“Netflix’s rapid subscriber growth could make it a formidable competitor to iTunes, and an attractive acquisition candidate for Apple,” Sanjay Sanghoee writes for Fortune.
“Streaming video provider Netflix recently reported record subscriber growth of 2.3 million in the U.S. and 2.6 million internationally for the first quarter. The company now boasts 62 million subscribers worldwide,” Sanghoee writes. “Much of Netflix’s growth is being driven by its successful expansion overseas, as well as a rollout of new original programming series, such as Marvel’s Daredevil, Bloodline, and a renewal of existing hits like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. The company also stands to benefit from consumers who don’t want to be tied to expensive cable and satellite packages in order to secure their entertainment.”
“Netflix will need healthy amounts of cash in order to finance its foreseeable growth,” Sanghoee writes. “For these reasons, the company is ripe for acquisition, and a company like Apple would be remiss if it didn’t seriously look into a deal. Apple has both the means and motivation to acquire Netflix, and while the movie and television business may not be Apple’s prime focus, it certainly can’t afford to stand on the sidelines while a player like Netflix takes over the market.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Of course, this is why Apple bought Palm in order to “compete” in smartphones.
Don’t know about buying Netflix but I wouldn’t mind Apple having its own streaming video rental service like Netflix.
Cheap streaming video has a place in my entertainment system. Not really interested in a streaming music service unless it is VERY cheap.
Especially after the NFLX is up more than a hundred bucks since April and almost $200 since June 2014.
NOPE. Why does this one not go away?
Yearly (quarterly?…) article.
Netflix owns nothing, they stream rentals. Therefore what assets do they have: none!
That’s one of the stupidest comments I’ve read on this site in a while.
actually, silverhawk1 has a point. netflix’s contracts with content owners would likely be voided were the company to be sold, so their indigenous assets are quite low.
He didn’t say “quite low” he said “none!”.
Netflix produces their own content, Orange is the New Black being one and they are ramping up to do a lot more. I don’t think Apple wants to be responsible for “questionable” content. Everything they would directly product would be disturbingly G-rated, making Disney look like a porn studio. For that reason I’m not interested in Apple as a content maker in general.
Oh really, towering genius? How do resellers add huge margins to a product the don’t own without losing customers to competition? Sounds like Enron to me.
NFLX is for suckers who don’t understand the need for margins andj EPS growth.
The biggest asset anyone can have is a huge subscriber list. In the end, it’s all about people.
And after that are the contracts with content providers, original programming, and name recognition (Netflix is becoming synonymous with streaming video, much like “Kleenex” is to tissues).
i have never heard anyone use “netflix” instead of “streaming” or as a generic term in any way, the way people use “kleenex” for “tissue.”
Doesn’t really lend itself to that sort of use does it.
Actually, when Spotify just started becoming popular in the U.S., I heard several people call it “the Netflix of music”.
I always hear “is it on Netflix” or “it’s on Netflix” not “you can stream it”
Kleenex levels of name recognition? it’s getting there..
My original point of my comment was that it seems every few months an “Apple should buy Netflix” article pops up.
It would be nice if my 300 movies would stream like Netflix, meaning if internet is slow: start with crappy image to get it going and graduate up to my HD if possible. DUH. I’ve been fighting with my internet provider that only gives me 3-10MB download and HD requires 5-7MB to stream without interruption.
Well, it might explain why Apple bought Beats… Because they were late to the streaming party and Spotify’s brand had been established. (Not sure Beats is either but that’s another story).
Netflix is pretty damn good… And they have a pretty big library of streamable videos (they need more)… I really like their model, pay monthly and enjoy whatever you want…
I wouldn’t mind paying $10/month for a Netflix or Apple addon service that only streamed recently released movies, but streamed ALL of them. Tired of waiting for movies to show up in iTunes.
I can dream.
Netflix won’t get ALL the new releases, because other companies (HBO in particular) have exclusive contracts with the content providers. Basically if you want all new release movies, you will need subscriptions to Netflix, HBO Now, and a couple of others due to exclusive content contracts.
If Apple buys Netflix, will we be able to stream everything in the iTunes store for the same $8 per month?
