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How do you compete when the same content is readily available, instantly, for free, and in a usable interface?



By making it actually readily available, instantly, in a usable interface, close enough to free as customer doesn't care the cost.

For decades, I've seen endless such "but it's free/easy/instant" things be anything but, insofar as it takes resources (time, fiddling, knowledge, skill, tools, etc) costing on par with paid versions, isn't easy for >90% of the population, and falls down often enough that it's hardly 'instant'.

$99 + $8/mo works a whole lot better than most any "free/easy/instant" solution I've seen. Sure, you may be one of the fringe consumers who can handle such solutions, but most people can't. There's always some part which is so dull/annoying/unsatisfying, but must be done right to achieve persistent widespread acceptance, that you'll have to pay (and recoup) someone to do.


How does Netflix?


By offering better service, which Netflix and similar largely have.




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