Blockbuster, Netflix, Hulu, Oh My!
There’s been a lot of news recently in mail-home and online streaming space, which are two places college students enjoy. The ease of getting movies mailed to you to watch when you’re bored, or the ability to go online and stream your favorite movie or that TV show you missed last week. But Blockbuster, Netflix, and Hulu have made announcements to diversify not only what you get, but how you get it. Read through to see what’s new.
Blockbuster Adds Games To
While the company that used to be a behemoth in the rental industry flirts with bankruptcy and tries to compete with Netflix, it is trying to differentiate itself. Blockbuster By Mail, their DVD rentals at home program, announced today that games would also be included. So users can rent movies, games, and TV series at their home via the mailbox. $9 a month will get you 1 DVD or vide game at a time, with plans going up to $17 a month for 3 DVD’s or games at a time. The Total Access plans are only worthwhile if there is a Blockbuster in the area (the nearest stores are in Belpre and Parkersburg)…which there isn’t.
If you’ve been tempted by this deal, consider the major points between Blockbuster and Netflix. Sure, you get to rent games with Blockbuster. But at the same price point ($9) you could stream movies to your computer, XBOX 360, Wii, Playstation, and eventually, mobile phones. Online streaming is separate with Blockbuster, and costs vary from rental to outright purchase (but offers streaming to computers, mobile phones, and TV’s). So the question is, which do you value more? Online movie streaming, or Video Game Rentals?
Netflix Gets More Online Movies
Speaking about the whole online streaming universe, Netflix announced today that it’s increasing their streaming library in a huge way. New movies from Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate will be able to be streamed online 90 days after their DVD release, starting September 1st.
This also means that their back catalogues will also be available, starting that same day. According to the press release, this could mean nearly 3,000 new movies available for streaming via Netflix. Like I mentioned earlier, $9 will get you one DVD at a time, and unlimited movie and tv streaming.
Hulu Plus Coming
Most students don’t have TiVo’s or DVR’s on campus, and with busy lives away from the TV, yet great shows on every day, it’s hard to keep up. Hulu fixes that problem, for the most part, but if you were looking for more, it’s here.
Hulu Plus gives you access to previous seasons of shows, and unlocks a back catalogue of many other shows not available to the typical Hulu user. It also allows you to stream Hulu Plus content to your TV, Playstation 3, iPhone, and iPad (supposedly more devices are coming soon, including the XBOX 360). Costs $10 a month, but is currently in a limited preview, so you have to apply for the privilege to use the service at the moment.
Even with the monthly payment, you’ll still be forced to watch ads during the shows. And don’t worry, free Hulu will still be around.
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Categories: Deals, Entertainment, Gaming, Movies, Off Campus, Students
Tags: Blockbuster, By Mail, College, DVD, Hulu, Marietta, Microsoft, movie, Movies, Netflix, Nintendo, Ohio, Playstation, Plus, rental, Rentals, Sony, Streaming, TV, Video Game, Video Games, Wii, Writing on the Mall, XBOX 360
WATCH: Greek Week Lip Sync Rocks Fenton Court
As the semester draws to a close, only three things are guaranteed:  Finals, Doo Dah Day, and Greek Week.  And the last item is this week.
Greek Week 2010 kicked off on Saturday with Community Service Day, but the week’s biggest event was Sunday night in Fenton COurt. Â Lip Sync, the most highly coveted Greek competition, brought five of the six chapters at MC to the stage. Â The chapters were given the task of finding songs between the late 80′s and 1999 (The Nickelodeon period, I guess you could say), but there was no actual theme for the night. Â However, most chapters followed the Greek Week theme, which is Nickelodeon. Read more…
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Monday, April 12, 2010
Categories: Campus, Entertainment, Greek Life
Tags: Alpha Xi Delta, AZD, Chi Omega, College, Delta Tau Delta, DTD, Greek Week, Lambda Chi Alpha, Lip Sync, LXA, Marietta, Ohio, SK, Writing on the Mall, XO< Sigma Kappa
20 Students Show Up to AG Silver: Who's to Blame?
I was one of those 20 that went. Â It was quite sad to only see 20 students and staff there. Â AG Silver had a great performance.
