We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
[Link]
CASE 1 5
THE 2011 REBRANDING/PRICE INCREASE DEBACLE
Alan N. Hoffman
Bentley University
In 2011, Netflix was the world’s largest online movie rental service. Its subscribers paid
to have DVDs delivered to their homes through the U.S. mail, or to access and watch
unlimited TV shows and movies streamed over the Internet to their TVs, mobile
devices, or computers. The company was founded by Marc Randolph and Reed
Hastings in August, 1997 in Scotts Valley, California, after they had left Pure
Software. Hastings was inspired to start Netflix after being charged US$40 for an
overdue video. Initially, Netflix provided movies at USS6 per rental, but moved
to a monthly subscription rate in 1999, dropping the single-rental model soon after.
From then on, the company built its reputation on the business model of flat fee
unlimited rentals per month without any late fees, or shipping and handling fees.
In May 2002, Netflix went public with a successful IPO, selling 5.5 million shares of
common stock at the IPO price of USS1S pet share to raise US$82.5 million. After incur-
ring substantial losses during its first few years of operations, Netflix turned a profit of
USS6.5 million during the fiscal year 2003.’ The company’s subscriber base grew strongly
and steadily from 1 million in the fourth quarter of 2002 to over 27 million in July 2012.°
By 2012, Netflix had over 100,000 titles distributed via more than SO shipment
centers, insuring customers received their DVDs in one to two business days, which
made Netflix one of the most successful dotcom ventures in the past two decades.* The
company employed almost 4100 people, 2200 of whom were part-time employees.* In
September 2010, Netflix began international operations by offering an unlimited stream-
ing plan without DVDs in Canada, In September 2011, Netflix expanded its international
operations to customers in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Key to Netilix’s success was its no late fee policy. Netflix’s profits were directly
proportional to the number of days the customer kept a DVD. Most customers wanted
to view a new DVD release as soon as possible. If Netflix imposed a late fee, it would
The authors would like to thank Barbara Gottfried, Ashna Dhawan, Emira Ajet, Neel Bhalavia, Tarun,
‘Chugh, and Will Hofman for their retearch and contributions to this case, Please address al correspon-
ddenee to: Dr, Alan N. Hoffman, Dept. of Management, Bentley University, 175 Forest Steet, Waltham,
MA 02452-4708, voice (781) 891-2287, ahofimane bently-edu, Printed by permission of Alan N Hofman
15-41[Link]
CASE 15. Netflix, Inc
have to have multiple copies of the new releases and find a way to remain profitable.
However, because of the no-late-fee rule, the demand for the newer movies was spread
over a period of time, ensuring an efficient circulation of movies.*
‘On September 18, 2011, Netflix CEO and co-founder Reed Hastings announced on
the Netflix blog that the company was splitting its DVD delivery service from its online
streaming service, rebranding its DVD delivery service Owikster as a way to differenti-
ate it from its online streaming service, and creating a new website for it. Three weeks
later, in response to customer outrage and confusion, Iastings rescinded rebranding
the DVD delivery service Qwikster and reintegrating it into Netflix. Nevertheless, by
October 24, 2011, only five weeks after the initial split, Netflix acknowledged that it
had lost 800,000 U.S. subscribers and expected to lose yet more, thanks both to the
Qwikster debacle and the price hike the company had decided was necessary to cover
increasing content costs.”
Despite this setback, Netflix continued to believe that by providing the cheapest
and best subscription-paid, commercial-free streaming of movies and TV shows it could
still rapidly and profitably fulfill its envisioned goal to become the world’s best enter-
tainment distribution platform.
Online Streaming
By the end of 2011, Netflix had 24.4 million subscribers, making it the largest provider of
online streaming content in the world.’ Subscription numbers had grown exponentially,
increasing 250% from 9.3 million in 2008. At the same time, Netflix proactively recog-
nized that the demand for DVDs by mail had peaked, and the future growth would be
in online streaming, With 245 million Internet users in the United States, and 2.2 billion’
worldwide, Netflix saw the opportunity to expand its online streaming base both domes-
tically and internationally to become a dominant world player. In 2011, Netilix expanded
into Canada and Central America, and in 2012 into Ireland and the United Kingdom."
