Qwikster and the state of video for mobile, tablet, etc
So today Netflix announced they are restructuring and spinning out their DVD rental business renaming it Qwikster. I have been talking to them recently extensively about some other employment related items and could sense something coming, but nothing this major. Do know that internally, they are very separate businesses anyway and have been for a while, but its all about perception and I personally like the integration of the two queues, separating them is a travesty. So to me, this is a bad idea.
Next, content… I have been working on content related deals for the last 12 months or so and can tell you that things are very very protected. Also, the networks and studios are greedy as hell and want absolute control of everything. I am guessing we will start seeing more and more apps on many platforms directly from the networks and most will require a cable subscription to use. We are still a ways away from the “hey, but I just want to subscribe to the HBO GO app”. Too much politics out there for that.
The bottom line is this, everyone complains about the quality of content on Netflix streaming, but in the end this is a studio issue and not Netflix’s fault. They control what is released, how often, and where. Its why you wait 30 days for some stuff, why you can find it Comcast On Demand, but not on the Redbox. We are really at the whim of the studios and its not that much different from where the music industry was five years ago. Lets hope it changes for video just as fast.