A friend and I talked with one of the band members after the show, and all he could ask is where everybody was. Â Well…where was everybody?
I understand that there are several underlying factors. Â One, it’s the weekend before Thanksgiving. Â Everybody is working on projects or just staying in and getting ready to go home for a bit. Â Also, there was a performance in the theater by Jay Sefton of “The Most Mediocre Story Never Told”. Â There were a lot of good college football games on, and bands brought in by CUB can be hit-or-miss.
However, I think what it came down to was publicity for the event. Â Most people only heard about AG Silver when I mentioned that they were performing. Â Posters were put out, but it was a very passive advertising method. Â Also, by this point in the year, students have been bombarded with poster and flyer after poster and flyer. Â They’re all over the place, and blend into each other.
I think another problem was that there is the stigma that a Club 21 event is a pay event. Â Let me inform everybody that it is free to attend ANY Club 21 event the college hosts. Â The only charge comes if you are over the age of 21 and decide to purchase a wristband. Â The experience is not detracted from if you are under 21.
So how could CUB improve attendance? Â Why did, say, Blessid Union of Souls do so well compared to AG Silver. Â Well, for one, Blessid played at the beginning of the semester as part of Welcome Back Bash. Â Freshmen were heavily encouraged to go as part of their First Year Experience classes. Â And yes, Blessid does have name recognition. Â But looking past that, what did CUB do differently?
For one, they advertised in every form. Â RSS feed? Â Yep. Â Facebook Event? Â Yep. Â Rock? Â Pretty sure they painted it. Â Banner on Gilman? Â Yep. Â Word of mouth? Â Most CUB members wore shirts with the concert info on it. Â Table Tents? Â On every table in Gilman and Izzy’s. Â And yes, there were posters that were hung up. Â Also, advertising was put out more than two days before the event.
CUB does a lot of good work. Â So don’t think I’m bashing them. Â I’m just sharing ideas to help all organizations, not just CUB, advertise events better.
I will run any press release for an event at Marietta College, no matter which organization wrote it. Â Just send it to me (check the contact page) and I’ll check it and post it if I think it meets my criteria.
Let me finish by asking this question. Â Why didn’t you go to AG Silver’s concert?
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Monday, November 23, 2009
Categories: Campus, Entertainment
Tags: Advertising, AG Silver, Blessid Union of Souls, College, College Union Board, Concert, CUB, Gathering Place, Marietta, Music, Ohio, Writing on the Mall
Live from Relay for Life!
Writing on the Mall will be live from Relay for Life at Marietta College from 8 PM until 2 AM. Â Watch our Facebook Page, either @WriteOnTheMall or @PatrickHahe for Twitter action, Our YouTube page for videos, or our Flickr page for photo uploads. Â There may be the occasional update on here, as well. Â STAY TUNED!
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Friday, November 13, 2009
Categories: Campus, Entertainment, Events, Live Blog, Students
Tags: College, Dyson Baudo Recreation Center, Liveblog, Marietta, Ohio, Relay for Life, Writing on the Mall
College Costumes for 2009
Here are the costumes I saw floating around here at Marietta College. Â Enjoy!
P.S. – Want your costume added? Â Hit me up with a picture at patrick_h at writingonthemall dot net.
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009
Categories: Campus, Entertainment
Tags: College, Costumes, Halloween, Marietta, Ohio, Writing on the Mall
Halloween Celebrations Kick Off Today
Writing on the Mall is feeling the Halloween spirit a day early, since many celebrations kick off today.
The Academic Resource Center will be celebrating the occasion from 11 AM to 2 PM. Â Refreshments will be served.