No as the movie studios make more money from rentals and customers buying. You will just get all the crap B movies on streaming like on Netflix
I’m not sure how many of Netflix’s content deals would stay in place if Apple bought the company. And, for those that it owns (House of Cards) I can’t see Apple creating adult content, fearing for its reputation as a non-controversial company.
I suppose the one difference is that Netflix has made some decent shows and therefore has something of value that would make them worth buying.
I wish I could sit around all day and write stories about what Apple should buy with their money.
As soon as Apple buys Netflix it won’t be worth nearly as much as it is now. Netflix’s P/E is huge now and if Apple acquired it, I’d bet Apple’s P/E would only move up a tiny amount. Apple could probably put enough content deals together and challenge Netflix but I’m not sure if Apple would get back much. If Apple actually purchased Netflix I’m certain Wall Street would start envisioning all sorts of growth problems or something and they’d claim that Netflix and Apple is a bad mix. I have a feeling Apple would lose out. I think anything that Apple might buy will suddenly become a “problem” for Apple investors.
FYI – Netflix has season 1 of “Halt and Catch Fire” from amc. The drama is about a company’s challenges bringing their first PC to market in 1983. There is a lot of arguing with humor thrown in every now and then. Many of you will probably find it somewhat familiar.
Netfilix well good dramas but awfull movies some are absolute crap!!’ And thats like 70% of the movies on it. Its not worth buying Now TV and Sky have a better selection
Wow! You sure know a lot about movies! You should totally go into movie making and show Netflix your great movies and they would totally have to buy them or something. No more of those ‘awfullll’ movies with not enough letter ‘L’ in the name.
Netfilix – yes that isn’t for sale
Personally, Netflix is fantastic. And I am told here in Canada we are missing so much more than the US.
I’d hate to have Netflix go the way of eWorld and (dot)Mac. Apple would find a way to hype it, then ignore it, then abandon it, then eliminate it.
True, Netflix is doing just fine without Apple.
And the Netflix special content shows, I can not see Apple bothering to hire and produce any series to show at all.
The problem with Netflix is the P/E multiple. The stock is very overpriced. Apple would pay too much.
Once Netflix has spent all of the cash it raised from its IPO, and is completely broke from its failed business model, then Apple can buy the assets at a fire sale. Or not.
So this writer has experience and accomplishments running a MultiBillion dollar company? If so then yeah Apple should do what he says. 😉
The problem is Netflix is competing with Hollywood studios by producing content, and by offering a service that competes with their cable channels. So if Apple bought Netflix it would be setting itself up against all those other cable stations and content providers. Bad move. Not going to happen. Apple needs to keep making deals with Disney, Paramount, Fox and the rest, and they aren’t so big on Netflix.
Really, I don’t see things your way sorry.
Netflix buys up content and finds shows that have not found a network to run on. One can call this producing but its not quite the same. Also, Netflix has made deals with Hollywood already, Fox and Paramount and Disney could also.
Netflix is a streaming provider. It can produce or play whom ever wishes to team with them.
If Apple were to buy them out, not at this time as they stock is too high, I would imagine Apple to let Netflix continue as they were.
Yeah, let’s think about all this.
How many want Apple to build a TV?
Become an ISP?
Be a content provider?
Be a content creator?
Build a friggin’ car?????
No, they can’t be great at all of this.
Maybe better than most, but at what cost?
Sorry, guys, but Apple is plenty big enough for me already.
I’d rather they reach closer to perfection in their current arenas instead of one step forward and everyone trippin’ when they fall two steps back.
OK…never-mind. Go ahead and dream.
Apple has forgotten how to build a desktop computer.
The MacPro is an embarrassment, and obsolete at this point.
Yeah and lets get the bugs out of OS X, Apple.
Focus on what you were great at.
Feel things are slipping.
Everyone is just complaining, but seriously: it would make more sense than the Beats acquisition.
Does Apple need to own Netflix?
Apple didn’t buy Palm, so I guess I agree with MDN.
iTunes is totally different than Netflix. And iTunes is so much more.
You can buy or rent shows on iTunes and the downloaded files are yours. Where as, Netflix streams them only.
You’re right, let’s let Google buy it, so they can fuck it up with ads and Google+ just like they did with YouTube.