Verizon Eyeing Netflix?

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The rumor making the rounds today is that Verizon wants to buy Netflix. What do you guys think? Would that be good news or bad news?

Verizon has made it clear it wants to get into the streaming business, and according to a report from DealReporter, the troubled Netflix could be just the ticket, especially since its stock has fallen off a cliff in recent months after a series of disastrous moves that have included raising prices and a now-abandoned plan to split its DVD rental and streaming businesses in two.
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I think I understand their reasoning and it might work.

But the knee-jerk emotional response is, "I have their TV service already, and they havn't upgraded or added jack to it in ages how can they do anything other than screw up Netflix?"

As stated though, it might give them the needed size and leverage to offer some real content.

But then again, they are abandoning expanding the FIOS network. Are they seriously thinking about Netflix long term being streaming over wireless? That doesn't bode well for high def offerings.
 
I would much rather they stay seperate, but if this means I get another option other than direct tv for out of market nfl games, then YES PLEASE!
 
Good thing Verizon keeps expending their fiber optic network to stream all of Netflix's... oh wait.
 
I'm not sure sure that I like the idea of the same company owning the lines and the content delivered over those lines.

Comcast/NBC was creepy enough (and foretold by 30 Rock). These companies need to be broken apart, not conglomerated.
 
ICOM said:
For what purpose?
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Control most likely. To what, I don't know.

#1 Control bandwidth on their network.
#2 Control content on other networks.
#3 Destroy a service that competes with your service as well as allied services, like Comcast. Remember they entered an agreement.
#4 Rake in money from a popular and well established service.
#5 For the LoLz.

Could be any one of those, or all of the above.
 
oh whats that??? you want to add the $30 2 gig data plan??? oh and you want to stream netflix? that will require the $20 netflix package which also requires the $60 8 gig data plan too..... but wait, we will throw in some free lube to make our butt raping easier to take.....
 
Advil said:
I think I understand their reasoning and it might work.

But the knee-jerk emotional response is, "I have their TV service already, and they havn't upgraded or added jack to it in ages how can they do anything other than screw up Netflix?"

As stated though, it might give them the needed size and leverage to offer some real content.

But then again, they are abandoning expanding the FIOS network. Are they seriously thinking about Netflix long term being streaming over wireless? That doesn't bode well for high def offerings.
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Well they could realize that its a weak spot in there company and instead of (shooting in the dark) they want to adapt a already good company and its technology to there network.

then again it could just be greed and they want to kill something...:rolleyes:
 
if you use netflix we wont add that data to your monthly usage.
end run about neutrality.
 
Buy up your competitors and rule the world. Kind of sounds like Google.
 
Hop-Scotch said:
How would any of this work with data caps?
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These morons would just tell you to use wi-fi then whenever possible. Oh sure, use a STATIONARY wi-fi hotspot with my MOBILE phone. :rolleyes:

Verizon recently launched their own streaming service called "Verizon Video" for $10 a month. It costs more than Netflix and has a far smaller catalog. They probably realize how much of an embarrassing failure it is and want to gobble up the competition that's making them feel so stupid right now.
 
tubular said:
BAD NEWS! VERY BAD NEWS!
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Not really.

With any luck, Verizon will screw up Netflix more so then already. There's already some companies out there who's thinking of competing with Netflix anyway. Someone is going to pop up and make their own Netflix eventually.
wra18th said:
Buy up your competitors and rule the world. Kind of sounds like Google.
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Except that Google offers their services for free. I can't think of anything from Google that I have to buy. Google works with ads, which I couldn't care what they show me.

Also remember that Google uses services like Google maps and Android to ensure customers will continue to use www.google.com, which is how I think they make 90% of their money.

Verizon offers a service, which you pay real money. A service which we rely on to connect to these Google services. A service that can be limited, and charge for as much as they want cause of contracts. Making you pay for stuff that is essential free for them, like text messaging.
 
how is ftc not stopping verizon? didn't they just sign exclusive deals with major movie studios and comcast and etc for movies/ tv show deals?
 
With Verizon getting out of the broadband business it doesn't sound like a good business decision. If they were dumping their cable TV channels and choosing instead to just deliver internet/netflix it might make sense. But, they're just not expanding any further on their fibre network which kills off any concept that they'd be bundling internet+netflix. I mean, buying netflix and then not charging it towards a data cap for Verizon customers would make perfect sense but they're move of not expanding the fios network just makes that silly. That sort of move would smell of desperation.
 
TheBlackAngel said:
oh whats that??? you want to add the $30 2 gig data plan??? oh and you want to stream netflix? that will require the $20 netflix package which also requires the $60 8 gig data plan too..... but wait, we will throw in some free lube to make our butt raping easier to take.....
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^^ THIS!
 
Doesnt Verizon already offer something in the way of Netflix called OnDemand? Why wouldnt they just increase the amount of movies/tv shows and offer a web interface.

Does VZ really want to get into the DVD rental business?
 
Ashbringer said:
Not really.

With any luck, Verizon will screw up Netflix more so then already. There's already some companies out there who's thinking of competing with Netflix anyway. Someone is going to pop up and make their own Netflix eventually.


Except that Google offers their services for free. I can't think of anything from Google that I have to buy. Google works with ads, which I couldn't care what they show me.

Also remember that Google uses services like Google maps and Android to ensure customers will continue to use www.google.com, which is how I think they make 90% of their money.

Verizon offers a service, which you pay real money. A service which we rely on to connect to these Google services. A service that can be limited, and charge for as much as they want cause of contracts. Making you pay for stuff that is essential free for them, like text messaging.
Click to expand...

Google works by selling your personal life to those that want to know what you are doing.
 
Meh... it's the way things are going... mega corporations are buying up and taking over everything.. either mergers, buyouts, acquisitions. It sucks cuz in the end it means the consumer gets screwed, but what can we do.

Just think on this one, The most profitable team in the NHL .. is now owned by not just one, but two cable/phone/internet companies.
 
If this goes through it's very likely my subscription will stay canceled.
 
I think they're following Dish's example of buying Blockbuster for the contracts and streaming options. This is gonna suck. I'd imagine that, like Dish, unless you subscribe to their pay TV plans you're SOL to get streaming.
 
And people are concerned about AT&T? This plus the recent tid bits about the Comcast spectrum licensing.
 
No. This is a bad idea. If Verizon or anyone else gets their mits on it say goodbye to Ad Free watching. They would shove ads down our throats for a service we already pay for.
 
It's funny that not too long ago netflix was a huge company and could have been considered a buyer of smaller companies... now after several months of great ideas netflix is possibly up for sale or acquisition...
 
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