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Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

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Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#191

Post by lotsofpulp »

crazygringo wrote: post #172
wrs wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you and the author have exactly opposite perceptions of what is “table stakes” (tech or content) and where the strategic advantage in the streaming business lies… Perhaps one missing piece is that there is a first-mover advantage to being the tech disruptor, but in many cases the tech quickly becomes “table stakes” and the strategy goes back to where it was.

Netflix figured out data-driven streaming better than anyone. That's its competitive advantage, full stop. It purchases content based on unparalleled data analysis, i.e. big-data tech . They often don't even order pilots (previously unheard of), they're so confident in their statistics. A useful contrast is with HBO. Yes HBO has a streaming service and app... but its competitive advantage is in prestige content peopl…

>Somehow HBO's management team is incredibly good at nurturing content in an artistic critically-acclaimed way, rather than tech-data-driven way.

It was good. As far as I understand, ATT got rid of most of the bosses responsible for nurturing that quality over quantity atmosphere and they are also now pumping out garbage.

A few months ago, I opened up the HBO Max app (which I only have access to due to it being bundled into my mobile phone plan), and this is the show that was being advertised:

https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYN4ywAXUS1OLNg...

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#192

Post by conductr »

coding123 wrote: post #163
cletus wrote: post #148

Here's the framework I use: "tech companies" are those where tech still plays a significant factor in the growth of the company such that it's important to an executive level. Example: Google is still a tech company. As much as some might view search as "solved" (just like it was when Google was founded I might add), search continues to get better. Tech still plays a significant role in the actual core business (ie a…

If it's solved, why is the UI for any other content streamer as seamless on my roku as the Netflix one. All the others, I might as well be using a 13 channel rotary dial still. Even Prime sucks, just try rewinding or fast forwarding a minute and see how frustrating that is.

This are highly subjective design choices. Hence why they are perpetually unsolved. For me, Netflix on fire Tv is by far the worst experience I encounter lately. I had to relocate the icon because if I accidentally click into it, it takes me 5 minutes to get back to Home Screen. Yes I timed it. Amazon has given apps ability to control the exit app UI and naturally apps do not want to let you exit. They hide and make it difficult to get to the exit app “button” and then still ask “are you sure?” But just getting into Netflix, there is a loading screen, a profile selection screen, a loading screen, then the last screen I was on (or home), then I have to scroll to the navigation bar, go all the way down to “exit netflix”, yes I’m sure, loading screen, then finally back home on fire tv. It takes 5 minutes and I never streamed any content. The Disney+ app is nearly as bad. It’s just faster so doesn’t take as long but requires a lot of remote control clicks. They actually make me choose a profile when we only have 1 profile.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#193

Post by ssully »

ativzzz wrote: post #168
coding123 wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's solved, why is the UI for any other content streamer as seamless on my roku as the Netflix one. All the others, I might as well be using a 13 channel rotary dial still. Even Prime sucks, just try rewinding or fast forwarding a minute and see how frustrating that is.

The problem is, for consumers, these minor technical issues don't matter as much as the content on the platforms. Yes, Netflix works much more smoothly than HBO, but we don't choose Netflix over HBO because of the quality of the video streaming app, but for the shows we actually want to watch.

I understand this is an anecdote, but out of the apps I use, I probably go to Netflix or HBO first, then Hulu, and Amazon Video last. I honestly try to avoid Amazon's video app as much as possible because of how poor the navigation and discoverability is.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#194

Post by [deleted] »

jen20 wrote: post #190
cletus wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if that commenter meant HBO Go? HBO tech has had an interesting history. First came HBO Go. This was the online streaming for those with HBO as part of a standard cable package. Apparently it was built on a .Net stack and had huge problems. HBO Now is the service created for standalone sales of streaming. Apparently it had a completely different tech stack because of issues with HBO Go. Apparently it came fr…

The UI of HBO Max on an Apple TV is entirely befitting of AT&T - it makes me want to watch anything else because of how bad scrolling is because they insist on using their own crapware instead of the platform-native software.

[deleted]

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#195

Post by wccrawford »

crazygringo wrote: post #172
wrs wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you and the author have exactly opposite perceptions of what is “table stakes” (tech or content) and where the strategic advantage in the streaming business lies… Perhaps one missing piece is that there is a first-mover advantage to being the tech disruptor, but in many cases the tech quickly becomes “table stakes” and the strategy goes back to where it was.

