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Netflix CEO Discusses Future of TV

175_90_NetflixNetflix’s brash and brilliant CEO, Reed Hastings, is never shy about sharing his opinion. While that’s gotten him into trouble at times, Hastings’ outspoken nature also makes for fascinating insights into his vision of the future of entertainment. Hastings recently posted a paper on Netflix’s investor relations site. Here are some highlights.

Hastings on the future of television

“Eventually, as linear TV is viewed less, the spectrum it now uses on cable and fiber will be reallocated to expanding data transmission. Satellite TV subscribers will be fewer, and mostly be in places where high-speed Internet (cable or fiber) is not available. The importance of highspeed Internet will increase.”

 

Hastings on Netflix’s focus

“We don’t and can’t compete on breadth with Comcast, Sky, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Sony, or Google. For us to be hugely successful we have to be a focused passion brand. Starbucks, not 7-Eleven. Southwest, not United. HBO, not Dish . . .  [Our members’] decision moments are, say, on Thursday 7:15 pm or Monday 2:40 am when our member wants to relax, enjoy a shared experience with friends and family, or is just bored. They could play a video game, surf the web, read a magazine, channel surf their MVPD/DVR system, buy a pay-per-view movie, put on a DVD, turn on Hulu or Amazon Prime Instant Video, or they could tap on Netflix. We want our members to choose Netflix in these moments of truth.”

 

Hastings on Netflix arch-rival HBO

“We have more content, more viewing, a broader brand proposition, are on-demand, on all devices, and are less expensive, so we estimate that we can be 2 to 3 times larger than current linear-HBO, or 60-90 million domestic members . . . While we are passing HBO in domestic members in 2013, it will be several years before we are peers with them in terms of Original programming, Emmy awards, and international members. It wouldn’t be surprising to us if HBO does their best work and achieves their highest growth over the next decade, spurred on by the Netflix competition and the Internet TV opportunity.”

[via PaidContent]

4 Responses to “Netflix CEO Discusses Future of TV”

  1. Member [Join Now]
    ChadCronin [chadcronin]

    I think HBO was great growning up for the new movie on Saturday night. Then the late 90’s and early 00’s for originals. I feel like that has mostly fallen off now. True Blood is all that is left for me. I mostly now can watch content I want online as costs for Cable have gone up a lot. I still think Directv is a good way to go as I have it at my mothers place as she isn’t too much into the streaming world. I live in Iowa and I would say there still can be net issues and so sometime it takes too long to stream something, but as technology and networks improve I wouldn’t mind doing everything that way. Now if Netflix could air current seasons of network shows, I’d be thrilled.

  2. Visitor [Join Now]
    Jamie [visitor]

    HBO definitely has fallen off on the original content side. But they had such a great run with the Sopranos, Wire, Deadwood, Sex and the City etc that it’s hard to live up to that. Their current line up does not, and with on demand etc, the Saturday night premier is very 1995.

  3. Member [Join Now]
    trekster

    “Future of TV”? I wish someday soon Netflix or someone would offer streaming tv channels. Not all like the like we are forced in taking as a “package” deal. I have longed for Ala-cart TV for many years. I have dish but only because my wife can not give up a few channels. We pay about $55 for hand full of channels we watch. Yes it is true I have 150+ channels but over 90% unwatched stuff I “HAVE” to buy! If you figure it the way they put it I only pay 37 cents per channel. But if you only ever use about 10 then you pay $5.50 per channel. Someone please make Ala-cart streaming TV soon. You will do well. I will be one of the 1st to sign up.

    • Visitor [Join Now]
      KatyRed1980 [visitor]

      We are on the same side in this battle. I have refused to succumb to the blackmail that is the cable/fiber and satellite television syndicate. My family keeps asking but as long as I’m paying the bills I will not pay for the 90% I would not EVER watch.