Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

As of right now, 7 out of the all-categories top 10 are carrying the N logo, which denotes that Netflix is at the very least the exclusive distributor in the UK, though it may also be the commissioner. Five of the top 10 are serials, all of which are either distributed or outright commissioned by Netflix. Of these, two run to multiple seasons.

It’s a common misconception that streaming services are all about the movies - actually they are more interested in successful drama franchises because subsequent seasons of successful shows are a banker. They do go looking for low budget films produced by big Hollywood names who tend to be better known for acting but want to get in to directing or producing because they get a big name at relatively low cost but these really are schedule fillers (in broadcast parlance).

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

That's it though, the "N" logo realy only means Netflix is the UK distributer and nothing else.

It doesn't really matter though, the rise of streamers over the next couple of years will be a bit of a turmoil as each find their niche.

In truth I think it will take 10 yrs until things settle down and expect to see different companies ie Disney+ and WB merging their content.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

Hardly a sticking plaster, Den! The key to success for any streamer is original content. Sure, there is a lot of interest in archive material, but as you yourself have acknowledged, undue reliance on that by Britbox will not do anything for its popularity with potential subscribers.

Netflix is aware that the 'direct to consumer' approach increasingly being taken by owners of content will deplete its library of older material, which is why it is investing so heavily in original films and TV series. It must continue to do this in the short to medium term to stay ahead of the competition. As the market leader, it can afford to do this, but of course these eye-watering levels of investment will have to be scaled back at some stage in the future to ensure the financial stability of the company.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

It can mean distributor only, but they use the same logo on the stuff they’ve actually commissioned themselves. The Crown, Witcher and Lost In Space are all Netflix commissions (even though LIS was in independent development before Netflix picked it up).

I agree we’re in for a few years of turmoil and I don’t think the emerging model of individual studios selling their content direct to consumers is sustainable. What’s emerging is a whole pile of premium services that will be too expensive for most people to take all of them.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

I think in the UK, things are better for Netflix as it's only really Universal and Disney of the big studios here who are pulling their content from the streamers and even then, we don't know if that's 100% of it. Hence Friends will be on Netflix for some time!
That's not to undermine the potential removal of any BBC or ITV content from Netflix but I suspect that's less attractive in the UK as many will have viewed it through other platforms first.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

To be fair many of the BBC shows are in Neflix's most watched lists.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

Old Boy showing his true colours here. These aren’t football teams you develop undying loyalty to. Regardless of circumstance Netflix are always right.

Developing it’s own back catalogue at “eye watering” levels is actually quite reckless. Everyone in the supply chain knows how desperate they are and they have the chequebook out - this drives up supply side costs.

What is also ignored is that existing back catalogues of content have been put through the wringer multiple times on various distribution platforms and have developed over time. There’s plenty of garbage that’s come and gone over the decades - Netflix has absolutely no way of telling what will stand the test of time and what will sink without trace.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

Yes, well I guess we will always be able to rely on you for your doom and gloom attitude. Netflix will still be going quite nicely by 2035, which is more than we can say for our conventional scheduled channels.

I mean, reckless ? Really? Reckless is sitting on your laurels and watching your content being steadily taken away. The Netflix Originals are designed to replace that content. Yes, it's costly, but once they judge that their library is sufficiently attractive to ensure its position as market leader is secured, it will be able to reduce its spending on originals and start reducing its level of debt from subscriptions. This is a long-term project.

No doubt, had you been giving advice in Sky's early days, you would have been speculating heavily on their demise as well. You severely underestimate the determination and imagination of business to succeed. Netflix is going nowhere (but up) in my lifetime and is almost without doubt here for the long term.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

That’s entirely speculative given their debt. You are at the front of the queue to tell us how there will be a plethora of streamers, or for ease I’ll call them “Netflix alternatives” ready to join the market.

Only if the consumer judges the content to be sufficiently attractive will they be the market leader. Can they do that and service their debt against all this competition? A massive question mark that many hold.

I’m going to straight bat your straw man here and not play the ball.

Here we go folks. Business can succeed on imagination alone. Forget everything you know about competition, costs, revenues, profits, just imagine success and it’ll happen!

I’ll categorically say Netflix as it stands now won’t exist in 2035 without being acquired by a major content provider or merging with one. Everyone expects the market to consolidate and Netflix has nothing unique except for its debt.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

Er, they are the market leader. And even Disney, popular as they are, will have some considerable way to catch up before they pose the slightest threat to the dominance of Netflix.

Netflix is the streamer of choice for most, and it is you who is speculating because without adequate justification, you are predicting their demise.

---------- Post added at 15:57 ---------- Previous post was at 15:55 ----------

Ergo, you don't want to answer the question!

---------- Post added at 16:05 ---------- Previous post was at 15:57 ----------

Rupert Murdoch had the vision to ensure that his Sky project worked. A common feature of a successful entrepreneur is that they have vision.

Wishful thinking does not come into it, and once again, jfman, you are deliberately trying to twist my comments to mean something else.

There are different strategies Netflix could employ if it needed more income streams. Examples include carriage deals for selected shows to other content providers, additional pay-per view options, and even of course an advertisement funded option (although up until now, the CEO has ruled that out). The problem with your forecasts is that they are based on straight line projections and no interventions to change course or innovate.

We will see whose prediction comes true in 2035, but I suspect you will have scarpered from these forums long before then! :D

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

They may well be the market leader due to first mover advantage, however there's a huge graveyard of visionary companies who couldn't adapt to a competitive marketplace.

I'm quite sure I'll be here in 2035, if only to keep track of how often you move the goalposts between now and then.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

My goalposts are fixed. I'm afraid that your approach is always to take the contrary view.

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

Blockbuster were a visionary company when they had most of the market share in their day until other competitors came along and overtook them and whittled down their market share to diddly squat.

Look what happened to them......

OB would be wise not to underestimate market forces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockbuster_LLC

---------- Post added at 16:37 ---------- Previous post was at 16:36 ----------

Fixed goalposts are no good if you can't put the ball in the net..;)

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

Indeed. And if we look at media ownership 20 years ago compared to today, it’s massively different. AOL for instance once valued at $222bn ended up purchased by Verizon in 2015 for a mere $4.4bn. If you can’t continue to offer a cutting edge going forward it’s your business model under the gun. Not the “vision” you had fifteen years earlier.

If you want some more fun, albeit in a different sector, BlackBerry Ltd (formerly Research in Motion) are worth a look at their demise from a once mighty position in the market.

It is therefore with some irony that Old Boy accuses me of being the one lacking vision and assuming nothing will change.

The question for Netflix will be what does it offer that everyone else doesn’t?

Re: Netflix/Streaming Services
 

I agree with a lot of the points made here.