On Netflix
I find this interesting for a lot of reasons:
1/ Netflix is media company that will compete on the basis of programming. It is HBO reborn but for the web.
2/ Right now these are original shows but because of the risk involved in producing them, Netflix too will go down the studio model where they focus on distribution and let someone else produce the content. This happens again and again everywhere. Take pharma, for example, as blockbusters become expensive, big pharma focuses on marketing problem over risky R&D.
3/ There will be a few content producers who will want to extract the maximum value for their content. Similarly, there will be a few competing streaming platforms (Netflix, Apple, Amazon, and maybe Google), which will compete for the content and will want to lock it up so other providers can’t get it.
4/ Ultimately this sucks for consumers because this means true on-demand (either pay-per-view or subscription based) won’t happen because you’ll always be limited by selection of your provider.
5/ Also, TV is not dead yet but it will be soon and, if you really think about it, Netflix is no different than NBC, where a few blockbusters will pay for the rest of the crap.