Netflix, they’re coming for you: IMDb is launching a FREE streaming service

Netflix, brace yourself. That monopoly position you have is coming under threat. For a while now, we've been collectively (and lovingly, mind you) transferring the costs every month, because yes, what would we do nowadays without Netflix? None Undercover, none When They See Us, none Riverdale… The horror. When I think about it, I should be scratching my head more about the fact that I'm still paying for my ‘normal’ TV subscription. I hardly use that anymore.

And that's probably going to decrease even more. Because one of my favorite sites, IMDb, fully known as the International Movie Database, is coming out with a streaming service, aptly named IMDb TV. Oh yes. And hello: it's going to be completely free. That offer is going to be very nice: they promise to triple the content of Netflix. Holy sh… Great for the choice stress, I'm already taking over an hour to finally choose something. Luxury problems. The cherry on top: we are (together with Belgium) the first country in Europe where it will be launched. Hatsekidee. Thank you, IMDb. Or rather thank you, Amazon, since that's the billion-dollar company behind it. Not exactly the least indeed.

If you've never heard of this site, let me give you a little introduction. As the name suggests, you can find everything here about movies, series, and documentaries. There are a lot of votes, and that's always a reliable source for me to check if a movie is really that good. Be sure to read the IMDb top 100 all time if you want to compile an ultimate movie bucket list. I also always read the trivia after watching a movie, so you can occasionally surprise someone with a fun fact. Did you know, for example, that the coke in The Wolf of Wall Street was actually finely ground vitamin B? Or that someone during the filming of Titanic gave the entire crew food poisoning? Does this help you? Absolutely not, of course, but it's fun nonetheless.

But well, we get this completely for free. Nada. No monthly statements. There is a small downside to this, which is fair: yes, we do get ads from time to time. But they are sporadic and much shorter than the commercial breaks we are used to. You won't hear me complaining, especially when you hear which networks IMDb has a deal with: Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Entertainment, and MGM Studios. Therefore, we can expect films like Oscar-winner La La Land, but also very old ones like Donnie Darko and A Knight’s Tale. And again: completely for nothing. Maybe they chose our country because of our stereotypical Dutch stinginess. Touché, IMDb, it works.

Yes, I hear you thinking: when does this whole festivity start in the Netherlands? Uh, yes… Unfortunately, I can't give you a concrete date, but dear viewers, it will definitely be this year. You still have enough time to cancel your KPN, Ziggo, or whatever you watch. In 2020, we will all be watching online.