Netflix figured out data-driven streaming better than anyone. That's its competitive advantage, full stop. It purchases content based on unparalleled data analysis, i.e. big-data tech . They often don't even order pilots (previously unheard of), they're so confident in their statistics. A useful contrast is with HBO. Yes HBO has a streaming service and app... but its competitive advantage is in prestige content peopl…

>They often don't even order pilots (previously unheard of), they're so confident in their statistics.

And a lot of their Netflix-branded shows are quite mediocre. I'd say they're not so much confident of their statistics about each individual show as they are about being able to promote their shows and get them viewed anyhow.

And on the average, it works out for them without the messy bits in the middle with ordering a pilot and having to somehow assess the quality of that pilot in regards to a full show.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#196

Post by spoonjim »

cletus wrote: post #148

Here's the framework I use: "tech companies" are those where tech still plays a significant factor in the growth of the company such that it's important to an executive level. Example: Google is still a tech company. As much as some might view search as "solved" (just like it was when Google was founded I might add), search continues to get better. Tech still plays a significant role in the actual core business (ie a…

There is probably still a lot more AI/ML work to do at Netflix. For example if you are browsing through standup comedy specials and you see the trailer joke, and you skip to the next one, they know exactly where in the joke that comedian bombed for you. So for other people like you, they can show a different joke from their special, and for you they can build a profile of the kind of humor you like. Then if you start a video and stop it, they can know that the joke they showed as a trailer was not representative of the first impression the comedian gives in the special. etc.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#197

Post by tomrod »

flerchin wrote: post #164
websap wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> serving several thousand VODs and that problem is solved You're kidding right? You think this problem is solved? Try using HBO. A tech company is any company that understands it can leverage technology effectively to run a more efficient organization. They treat tech as the way to solve problems rather than throwing people at the problem.

You're kidding right? Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Instant Video, CBS All-Access, whatever, they all do basically the same thing, and the only differentiator for my parents is the content.

And UI and price.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#198

Post by r00fus »

conductr wrote: post #192
coding123 wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's solved, why is the UI for any other content streamer as seamless on my roku as the Netflix one. All the others, I might as well be using a 13 channel rotary dial still. Even Prime sucks, just try rewinding or fast forwarding a minute and see how frustrating that is.

This are highly subjective design choices. Hence why they are perpetually unsolved. For me, Netflix on fire Tv is by far the worst experience I encounter lately. I had to relocate the icon because if I accidentally click into it, it takes me 5 minutes to get back to Home Screen. Yes I timed it. Amazon has given apps ability to control the exit app UI and naturally apps do not want to let you exit. They hide and make…

Perhaps you need a new streaming device. My 3-year old AppleTV4 it's near-instantaneous. Both Netflix and Disney+ are great, even Prime is good.

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#199

Post by OneEyedRobot »

I'm probably wrong here, but it seems to me that storage is practically cheap enough (not quite) that Netflix could simply send out a drive with their whole library and then a membership gives you access codes.

Send out a new drive per year.

Do they really only have 4,000 movies in the US?

Re: Netflix is not a tech company (2019)

#200

Post by vel0city »

munk-a wrote: post #83
chipotle_coyote wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Ultimately any company that makes money is not a tech company because pure technology on its own does not make a business. "X makes money, therefore they are not a tech company" seems rather oversimplified in the same way "X is a tech company" is oversimplified. Actually, it seems oversimplified to the point of maybe not being so useful. I think the way most people would define "tech company," if they were pressed…

Is Dell really a tech company though? Does selling computing hardware really count as tech these days since Apple would definitely end up being a tech company under that definition - even with all the other revenue streams it has I think being one of the largest manufacturers of computing hardware would automatically qualify them. I personally consider "tech companies" to be companies with tech I find interesting to…

Suggesting Dell is just a customized CMS thing is like saying Netflix is just an account registration tool. They're not just reselling equipment designed and made by other companies, they actually make a ton of things as in making actually new technologies. Maybe not things you touch on a day to day basis, but they make tons of things nonetheless.
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