The scarce resource for the online video industry was bandwidth, the amount of
data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period." With the
introduction of Blu-ray discs, the demand for higher- and better-quality picture and
sound streaming increased, which in turn increased the demand for higher bandwidths.
At the same time, cheaper Internet connections and faster download speeds made it
easier and more affordable for customers to take advantage of the services Netflix and
its competitors offered. If the cost of Internet access was to increase, it would directly
affect sales in the industry's streaming segment.
Netflix was a leader in developing streaming technologies, increasing its spending on
technology and development from US$114 million (2009) to US$258 million in 2011”
(8% of its revenue),"® and initiating a US$1 million five-year prize in to improve the
existing algorithm of Nettlix’s recommendation service by at least 10%. Because Netilix
had already developed proprictary streaming software and an extensive content library, it
had a head start in the online streaming market, and with continued investments in tech-
nological enhancements, hoped to maintain its lead."* However, increased competition
in streaming, ISP fair-use charges, and piracy were some of the major challenges it faced,
In March 2011, Netflix made its services readily available to consumers through
‘Smart-phones, tablets and video game consoles when only 35% of the total US. market
were using Internet-enabled Smartphones. Thus, the expansion potential for Netflix in
this market was substantial. The Great Recession of 2008-2010 was a boon for Nettlix
as people cut down on high-value discretionary spending, choosing “value for money’
Internet offerings instead." However, in its annual letter to shareholders, Netflix[Link]
case 15 Newtx,inc. EE
acknowledged that many of its customers were among the highest users of data on an
ISPs network and in the near future it expected that such users might be forced to pay
extra for their data usage, which could be a major deterrent for the growth of Netflix
because most of its customers are highly price sensitive.
Demographics
The number of Internet users in the United States had increased from about 205 million,
in 2005 to 245 million in 2012.” According to a research report by Mintel investment
research database, the percentage of people using the Internet to stream video has jumped
from 5% (2005) to 17% (2011), significantly growing the market for online streaming
services such as Netflix. At the same time, the recession of 2008-2010, with its high unem-
ployment and slow economic growth had a significant impact on the spending habits of
US. consumers. More and more people chose to forego an evening at the movie theatre
in favor of home movie rentals to save on costs. By 2011, the crucial 18- to 34-year-old
demographic saw the Internet as its prime source of access to entertainment. However,
this demographic, was particularly sensitive to price fluctuations. When Nettlix changed
its pricing structure in the third quarter of 2011, subscriptions immediately dropped off
3%. Mintel Research reported that only 15% of the under 18-25 age bracket of its cus-
tomers were ready to pay US$16/month for premium content via Netflix. In addition, the
proliferation of free content over the Internet—Mega video, for example, with around
81 million unique visitors and a maximum exposure in the 18-33 demographic became a
strong competitor for Netilix, further limiting the pricing power Netflix could exercise.”
The Mintel report also found that American houscholds with two or more children
and a household income of US$50,000 or more had a very favorable attitude toward
Netflix,” Netflix fostered this trend by cutting a deal with Disney” that gave it access
to content exclusively targeting young children.
‘At the same time that Netflix was increasing its customer base among the 18- to 34-year-
olds and households with young children, both of whom preferred streaming. it lost ground
with affluent Baby Boomers who still preferred to rent the DVDs over the Internet. Thus,
Netflix needed to fine-tune its strategy to include this older demographic since people over
60 had USS1 trillion in discretionary income per year, and fewer familial responsibilities,
making them a prime target demographic for expanding Netflix’s customer base.”
The availability of high-speed Internet at home and the shift to online TVs created
opportunities for Netflix. The company recognized that to fully leverage the current
world of technological convergence, it needed to compete on as many platforms as pos-
sible, and created applications for the Xbox, Wii, PS3, iPad, Apple TV, Windows phone,
and Android. The company also collaborated with TV manufacturers to integrate Netflix
directly into the latest televisions.”
