Live data from Hacker News

Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros

about.netflix.com

111–120 of 1001 posts

Re: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros

#111

Consolidations like this were bound to happen. In the mid 2010s we had a good thing, only one streaming platform with pretty much every movie and tv show. Then every studio got greedy and spawned their own platform, forcing netflix to produce their own shows. Now you have 20 tv networks all with their own subscription and all losing money.

It's a repeat of how cable networks were.

This is the issue with content production being owned by the distributors too. It's too profitable to own the vertical because each piece of content is an effective monopoly, because to participate in culture requires watching it (piracy notwithstanding). Therefore, the "fix" is to regulate this monopoly - by making sure that monopoly cannot exist without cost. One "simple" way is, imho, to make content production and ownership of distribution strictly prohibited in the same entity, and to also enforce mechanical licensing of content (such that you cannot have content exclusives in the distribution platforms).

Movie theatres have similar restrictions with film studios in the past - to prevent this very monopoly. It's high time we brought it back.

Re: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros

#112
post #89

I don't like this. Netflix rarely creates excellent content; instead, it frequently produces mediocre or worse content. Will the same happen for Warner? Are cinemas now second behind streaming? Edit: I agree Netflix has good Originals. But most are from the early days when they favored quality over quantity. It is sad to see that they reversed that. They have much funding power and should give it to great art that re…

Honestly speaking Netflix has good catalog, much more comparable to Hollywood. Take the latest Frankenstein for example. Don't look at only series. They also have recipes repurposed. But they acquire good titles and also produce some good ones.

I have 459 titles on my IMDB watchlist and a tiny percentage of it is available on Netflix (if at all), but this is anecdotal and might have to do something to where I live.

Re: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros

#113

I wonder if an antitrust suit will be filed, this seems like a pretty significant acquisition.

Considering the words they're using across the announcement, it seems they're well aware what this will trigger, everything seems carefully chosen so someone can later point at this announcement and say "See, we think this will add MORE user choice, not less, which is good for competition!".

It will lead to more choice ... in videos to watch. It will reduce choice in where to watch them or who to pay for the pleasure.

Re: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros

#115
post #62

I hope that this means that the Netflix app on AppleTV will finally become a “first class citizen.” The Netflix app has always been treated badly by Apple. No idea why, but it means that I can’t have Netflix content in the “What’s Next” queue (among other things, like Netflix actors’ work not showing up in show information).

This is on Netflix not Apple. They enabled it this by accident and reverted it back https://www.theverge.com/news/613307/netflix-apple-tv-app-su...

Wow that is quite anti-consumer! Surely a monopoly on streaming will help them realize this. /s

Re: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros

#118

I never imagined that a service that ships DVD via mail would one day buy Warner Brothers. It is amazing how innovation and focus can change the game. Someday a new startup will piggy bank on Netflix and probably buy it later.

Considering WB was once the champion of that format too. Guess that is end of DVD now. Netflix has no interest in that format.

[deleted]

Re: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros

#119

I don't like this. Netflix rarely creates excellent content; instead, it frequently produces mediocre or worse content. Will the same happen for Warner? Are cinemas now second behind streaming? Edit: I agree Netflix has good Originals. But most are from the early days when they favored quality over quantity. It is sad to see that they reversed that. They have much funding power and should give it to great art that re…

Cinema is indeed second behind streaming. The theatrical window is now so short (~40) days that audiences are happy to wait for the increased benefits and reduced cost of watching at home.

Re: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros

#120

I don't like this. Netflix rarely creates excellent content; instead, it frequently produces mediocre or worse content. Will the same happen for Warner? Are cinemas now second behind streaming? Edit: I agree Netflix has good Originals. But most are from the early days when they favored quality over quantity. It is sad to see that they reversed that. They have much funding power and should give it to great art that re…

> I don’t like this

please stop them.

Post reply on HN