I don't know. I think Netflix has a good idea of what they'd like their future to be, but no clear path to get there. Their subscriber growth is slowing, and their content library is shrinking (and was always pretty anaemic outside of a few core territories). Being owned by Disney would give them guaranteed access to a AAA content catalogue, and far more firepower in reciprocal licensing negotiations. And for their part, Disney gets a ready-made, world-class streaming service.
While I'm apprehensive about the idea of this as a Netflix subscriber, I think it probably makes a fair bit of sense for both businesses.
Staggering costs like these are exactly why Disney is actually in a great position to start its own streaming service. It is already one of the biggest media companies in the world, and has ownership of tons of IP beloved worldwide.
I'm all for competition so I hope both companies succeed, but its pretty evident that Netflix needed Disney more than Disney needed Netflix.
I'm also all for the democratization of great content thats happening on YouTube et al.
My biggest question about Netflix is why wouldn't Disney just create their own service? Netflix seems like it can survive only if their are enough content producers that don't have enough content to create their own service (or partner with a bigger player).
They'd lose all the non-Netflix content. No other studio in their right mind is going to license it directly to Disney. Netflix is already a big enough competitor.
Is Disney planning to start their own Netflix-like service or are they planning to just open the online Disney store where it will only have Disney content. The latter doesn't seem like a proper Netflix competitor.
Netflix serves more than their own home-grown content.
Disney is going to lose this bout. Netflix's is more diversified than Disney and one has to ask would the actual consumer want to have two or three streaming services?
Netflix is doing anime, soon comic book movies (they bought Millar world) and they don't have the bricks and mortal politics that the studios have with theaters throughout the planet. i.e. Asia and religious countries.
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