‘s Competitors
Netflix’s great operational advantage in the DVD rental market was its nationwide
distribution network, which prevented the entry of many of its potential competitors.
While only Netflix provided both mail delivery and online rentals, with the growth of
online streaming, Netilix’s advantage shrank and it faced increasing competition from
Blockbuster, Wal-Mart, Amazon, Hulu, and Redbox.
Nettlix’s one-time strongest competitor, Blockbuster LLC, founded in 1985, and
headquartered in McKinney, Texas, provided in-home movie and game entertainment,
originally through over 5000 video rental stores throughout the Americas, Europe,ce}
CASE 15
[Link]
Netflix, Ine
Asia, and Australia, and later by adding DVD-by-mail, streaming video on demand,
and kiosks. Its business model emphasized providing convenient access to media enter-
tainment across multiple channels, recognizing that the same customer might choose
different ways to access media entertainment on different nights. Competition from
Netflix and other video rental companies forced Blockbuster to file for bankruptey on
September 23, 2010, and on April 6, 2011, satellite television provider Dish Network
bought it at auction for US$233 million.
Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coinstar Inc., spe-
ialized in DVD, Blu-ray, and rentals via automated retail kiosks. By June 2011, Redbox
had over 33,000 kiosks in over 27800 locations worldwide,® and was considering launch-
ing an online streaming service, perhaps for as cheaply as US$3.95 per month.
‘Vudu, Inc., formerly known as Marquee, Inc., founded in 2004, a content delivery
media technology company acquired by Wal-Mart in March 2010, worked by allowing
users to stream movies and TV shows to Sony PlayStation3, Blu-ray players, HDTVs,
computers, or home theaters. VUDU Box and VUDU XL provided access to movies
and television shows; users also needed a VUDU Witeless Kit to connect VUDU Box!
VUDU XL to the Internet. Based in Santa Clara, California, the company was the third
most popular online movie service, with a market share of 5.3%." Vadu had no monthly
subscription fee, instead users deposited funds to an online account which was reduced
depending on how many movies the user rented. In other words, you paid for only what
you watched.
In February 2011, [Link], a multinational electronic commerce company,
announced the launch for Amazon Prime members of unlimited, commercial-free
instant streaming of all movies and TV shows to members’ computers or HDTVs. In
addition, Amazon Prime members were given access to the Kindle Owners’ Lending
Library, allowing them to borrow selected popular titles for free with no due date. For
non-Amazon Prime members, 48-hour on-demand rentals were available for USS3.99,
or the title could be bought outright”
Halu Plus was the first ad-supported subscription service for TV shows and films
that could be accessed by computers, television sets, mobile phone, or other digital
devices. Like Netflix, the streaming service cost USS8 per month, but unlike Netflix,
Hulu offered more recent TV episodes and seasons. However, subscribers had to put
up with ads, and Hulu’s movie selection was much more limited than Netflix’s selection,
Mare Schuh, an early financial backer of Netflix, observed that copying software
was relatively simple.* Anyone could buy the best servers, processors, operating systems,
and databases—but timing was crucial.” Bames & Noble waited 17 months to enter the
fray against Amazon, so that by 2012, Amazon had eight times the profit and 30 times
the market capitalization of Barnes & Noble. Similarly, in the same year that Netflix’s
profits increased sevenfold, Blockbuster lost over 1 billion dollars.” Technology with
correct timings can help a company gain competitive advantage over rivals. Other bar-
riers to entry include investments in infrastructure aiding supply chain and delays from
major production houses for gaining permission to stream their titles.
