[yequalsx]

I don't think Netflix will be around as an independent company for more than 5 years. Netflix doesn't have a single advantage save one. It has an installed user base. I'm a Netflix user but I wouldn't think twice about switching to another company. I'm on the verge of using Amazon Prime and ditching Netflix. I think even the installed user base isn't much of an advantage.

Netflix's streaming isn't more innovative and Google's streaming or Amazon's streaming. Netflix's advantage used to be to get people DVDs cheaply and quickly. That's not an advantage to take them into the future. Unless they can find a way to stream movies cheaper than Amazon I don't see how they can survive as an independent.

I think Microsoft should buy Netflix and B&N to compete with Apple, Amazon, and Google in the tablet/content space. As an independent company they are dead in the water.

EDIT: fixed typos

[SoftwareMaven]

That's exactly what this move is trying to fix.

[ericd]

Customer base is a BIG advantage if they're going to start signing up original content. They're playing to their strengths. Amazon is large, but Netflix is massively larger in terms of watchers. As a producer, which would you sign up with?

[seanalltogether]

Whoever gives you the most money.

[ericd]

I don't think so. A lot of producers/actors don't like playing to an empty room, even if they're being paid well. It's too demoralizing.

[chrisdroukas]

Wouldn't this move count as first-mover advantage, then?

[yequalsx]

I don't think so. There is zero chance that Netflix can produce enough original content to give it an advantage by producing shows. It is easy for Amazon, Google, or Apple to pay for exclusive content if that were to become necessary.

Netflix has very little cash in comparison to it's competition. I'm glad they are trying to remain distinctive and keep innovating but any of their competitors can simply buy a studio and do the same thing.

It's possible Netflix sees the future by becoming like a TV channel but for the internet. And have people pay a monthly price to view this TV channel. Some other content producer would be another channel. I don't see this model working out. Rather, I see producers selling their shows to content distributors like Amazon, Apple, and Netflix and letting them fight over subscribers. If this is the case then Netflix has no advantage.