any complaints that may surface about your business online. It?s important to remain upbeat, speak in a friendly tone, listen to what your customers have to say, and teach your employees to do the same.?Even if your business consistently delivers outstanding service, having an occasional negative review or complaint written about your business online is sometimes unavoidable. If you do receive a negative review or comment, it?s important to?reply to the complaint?and address the problem within your business to maintain a positive online reputation.?

What tactics have you used to handle an unhappy customer before they write a negative review of your business? How does the way you resolve customer complaints fit into your customer service and reputation management strategies??

About the Author
Tamara Weintraub?helps equip small business owners with information about local online advertising, social media marketing, and more as a blogger for?ReachCast?and?ReachLocal.

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Source: http://blog.reachlocal.com/227182/2011/09/09/nipping-a-negative-review-in-the-bud-how-to-deal-with-an-angry-customer-.html

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