Rising Content Costs
In the DVD rental business, the rental company had the first sale doctrine, in which
the company was permitted to rent a single disc many times to recover the cost of the
content. But this doctrine did not apply to digital content, and the technological shift
away from the DVD rental business was in part responsible for the excessive increase
in content cost for Netflix.*[Link]
CASE 15 Nettix,tnc. ER
In addition, Netfli’s dependence on outside content supplicrs such as the six major
movie studios and the top television networks contributed significantly to rising costs for
the company. As an example, Liberty Media Corporation's Starz LLC had been an carly
Netflix supplier. In 2011, Starz demanded US$300 million to renew its deal with Netix,
testament to the power of suppliers in relation to market demand from an increasing
number of competitors. On September 1,2011, Netflix customers learned they would lose
access to newer films from the Walt Disney Company and the Sony Corporation after talks
to obtain those movies from Starz broke down. The loss created the impression of a major
setback, even though the films were making up a smaller share of viewing than previously.
However, Nettlix did sign new deals with the CW Network, DreamWorks Anima-
tion, and Discovery Communications in 2011.
Global Expansion
Beginning in 2007, Netflix shifted its focus to its streaming business in response to their
customers’ move to streaming in preference to DVD rentals and the rising cost of mail-
ing DVDs. Conveniently, expanding its streaming business did not require expanding
its physical infrastructure, This strategy has proven to be a major differentiator as it
expands internationally in the Americas and Europe.
By the end of 2011, the company had started operations in Canada and 43 countries
in Latin America, and planned to start European operations in early 2012. At the end of
the third quarter of 2011, Netilix had 1.48 million international subscribers with predic-
tions of 2 million by the end of the year. The United Kingdom was considered a huge
potential market. Twenty million UK houscholds had broadband Internet, and 60% of
those houscholds subscribed to a paid movie service. In Latin America, four times that
number had Internet access.” making international expansion there especially attractive
to subscriber-hungry Netflix.
However, international expansion was potentially risky, as Netflix faced rising con-
tent costs from higher studio charges. In addition, international expansion required both
broadening its content offerings and tailoring those offerings to meet the specific needs
of each of its international markets, which Netflix feared would further increase content
costs. It was clear that the correct content mix was crucial, yet a huge challenge for Netflix,
In addition, as Canada and the United Kingdom were already developed markets,
Netflix faced local competition from a proliferation of DVD rental/streaming services.
In the United Kingdom, for instance, Virgin and Sky already had strong brand recogni-
tion and balance sheets, and the Sky network had already contracted exclusive first-pay
window rights to movies from all six major American studios, tough competition that
could easily delay profitability from international operations.
Lower per capita income and slower Internet speeds, especially in Latin America,
were further potential problems for Netflix’s international expansion, In Canada, low
data usage limits per subscriber were a concern for a data hungry service such as Netflix.
Financial Results
In 2011, Netflix surpassed US$3.2 billion in sales, an annual revenue growth of 50%
over 2010 (USS2.1 billion, see Exhibits 1-3), Subscriber growth was the most important
metric for Netflix because its revenue growth was directly correlated to its subscriber
growth, Netflix grew from 12 million subscribers in 2009 to 20 million in 2010, and then
to 27 million in 2012, International operations were set to expand to become a major
source of sales growth for the company in the coming yearsEXHIBIT 1
Netflix, In
Consolidated
Statements of
Operations (in
thousands, except
per-share data)
EXHIBIT 2
Netflix, Ic
Consolidated
Balance Sheets (in
‘thousands, except
share and per-share
data)
[Link]
Total assets
flix, Ine
Year ended December 31
2011 2010
Revenues SS204577 ‘$0,162,625
Cost of revenues:
Subscription 1,789,596 1,154,109
Fulfilment expenses 250,305 203,246
‘Total cost of revenues 2,039,901 1,387,355,
Gross profit 1,164,676 805,270
Operating expenses:
Marketing 402,638 293,839
‘Technology and development 259,033 163,329
General and administrative 117,937 64,461
Legal settlement 9,000 a
Total operating expenses 788,608 521,629
Operating income 376,068 283,641
‘Other income (expense):
