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Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

nytimes.com

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Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#71

Post by sithadmin »

mortenjorck wrote: post #66

At another point, Netflix created a dedicated device through which to access its content, only to decide that adapting its service to everything from mobile phones to TV sets made more sense. (The Netflix device was spun out into its own company, Roku.) Pretty sure this is a factual error in the article. As far as I know, Roku existed as a consumer electronics company independent of Netflix for years before it produc…

If I recall correctly, the 'Netflix Player' was a partnership between Roku and Netflix. I suspect that the remark about Roku being 'spun out' is likely due to an misunderstanding about that partnership.

Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#72

Post by polpo »

mortenjorck wrote: post #66

At another point, Netflix created a dedicated device through which to access its content, only to decide that adapting its service to everything from mobile phones to TV sets made more sense. (The Netflix device was spun out into its own company, Roku.) Pretty sure this is a factual error in the article. As far as I know, Roku existed as a consumer electronics company independent of Netflix for years before it produc…

This is somewhat accurate. The Netflix Player was an internal Netflix project. Close to launch, Hastings realized that other device makers would balk at Netflix making their own hardware, so it became a Roku product. [1] Most articles I've seen about this say Netflix spun off Roku, but like you I remember they definitely existed as a company before that. Did they simply just transfer that whole department to Roku? Did they have any kind of relationship before that? It's a little murky.

[1] https://www.fastcompany.com/3004709/inside-netflixs-project-...

Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#73

Post by kelvin0 »

olalonde wrote: post #68
ergothus wrote: post #40

One of the best professional pieces of advice I've ever read said something like "Think you're indispensable? Do they know that?". It made me aware that often the people making the hiring/firing decisions aren't actually aware of my day-to-day. Rather, they know only the summary info. Those kudos to fellow employees and in-house "awards" that I'd been ignoring? Those are documentation that someone is worthwhile, and…

> It's not whether I'm a good performer, it's whether THEY THINK I'm a good performer. To play the devil's advocate, isn't that true of any employer (that wants good performers)? Do you believe Netflix's system is too subjective?

The important thing to gather from 'They think I'm a good performer' is to first try and understand your management. For example, in a coding shop where most employees are Software engineers (and also yours bosses) you have a higher probability that your yardstick and your bosses will be fairly close. However, having non-technical bosses is a bigger challenge, thus the need for you to demonstrate your 'worth' be means other than 'Yeah I just refactored FOO kernel code in BAR module and have 80% test coverage'.

Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#74

Post by gaius »

ergothus wrote: post #40

One of the best professional pieces of advice I've ever read said something like "Think you're indispensable? Do they know that?". It made me aware that often the people making the hiring/firing decisions aren't actually aware of my day-to-day. Rather, they know only the summary info. Those kudos to fellow employees and in-house "awards" that I'd been ignoring? Those are documentation that someone is worthwhile, and…

The perils of operational work: the mark of success is that no-one knows what you do, or that you are even there.

Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#75

Post by jasonkostempski »

distances wrote: post #67
dublinben wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>all employment contracts are presented as permanent On the contrary, the vast majority of employees in the US are under "at will" conditions, where their employment can be terminated at any time. There is nothing permanent about any employment contract in the US.

That's what he meant -- that in Europe almost all employment contracts are permanent, which may not be obvious to an American reader without explicit mention.

You're right, it wasn't obvious. I had hit submit too early, I had meant to ask how long the contracts typically last for and if maybe it was better for a company to just use shorter contracts. Are they required to be permanent for the most part? Sorry for getting way OT here.

Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#76

Post by chrismealy »

jdblair wrote: post #70

Hi, Netflix employee here, been here 7 months. In my 18 year career I've never liked working at a large organization as much as I like it here. The people I work with are uniformly excellent at their jobs, I'm learning from all of them, and I enjoy the time I spend with them.

Enjoy it while it lasts! As soon as they find someone new and better, you're fired!

Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#78

Post by arprocter »

mortenjorck wrote: post #66

At another point, Netflix created a dedicated device through which to access its content, only to decide that adapting its service to everything from mobile phones to TV sets made more sense. (The Netflix device was spun out into its own company, Roku.) Pretty sure this is a factual error in the article. As far as I know, Roku existed as a consumer electronics company independent of Netflix for years before it produc…

You're right.

We sold SoundBridges at my old job in the mid 2000s - I'm pretty sure Netflix was still postage only at that time

Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#79

Post by beamatronic »

quantumhobbit wrote: post #21
yarapavan wrote: post #2

Spoiler: It's a long read! > Does this still holds? Is there any other organization in dissimilar industry where this works? McCord also convinced Hastings that he should ask himself a few times a year whether he would hire the same person in the same job if it opened up that day. If the answer was no, Netflix would write a larger check and let the employee go. “If you are going to insist on high performance,” McCord…

Netflix gets a lot of flack for their approach here, but at least they are honest about it and try to compensate by paying employees very well. The truth is there are many companies that are just as ruthless about firing employees they view as underperforming but try to hide it with layoffs and don't compensate employees nearly as well. If you take a job with Netflix at least you know what you are getting into.

Should you not expect to have a good work-life balance while at Netflix?

Re: Can Netflix Survive in the New World It Created?

#80

Post by Animats »

gentleteblor wrote: post #65

The most interesting thing (to me) in this piece, is how many pivots Netflix made/is still making. Many of those moves were very much unsafe/risky (which is why the networks didn't make em themselves)...brave for what was already an established company then.

That's a good point. They're desperately trying to outmaneuver the cable companies. So far, they're doing OK, but not great. While Netflix is big, Netflix is not very profitable.

Netflix is becoming more like a cable company, with a limited menu. Total access to a huge back catalog has been cut back. Netflix, though, doesn't own the pipe.

Owning the pipe for TV is so profitable that AT&T more or less gives away voice and data if you get their TV service. Internet without TV costs more than Internet with TV.

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