“Netflix will see its U.S. subscriber growth slow dramatically in 2015 as new Internet video services from HBO and others hit the market, research firm Strategy Analytics predicts,” Patrick Seitz reports for Bloomberg. “Netflix will add 30% fewer subscribers next year than this year, Strategy Analytics’ Michael Goodman said in a note Monday.”
“Netflix likely will add 4.1 million net new subscribers in the U.S. in 2015, compared with an estimated 5.91 million net new subscribers in 2014, Goodman said. He forecasts Netflix will end 2014 with 37.6 million paid subscribers in the U.S.,” Seitz reports. “‘The two primary factors contributing to Netflix slowing growth in the U.S. is growing (over-the-top subscription video on demand) market saturation and HBO’s entrance into the OTT video market,’ he said. Time Warner is expected to launch its stand-alone HBO streaming video service in April, according to Fortune.”
“Goodman also predicted that Google and Apple will launch subscription video-on-demand services in 2015,” Seitz reports. “‘Google and Apple want a share of this revenue,’ Goodman said. ‘Perhaps one of these two will acquire Hulu in 2015?'”
Read more in the full article here.
Hulu is owned by Comcast, Disney, and Fox, why pray would they sell it to Apple or Google?
Laureen Jobs is the largest shareholder of Disney, I believe.
And the CEO of Disney sits on Apple’s Board of Directors.
7.7% of Disney stock translates to 2.46% of Hulu stock. Hulu has no shareholders outside of Comcast, Disney, and Fox. They aren’t about to sell to Apple or Google. That’s just foolish talk.
Hulu has had a bumpy ride. Setting aside the problem of it’s stupid name, the owners have been up and down about what to do with it. For example, from 2013:
Hulu Owners Call Off Sale, Instead Pledging to Invest to Take On Rivals
The companies have clashed repeatedly over Hulu for years
They considered selling it off in 2011 as well. So who knows what its future will be. It does have some decent programming. But the question is whether it’s worth paying for the premium stuff.
Nothing stupid about the name:”In Mandarin, Hulu has two interesting meanings, each highly relevant to our mission. The primary meaning interested us because it is used in an ancient Chinese proverb that describes the Hulu as the holder of precious things. It literally translates to “gourd,” and in ancient times, the Hulu was hollowed out and used to hold precious things. The secondary meaning is “interactive recording.” We saw both definitions as appropriate bookends and highly relevant to the mission of Hulu.”
This is stupid:
Thank you Sucker. I use obscure Chinese words of my own, so I can appreciate. I figured ‘hulu’ was just another messed up word some marketing dummy pulled out of the wrong orifice. “Google is a kewl name and they’re HUGE! Let’s use a goofy name of our own!”
Netflix has been seriously pissing me off lately:
Netflix shines a flashlight into the eyes of its viewers
http://jimlynch.com/television/netflix-shines-a-flashlight-into-the-eyes-of-its-viewers/
lol, I read your “conversation.” If I had been the Netflix associate who handled your complaint call, I would have advised you not to drop acid on a school night.
If their Internet service offered something substantially more than the iffy, B grade stuff I might give Netflix another look. But I got bored with the boring and dumped it a couple years back. I’d almost rather go back to the disc-in-the-mail version. I don’t get what’s the big draw for their Internet streaming. Yawn.
Netflix has already lost a third of its max share price. It could be that the bubble has burst and it will be all down hill from there.
It’s has its ups and down so it may not be game over. The problem will companies with only growth and no profit it that the minute growth slows down then it gets hit bad.
I like Netflix but I doubt it will be a player in the long run.
Netflix is an innovative company, don’t count them out.
Hulu and Netflix are simply brands tied to server farms and a few contracts. They have nothing that could not easily be duplicated quickly.
I disagree. Duplicating this service for an audience that pays $8 per month would be very difficult.
Sure, the service can be duplicated but not at that price.
Netflix may not have the latest and greatest content but, given what they have and their price point, they offer a value that is almost untouchable.
Please do it Apple but price it competitively
Competitive pricing from Apple? They’re not going to change their model now.
I don’t see how Apple would give Netflix any competition because Apple doesn’t seem to be interested in subscription models as they don’t generate enough revenue. I think the only reason Apple is going to start a Beats music subscription is to lure people back to downloading music, if that’s even possible. I’m sure that “Purchase” button will never be more than a click away.
I’m rather surprised that Netflix investors are starting to see that the company is really nothing but an online video store that could be duplicated by wealthier companies fairly easily. I honestly don’t understand how Wall Street is able to pump up Netflix value so easily with all that unlimited growth crap. I don’t want to see Apple put Netflix out of business but I would like to see Apple have some measure of subscription video content even if they charge more than Netflix but make it up in unique content.
Really? Here in the UK all I see on my ATV are US centric channels. Where is BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD etc etc. Sometimes I get the feeling that US companies have a a myopic view of the TV world.
The BBC is run by leftists and spews leftist propaganda. Talk about myopic! If you are watching anything but sports on the BBC, you are drinking the Kool-Aid.
Well Georg/George (glad you found your “e”), since your simplistic view of the world seems to require balance, how about half-an-hour on BBC, then half-an-hour on FOX? Alternating back and forth should resemble the broad spectrum of political views you so desperately need? Remember, if it ain’t left, it’s right, and if it ain’t right, it’s just wrong.
George is right-wing and spews right-wing propaganda.
Talk about myopic! If you are reading anything but sports by George, you are drinking the Kool-Aid.