Interest expense (20025) (19,629)
Interest and other income 3479 3,684
Income before income taxes 359,522 267,696
Provision for income taxes 133,396 106,843
Net income $226,126 $160,853
Net income per s
Basic $4.28 $3.06
Diluted $4.16 $2.96
Weighted-average common
52,847 52,529
Diluted 54369 54,304
As of December 31
2011
esets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $508,053
Short-term investments 289,758
Current content library, net 919,709
Prepaid content 36,007
Other current assets 57,330
Total current assets 1.830857
Non-current content library, net 1,046,934
Property and equipment, net 136,353
Other non-current assets 55.052
$3,069,196
1.670269
909,461
169,810
1079271,
590,998,
237.744
14.s4z
46,773
399,059
191,939
(6475)
6,728
192,192
16332
$115,860
$205
$1.98
56,560
58.416
2010
637,231
180,973
128570
35,293
$982,067[Link]
CASE 1S. Nati
EXHIBIT 2
(Continues) As of December 31
201 2010
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Content accounts payable $924,706 $168,695
Other accounts payable 87,860, 54,129
‘Accrued expenses 63,693, 38572
Deferred revenue 148,796
Total current liabilities 1225055 388.579
Long-term debt 200,000 200,000
Long-term debt due to related party 200,000 -
Non-current content liabilities 739,628 48179
Other non-current liabilities 61,703, 55145,
‘otal lablities 226,386 691,908
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.00! par value; 10,000,000 shares = -
authorized at December 31, 2011 and 2010; no
shares issued and outstanding at December 31,2011
and 2010
Common stock, $0.001 par value: 160,000,000 8 3
shares authorized at December 31, 2011 and 2010;
$5,398,615 and 52,781,949 issued and outstanding at
December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively
‘Additional paid-in capital 219,119 51,622
‘Accumulated other comprehensive income 706 750
Retained earnings 422,930 237,739
Total stockholders’ equity 642,810 290,164
‘otal liabilities and stockholders’ equity $3,069,196 $982,067
EXHIBIT 3
Netflix, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands)
‘Year Ended December 31
2011 2010 2009
Gash Mowe from operating activities:
Net income $226,126 $160,853 $115,860,
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net eash provided by
‘operating activities:
Additions to streaming content library 2320732) (406210) (64217)
‘Change in streaming content liabilities 1,460,400 167,836 (4014)
Amortization of streaming content library 699,128 158,100 48,192
Amortization of DVD content library 96,744 142,496 171,298
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment, and
intangibles 4347 38,099 38,044
‘SOURCE: hips [Link]/downlosds/NFLX/2097321301x0x5617S4/371Sdal$-1753-4c34-8ba7-18dd280S0675/NFLX_1OK pat
(continued)[Link]
CASE 15. Netix
exw
(Conn
Year Ended December 31
20 a0i0 a9
Soc bol companion pene ois 77998 12618
ces ox ene fom tock based compensation ase) @ai) (268)
Otter noah tens (Hos) G2) sl
Deteed aes assy 0m) Gans
Gain on sale of business _ _ (1,783)
Changes in peaing aes and Maier:
Prepaid content can Gs) 58)
ter aet set 75) sax
Other secu payable als T8088
Acraed opener oo Sra
Deteed revenue aie 7188
Other nn-arent aes nda 28 ois
Netcath povided by operating sates nina misao 2506
Cat os rom aves ees
Acquisition of DVD content library (85,154) (123,901) (193,044)
Pattass of shorter inverts 22375) orae=) ease)
Proeeds om lof shorter vent 30993 mss? 166706
Proved om ates of sorte avrments sslos sais 5473
Purchases of property an equipment (38) S93)
Proved om le of snes - a8
Otter at 3s ase as
Netcath ied investigates assaiy (16081) eter)
Cath os rm acing ces
Principal paymese of ste acing olons 0s) amass
Proved fom stance common eck pon eer
ot opton wos sams asa
Proceds om publi ofeig ofcommon ck netoistnce 199947 - -
Exes ox ene fom ak bated compensation 78 ams 2683
orovigr online fred eto ane cot = = sors
Payments on line of credit — _ (20,000)
Proved om sane o et, nt of sane cst 195040 = issn
‘Repurchases of common stock (199,666) (210,259) (324,335)
Netcath povided by (dn) fang ste aéless odes) (4)
Netineese(Gecreste inch an cahequvalnt sass 60275857)
Cash and cash equivalents, bepnning of year 1499 a9
Ca aida eget, aos ssngoss siouiea—_sisazz4
Supple Jaton
Income ates paid 1906 sso $5870
Interest paid 19,395 20,101 3,878[Link]
case 15 Newtix,inc. QE
However, by 2012, Netflix faced challenges from its pricing changes in the United
States and its expansion into international markets, even stating that it expected rev-
enue per subscriber to drop from its 2011 level of US$11.56" as subscribers choose the
streaming only option of US$799 over the more expensive streaming and DVD delivery
option. For future revenue growth, Netix needed to increase its subscribers numbers
both domestically and internationally.
