Apple to buy Netflix?

[Skanky Vamp]

In an article from BusinessInsider they posit they may well happen.

Excerpts from the article:
"Citi analysts say that there is a 40% likelihood of Apple acquiring Netflix.
Apple will be able to repatriate about $220 billion in cash to the US under the Trump tax cut. The company would need only one-third of that to snap up Netflix.

Suva and Merchant ranked potential Apple M&A targets in a note to clients sent in December. They mark Netflix as the company Apple would be most likely to buy.

Apple has for years struggled to offer a compelling TV or movie offering. iTunes has been a huge hit for the company, but viewers have migrated increasingly to services like Netflix, Amazon or Hulu to watch their favourite shows.

Apple has recently dipped a toe into content creation: Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon will be in Apple's first scripted video series. But making hit movies is a very different skill-set from making the iPhones they are viewed on, so there is some logic to the idea that Apple might want to own Netflix in the future."

What do you think? Would you like to see Apple buy Netflix? Should Apple buy Netflix?

 

[brinkster130]

So Apple has never actually shown any interest in buying Netflix? Where do they get these percentages? 40% chance if buying so 60% chance of it not happening.

I'm down on Apple right now. The iPhone 6 battery nonsense was enough to make me go out and buy a Google pixel. So, I wouldn't be happy about it.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Oh, good God no! Just like their phones, every time they release a new movie the action in the old movies will slow down. Got a car chase between a Cobra and a Ferrari (like "Gumball Rally")? As soon as a new movie comes out, the content will morph into a chase between a Corolla and a Micra, if Apple remains up to their usual tricks.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

So Apple has never actually shown any interest in buying Netflix?

No, but they spent over a billion dollars in original content trying to get their own streaming service working. Right now they are focused on taking on Netflix and Amazon, but in a few years it would be Netflix, Amazon and Disney. If they can realize their goal of creating original content and becoming a top-tier streaming outlet, being able to eliminate a competitor by taking over their business would be a very smart move.
 

make me go out and buy a Google pixel

I love my pixel. Be sure to ditch your phone service and get Project FI. My phone bills went from $80 a month to $30. It's a great service.

 

[Blaze]

Oh please let this not be true. If they do buy it I'm kissing Netflix goodbye.

 

[Mr Trick]

I don't see it happening, not least if Apple are starting their own streaming service anyway. If it did happen it would be a bad thing IMO. Apple should stick to their own business and I'm happy with what Netflix are doing at the moment. Don't want that to change.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

I'm getting mighty damned sick of this "all companies must be acquired" BS.

Apple has become the arrogant mega-corporate behemoth that Microsoft was in the 90's. Who ever would have thought?

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I'm getting mighty damned sick of this "all companies must be acquired" BS.

Apple has become the arrogant mega-corporate behemoth that Microsoft was in the 90's. Who ever would have thought?

I dunno. I mean, screw it. If Disney is going to buy up everything why not let Apple. Apple sure as shit ain't doing nothing with their Power Macs anymore, it's all consumer mobile products now. And oy vey don't get get me started on the MBPs.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

I wonder how this would change the content on Netflix. I am certainly not an Apple guy but Netflix is a tired old thing now and could use a lift.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I wonder how this would change the content on Netflix. I am certainly not an Apple guy but Netflix is a tired old thing now and could use a lift.

That's what I wonder as well. Netflix could use an influx of cash right now and Apple would be that. Plus they could add the shows Apple already has in the pipelines which are more of a 'show' based variety- American Idol type weekly stuff, which Netflix doesn't offer. It could be beneficial... or disastrous. But if things stay the way they are I think they could get smashed by Disney. Unless Amazon and Netflix want to do something Apple is a good option.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

That's what I wonder as well. Netflix could use an influx of cash right now and Apple would be that. Plus they could add the shows Apple already has in the pipelines which are more of a 'show' based variety- American Idol type weekly stuff, which Netflix doesn't offer. It could be beneficial... or disastrous. But if things stay the way they are I think they could get smashed by Disney. Unless Amazon and Netflix want to do something Apple is a good option.

I agree. Also, I have wanted for years Netflix to expand and update more frequently the movie content. I wonder if this would happen too.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I agree. Also, I have wanted for years Netflix to expand and update more frequently the movie content. I wonder if this would happen too.

Netflix doesn't care about movies; only their original TV shows. Apple has it's bread 'n butter in movies. It just seems like it would be a really good match. I am not soothsayer but what would probably happen is that it would be a true merger.

You have X amount of programs that are included in your monthly subscription, but you are also able to rent shows that are not. So basically you would be able to access the "itunes store" from within Netflix. That would be a huge boon. Being able to rent new releases from Netflix would honestly make it a one-stop shop.

That would be the benefit, in my eyes, of Apple acquiring them.

 

[The Bronze]

It's the way everything's heading. More and more into less hands. Whatever the initial benefit it'll be bad news for us all in the long run.

I've never had apple products and would be put off if they took over Netflix. I'd just expect to start being ripped off.

 

[brinkster130]

@Mr. Pole Do you really think you'd be able to rent new releases? Or buy the episodes like you would do now on iTunes?

I think Netflix's issue now is the amount of content companies are pulling so they can have it for their own streaming service. Netflix has done a good job moving to create their own content, but consumers are still left with needing multiple subscriptions if they want to see everything. How would merging with Apple help this issue?

 

[Skanky Vamp]

@Mr. Pole Do you really think you'd be able to rent new releases? Or buy the episodes like you would do now on iTunes?=

Yeah, I do. Why not? Part of the reason companies are leaving Netflix is it's not financially viable for them. Moving some of those to a 'for rent' platform would assuage some of those concerns allowing them to meet in the middle. It's the same thing, more or less, that Amazon does.

Amazon has a "free" service in Prime and those not available in Prime you can still rent/buy. I can't imagine an Apple owned Netflix would be any different. They would just merge the two services. It would allow for truly deep penetration in the streaming market.

 

[brinkster130]

Yeah, I do. Why not? Part of the reason companies are leaving Netflix is it's not financially viable for them. Moving some of those to a 'for rent' platform would assuage some of those concerns allowing them to meet in the middle. It's the same thing, more or less, that Amazon does.

Amazon has a "free" service in Prime and those not available in Prime you can still rent/buy. I can't imagine an Apple owned Netflix would be any different. They would just merge the two services. It would allow for truly deep penetration in the streaming market.

Yeah, I suppose that makes sense financially. I just wonder how many people would pay to rent the shows, maybe I'm just cheap but I've yet to pay extra to rent something.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Yeah, I suppose that makes sense financially. I just wonder how many people would pay to rent the shows, maybe I'm just cheap but I've yet to pay extra to rent something.

There are a lot of people that use and rent from apple now. I think even fearless leader @Buffy Summers does if I am not mythtaken. Or at least she did. You are just too cheap brinky.

 

[Bluebird]

So the final battle will be between Disney and Apple to see who owns everything? That is a lot of control over consumers, and if you're that powerful and rich the laws won't mean anything either. What a backwards idea of capitalism.

 

[Mr Trick]

So the final battle will be between Disney and Apple to see who owns everything? That is a lot of control over consumers, and if you're that powerful and rich the laws won't mean anything either. What a backwards idea of capitalism.

That is my concern too. I don't think Netflix has to give in and sell to Apple. They have a good product model that is working for many people. Overall its a positive not just for the industry, but for customers and their value for money.