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Ask HN: Would we be better off if Netflix maintained a monopoly?
The state of streaming today is bad because you have to pay so many different services. If Netflix could have somehow prevented competition would we be better off? The consumer could pay only one sub and watch everything there.
Do you think in some cases a monopoly is justifiable and even good for society?
- wmf 5y agoIf Netflix had everything it would have to cost far more, like $50-$100 per month. Structural separation of production and distribution combined with compulsory licensing would probably be a better solution.
- dane-pgp 5y ago> Structural separation of production and distribution combined with compulsory licensing would probably be a better solution. I'm surprised the EU hasn't thought of this yet, especially if they could then force distributors to list/recommend/stream a certain percentage of EU-produced cultural works. As a compromise, there could be an exclusivity period for any first-party content, after which the compulsory licensing system would apply so that third-parties could distribute it. The license fee paid by the third-party would have to be capped to the rate used internally. Without proper structural separation that number could be subject to some Hollywood accounting, but this would be something for legislators to fix later.