Is anyone truly surprised that Netflix’s streaming numbers disappointed Wall Street? Because it’s not a surprise to Netflix customers as to why the company is barely
adding a meaningful level of streaming subscribers. There is hardly anything worth watching.
Earlier this week, Netflix reported in its third quarter earnings that it added 1.2 million streaming subscribers , near the low end of its prediction that it would add between 1
million and 1.8 million this quarter. As a result, the company lowered its forecast for 2012 streaming adds to between 4.7 million and 5.4 million, below its earlier forecast of 7 million streaming
customers added this year. The company counted 25.1 million total U.S. streaming customers at the end of the third quarter.
Wall Street responded as Wall Street should and
would to missed guidance - by trouncing the stock. But what’s most surprising is the reaction of analysts. In a Reuters story Pacific Crest Securities analyst Andy Hargreaves said: “The
pace of adoption of streaming video in general, and Netflix specifically, appears likely to be meaningfully slower than we previously anticipated.” Other analysts echoed the concerns about
marketplace adoption.
Let’s acknowledge there are lots of things going on at Netflix beyond streaming , as the company expands overseas and girds for video competition from the likes
of Verizon, Amazon and Comcast. But let’s dig into the issue of why streaming numbers aren’t growing quickly, because I don’t think it’s about consumer adoption.
I’m a Netflix streaming-only subscriber and earlier today I went to the site to check out some movies I’ve been wanting to see or to see again. Take The Breakfast Club.
It’s not available for instant watching. Along the lines of clubs, I’ve never seen Fight Club but have always wanted to. It’s not on instant streaming. A few weeks ago I had looked
for Apollo 13 and it’s not available to stream. Last week, I’d searched for Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. You can’t stream it either.
This
scenario repeats in different homes all around the country. I hear it from friends. I hear it from readers.
I don’t mind paying to rent these movies on iTunes, or even
buy them in some cases. Because the value proposition is clear on that service. You pay. You get something. I don’t even mind that Amazon Prime has a limited selection of video titles because I
don’t use Amazon for the streaming. If Amazon has the show or film I want to stream, great. If not, I’ll still order the camera battery that I need or the honey badger halloween costume my
kid wants from Amazon.
So if you want to know why Netflix’s streaming numbers disappointed, the answer has nothing to do with consumer adoption of streaming. The
Olympics, the Red Bull space jump, and the regular consumption of TV shows online have proven that consumers are adopting streaming.
The answer to Netflix’s numbers has everything to do
with content, or lack thereof.