Netflix has quickly become one of North America’s  top consumers of Internet usage, as well as one of the leading companies that actually still use the United States Postal Service. I have been Netflix subscriber for nearly 2 years now and I have enjoyed every single minute of it. At first I was a strong DVD users. Now that I have 5 Netflix capable devices. my focus has switched to a heavy streaming user, except for watching the last three seasons of Dexter on blue-ray.

A couple of weeks ago Netflix announced price changes for their streaming and DVD rentals. The DVD and streaming combo only changed about $5 but many Netflix users felt the company was screwing them with a 50% price increase. I personally feel the price is still reasonable but the price jump was a drastic enough that I will be dropping my DVD service, once I finish catching up on Dexter. (Starting season 5)

I am sure I will not be the only one switching their plans to streaming only, when the price change takes place, for current members, on September 1st. Even with Netflix’s domination of the streaming world. I believe there are three things Netflix could do take themselves to world domination.

More up-to-date streaming content

Netflix should try to provide their members with more up-to-date content for their streaming service. I am not just talking the obvious of adding newer movies to the streaming. I understand the copyright issues and cost of doing that. As Netflix members know, most movies are old a B-movies.  Not a lot of big blockbuster movies hit the Netflix stream until months or years after they hit the DVD market. There are the occasional big hit movie, like Toy Story 3, which did hit the Netflix stream pretty near the DVD release. What I am more focused on now is more up-to-date television shows.

Everyone I know who uses Netflix stream has one thing in common, they watch a lot of Television shows. Netflix is pretty good with keeping their TV catalog up-to-date by at least a season or two; the office is now two season behind but Futurama has their last season ready to watch.  Most of us live extremely busy lives but still have a few shows we are interested in watching but are too busy to catch the normal air time. After missing a show where do people normally turn to catch up, Hulu. My routine for the morning is to wake up, start my coffee, do a little work catching up on the news I missed while I was dreaming of Unicorns, then eat breakfast and drink my coffee while I enjoy something on Hulu, mostly the nights before Daily Show. Would it not be nice to just head over to Netflix for your next day streaming needs instead going somewhere else? Plus watching shows through your Wii or other Netflix device on a large TV is nice.

I understand that it would be hard for Netflix to strike a deal with companies to provide next day content, but I may have a solution and you are not going to like it. Lets take a look at how Hulu makes their money. While Netflix gains most of their money by charging people monthly fees, Hulu uses ads to generate profit, Hulu Plus aside. Ok stay with me here, why not offer next day content for users with commercial ads but making sure to keep ads away from all the other content. Netflix could have a special section that offers the prior weeks episodes, of popular TV shows, supported by ads. If Netflix really wants to take the world of streaming over should they be thinking about offering a one stop streaming experience?

Downloadable Content

I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I cannot. As you probably know Netflix streaming is only available through…well streaming. All Netflix devices must have some type of connection to view your favorite Gilmore Girls episode. Do not lie, I know some of you watch that show.  Lets take Netflix on the 3DS for example. Once you lose all Internet connection, like when flying on a plane, you lose all access to Netflix and your favorite show…lets use Sex in the City. (Hey, I do not judge)  Would it not be nice to have the ability to save a few episodes of Sex and the City to enjoy as you fly across the country? Netflix could offer the ability to buffer a few episodes, or a movie, to your SD card to have the capability to watch it later. Like the iTunes service, after a few hours or days the video disappears.

Single DVD rentals

For those of us who are streaming only but would like to rent a DVD once in a while, Netflix could over a single DVD rental. I have recently discovered the joy of Redbox and the Blockbuster kiosks. They are nice for more recent movies but for older movies they can be hard to find. Where I live most of the Blockbuster stores closed down leaving my full attention on Netflix and the movie kiosks. If I need a movie that these places cannot offer me, what am I supposed to do?

One solution is for Netflix to offer a single rental service. The service would be similar to Redbox in the sense you rent one movie out at a time for a small price. You can choose one movie you would like, Netflix would mail it to you for a price of $2 or $3, and then you send it back. If you want to rent another DVD it will be the same charge again.

Even with the pricing changes Netflix will still be the dominant force they have been for the last two years. My ideas for change are not a must,  just something a Netflix fan would like to see happen. I am all for Netflix taking over the world and dominating streaming. Besides a few price changes I had no complaints about my Netflix service. All Hail the great Netflix!