Pumpkin Carving will be at the Gathering Place tonight for Friday Night Fever. Â Festivities begin at 10 PM. Â Pumpkins will be provided by Lambda Chi Alpha
Haunted Hermann is from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Hermann Fine Arts center. Â Either donate canned goods, $1, or warm clothes to be admitted. Â Haunted Hermann is sponsored by APO, A&H Council, Kappa Pi, and Charles Sumner Harrison Organization.
College Union Board, National Broadcasting Society, and A&H Council will be hosting a Halloween Party at the Gathering Place Saturday night starting at 7 PM. Â There will be a costume contest, classic horror films, and more to enjoy. Â This event runs until 1 AM.
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Friday, October 30, 2009
Categories: Arts and Humanities, Campus, Entertainment
Tags: A&H Council, Academic Resource Center, APO, Charles Sumner Harrison Organization, College, College Union Board, CUB, Gathering Place, Halloween, Hermann Fine Arts Center, Kappa Pi, Marietta, Ohio, Writing on the Mall
CUB Events Added, Concerts Updated
CUB has graciously given us a heads up on the first half of their Fall programming line-up.
The biggest name of all the names is Blessid Union of Souls, which you may remember from their 90′s hits “I Believe” and “Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me)”. Â The band is coming off of a 5 year hiatus and has moved in a new direction, but should still be a big hit for the campus crowd.
The usual Cedar Point trip is September 19th.
Also, I have updated the Concert listing page, so check out all those concerts that happen right before returning to campus. Â Classes start August 24th. Â (P.S. – there is a countdown clock here on the left side of the page).
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Categories: Campus, Entertainment, Events, Site
Tags: Blessid Union of Souls, Cedar Point, Class, College, Concert, Concerts, CUB, fall, Hey Leonardo, I Believe, Marietta, Ohio, September, She Likes Me for Me, Writing on the Mall
April Fool's Hits Marcolian…A Day Late
The writers for the Marcolian decided to have some April Fool’s Day fun for this week’s edition. Â The paper copy came out on Thursday.
Subjects of the pranks are the new Planetarium and the protected structure by Dyson-Baudo Rec Center.
In the first story, the Planterarium will be torn down, as it’s been a “Complete utter mistake.”
The second story says that students are stuck waiting for a Marietta College bus that will never arrive.
They’re alright reads. Â Better than the college PR that currently fills the Marcolian (for the most part) now.
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Friday, April 3, 2009
Categories: Campus, Entertainment
Tags: Anderson-Hancock Planetarium, April Fools, Bus, Dyson Baudo Recreation Center, Legacy Library, Marcolian, Marietta, Marietta College, Ohio, Writing on the Mall
Justice Coming to Marietta
Justice, a music duo from France, is coming to Marietta. I don’t know much about them, other than I do have one song from them, called “D.A.N.C.E.” It’s pretty good. They’re a club group, so be ready to dance if you go.
It’s Saturday night, starting at 8 PM. The night is co-sponsored by CUB and Charles Sumner Harrison Organization.
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Friday, February 6, 2009
Categories: Campus, Entertainment, Music
Tags: Charles Sumner Harrison Organization, College Union Board, CSHO, CUB, France, G-Spot, Gathering Place, Justice, Marietta, Marietta College, Music, Ohio, Writing on the Mall
Bernadette Pauley Coming to Marietta
Comedian Bernadetta Pauley is in Marietta Saturday night at 10 PM in the Gathering Place to entertain students as part of the Welcome Back Weekend festivities that CUB has been put together. If you’ve never heard of her before, she has been all over the place. According to her website, she has been on Raw Dog Comedy (on Sirius XM Radio), Comedy Central, VH1, and other shows/movies.
Check out a video of a set she performed and a clip reel after the jump.
Posted by Patrick_H Date: Friday, January 16, 2009
Categories: Campus, Entertainment, Events
Tags: Bernadette Pauley, College Union Board, Comedian, COmedy, Comedy Central, CUB, Gathering Place, Marietta, Marietta College, Raw Dog Comedy, Sirius XM, VH1, Writing on the Mall
