{"id":158976,"date":"2010-01-09T16:05:35","date_gmt":"2010-01-09T21:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stoth.com\/2010\/01\/09\/netflix-ceo-reed-hastings-well-be-shipping-dvds-until-2030-digital-daily\/"},"modified":"2010-01-09T16:05:35","modified_gmt":"2010-01-09T21:05:35","slug":"netflix-ceo-reed-hastings-we%e2%80%99ll-be-shipping-dvds-until-2030-digital-daily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/158976","title":{"rendered":"Netflix CEO Reed Hastings: We\u2019ll Be Shipping DVDs Until 2030 [Digital Daily]"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"peter-reed\"<\/p>\n

The digital video revolution may be hastening the DVD to its end, but there\u2019s quite a bit of life left in the old format–according to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, anyway. During a wide-ranging onstage interview with All Things Digital<\/strong>’s Peter Kafka, Hastings discussed the future of the DVD, the deal Netflix cut with Warner Bros. earlier this week<\/a>, which will delay rentals of the studio’s films until 28 days after their DVD release, and Comcast\u2019s proposal to acquire a controlling stake of NBC Universal, a move that could affect Netflix’s (NFLX) “Watch Instantly” streaming service.<\/p>\n

“When we first started years ago, we were literally going down to Best Buy and buying a bunch of DVDs and renting them,” Hastings says, reflecting on the Warner Bros. deal. He notes that Netflix is getting a better deal on DVD prices as a result of its pact with the studio.<\/p>\n

“But what do the customers get out of the deal?” asks Peter. More streaming content, says Hastings. <\/p>\n

“You’ve said before that you feel you’re evolving into a streaming business,” Peter says. How quickly is that transition progressing?<\/p>\n

“Well, now we’re a DVD rental business that streams some movies,” Hastings replies. “Pretty soon we’re going to be a streaming business that rents some DVDs.”<\/p>\n

When do you think you’ll get to the point where you’re no longer shipping DVDs to your customers? 2030, says Hastings, another 20 years. <\/p>\n

Peter: Are you in the market for HBO or a premium channel?<\/p>\n

Hastings: Not yet. We’re still growing our subscriber base, growing our content. <\/p>\n

Any interest in getting into the sports business?<\/p>\n

We’re movie-centric, with some TV. Other companies can focus on sports and news.<\/p>\n

You’re on 100 devices. What’s the most popular?<\/p>\n

Hastings: Videogame consoles, Blu-ray; we’d like to be on all of the videogame consoles.<\/p>\n

How hard were you hit by the recession?<\/p>\n

All of the subscription entertainment businesses were hit pretty hard. It’s coming back.<\/p>\n

What number of subscribers are idiots like me and pay full price to watch two videos a month?<\/p>\n

Not many, says Hastings.<\/p>\n

What’s the comparison between, say, Blu-ray subscribers and streaming subscribers?<\/p>\n

Streaming is a rocketship. Blu-ray is not, but it may get there.<\/p>\n

You’ve put up a document called “How to run your company the Netflix way.” It says companies should offer unlimited vacation. <\/p>\n

It’s written as an internal document for candidates. Other companies have definitely thought it’s dangerous. They can do what they want with it.<\/p>\n

How much vacation do you take?<\/p>\n

Hastings: Weeks and weeks.<\/p>\n

Peter: Awesome.<\/p>\n

Well, part of the time you’re on vacation you’re thinking about work. Some of our most productive people aren’t in the office that much. It’s about how much you get done.<\/p>\n

Are you threatened by what Hulu or Comcast (CMCSA) might put together?<\/p>\n

Any time a competitor doubles in size, that’s capitalism, but not good for us. We’re movie-centric, and commercial-free. We license a lot of content. As we get more subscribers, we can write bigger checks to license more content.<\/p>\n

We’re about three things right now: Expanding the platform, expanding the content and expanding the user interface, making it better and better.<\/p>\n

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Reed Hastings Interview Photos<\/h4>\n