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Netflix really seems like a loser to me. Every production company has a streaming service now, and most make better content than Netflix. Sure Netflix’s app mig

Netflix really seems like a loser to me. Every production company has a streaming service now, and most make better content than Netflix. Sure Netflix’s app might be better, but it’s also twice as expensive as every other service. I guess that Netflix’s “replace basic cable” package might work for people who only want one service, but from what I remember most people did not especially like basic cable. Wouldn’t be surprised if Netflix is gone in 20 years.

enos_feedler 4y ago
Is netflix really aiming to “replace basic cable”? Seems more like replace hbo and a couple of random other channels. The price is outrageous, but I feel like we are getting to the point where market penetration involves business deals where a fraction of the sub is covered by someone else (carrier, credit card, etc).
- colinmhayes 4y ago
  Look at the number of shows they produce compared to other services. On mobile so not going to link, but easy enough to find. Pretty clear to me that their strategy is to have a show for everyone’s favorite niche. Compare that to HBO where the strategy is to create shows that are actually good. 90% of Netflix is crap, and that’s not to say they don’t make good shows, they just make so many bad ones.
  - bredren 4y ago
    This is Apple TV+ strategy too. Though there have still been some expensive looking clunkers.
  - corobo 4y ago
    They're also kinda the Google of TV in my mind too at this point No point getting into a Netflix original, it won't make it to s02
    - corobo 4y ago
      Should have probably given some evidence or whatever rather than appearing butthurt Admittedly this list includes shows that have ended in addition to those that were cancelled. Those will mostly have more than one season. Pinch of salt. src: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ended_Netflix_original_programming https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ended_Netflix_original...
- scarface74 4y ago
  HBO never had the low good content/crap ratio that Netflix has.
jollofricepeas 4y ago
Agreed. Netflix’s only option at this point is to merge with a large IP holder meaning Paramount (formerly ViacomCBS). Netflix was not as aggressive as they needed to be in locking down must-see brands to 1) keep subscribers or 2) better negotiate with the content players.
- calvinmorrison 4y ago
  Well it turns out a lot of the big players own huge swaths of IP and ramping up a streaming service is a lot less hard. Netflix tried to build a moat with it's own movies, but I guess so did the Hallmark channel
  - hackerfromthefu 4y ago
    Netflix also tried to be more PC than PC and drove a lot of mainstream viewers away. Perhaps they thought being over the top in culture wars would be their moat? Or perhaps they were just drinking koolaid?
devmunchies 4y ago
Executives at Netflix should have known their stock was overvalued and used it as leverage in acquiring other companies with 100% stock. $300 billion was a lot of money they could have used. I was saying this 6 months ago on Twitter and was saying it here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29787420 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29787420 In hindsight stock performance was the biggest advantage they had over competitors, now they have to compete with companies with bigger catalogs and more cash flow (e.g. disney parks)

enos_feedler 4y ago

Is netflix really aiming to “replace basic cable”? Seems more like replace hbo and a couple of random other channels. The price is outrageous, but I feel like we are getting to the point where market penetration involves business deals where a fraction of the sub is covered by someone else (carrier, credit card, etc).

colinmhayes 4y ago
Look at the number of shows they produce compared to other services. On mobile so not going to link, but easy enough to find. Pretty clear to me that their strategy is to have a show for everyone’s favorite niche. Compare that to HBO where the strategy is to create shows that are actually good. 90% of Netflix is crap, and that’s not to say they don’t make good shows, they just make so many bad ones.
- bredren 4y ago
  This is Apple TV+ strategy too. Though there have still been some expensive looking clunkers.
- corobo 4y ago
  They're also kinda the Google of TV in my mind too at this point No point getting into a Netflix original, it won't make it to s02
  - corobo 4y ago
    Should have probably given some evidence or whatever rather than appearing butthurt Admittedly this list includes shows that have ended in addition to those that were cancelled. Those will mostly have more than one season. Pinch of salt. src: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ended_Netflix_original_programming https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ended_Netflix_original...
scarface74 4y ago
HBO never had the low good content/crap ratio that Netflix has.

jollofricepeas 4y ago

Agreed. Netflix’s only option at this point is to merge with a large IP holder meaning Paramount (formerly ViacomCBS). Netflix was not as aggressive as they needed to be in locking down must-see brands to 1) keep subscribers or 2) better negotiate with the content players.

calvinmorrison 4y ago
Well it turns out a lot of the big players own huge swaths of IP and ramping up a streaming service is a lot less hard. Netflix tried to build a moat with it's own movies, but I guess so did the Hallmark channel
- hackerfromthefu 4y ago
  Netflix also tried to be more PC than PC and drove a lot of mainstream viewers away. Perhaps they thought being over the top in culture wars would be their moat? Or perhaps they were just drinking koolaid?

devmunchies 4y ago

Executives at Netflix should have known their stock was overvalued and used it as leverage in acquiring other companies with 100% stock. $300 billion was a lot of money they could have used. I was saying this 6 months ago on Twitter and was saying it here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29787420 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29787420 In hindsight stock performance was the biggest advantage they had over competitors, now they have to compete with companies with bigger catalogs and more cash flow (e.g. disney parks)