In terms of net income, Netflix had steadily improved its bottom line in conjunction
with strong top line growth. The company had a net income of US$226 million in 2011
for a growth rate of 40% over the previous year’s US$160 million net income, Over the
five years from 2006-2011, the company saw an average net income growth of 31% per
year that, coupled with high revenue growth, was instrumental to Netflix’s high stock
valuation. However, recently, its operating margin slid from 15% in 2010 to 2.9% in 2012,
a drop directly attributable to the higher cost of content acquisition.
Until the end of 2007, Netflix had no long-term debt on its books, but it began to
acquire long-term debt in 2008 as a result of its decision to invest in building a strong
content library and expand overseas. At the end of 2011, Netflix had US$508 million in
cash and US$200 million in long-term debt.
Netflix’s Success
Netflix went from being a company that exclusively mailed DVDs to the largest media
delivery company in the world by making some smart strategic decisions. For instance,
Netflix jumped on the streaming bandwagon even though it was not really ready. At the
time, the online content available for streaming was extremely limited—less than 10%
of the content that was available from Nettlix’s DVDs holdings.
At that time, Netflix’s mail-order DVD business was very popular, and customers
did not seem to mind waiting a day or two for their DVDs, Netflix then went ahead and
offered streaming content, a bold decision that anticipated an as yet unexpressed need
for the immediate gratification of streaming, and made Netilix the first entrant into the
market for streamed video. It was clear to Netilix that the use of DVDs would gradually
decline, and Netflix’s aggressive adoption of streaming videos was a sharp marketing
move, that gave it an edge in the global economy.
After its initial launch of online streaming, Netflix kept up to date with new trends
and customer preferences, especially the quickly changing preferences of Generation Y,
which were influenced by branding, social media, and media saturation, Netflix utilized
all the platforms that Generation Y would find appealing, from computers and TVs, to
‘Smartphones and tablets.
Continually bearing in mind that the two most important things for Netflix’s cus-
tomers were price per content, and quality of content, Netflix kept its priorities straight
and never stopped improving the quality of its content, or the platforms for delivering
that content,
Netflix also focused on increasing customer engagement, It allowed customers to
rate movies they viewed, thereby enhancing the customer experience and creating a
community of viewers. And, by tracking the movies a customer viewed, Netflix was able
to track customer preferences, and offer targeted recommendations for viewing, Netflix
also exploited customer loyalty to attract new customers, for instance, through its “refer-
a-friend” offer of one free month of service for both the new customer and the referrer
to attract new users who wanted to try the service risk-free.[Link]
CASE 15. Netix
The 2011 Price Increase/Rebranding Debacle
Netflix continued to grow robustly by offering a combined DVD mail and unlimited
streaming service at a flat rate of USS9.99 a month, a rate that was key to Netflix’s ability
to offer a great value for money service. But with increased competition and expensive
new content deals, the company found it increasingly difficult to maintain its operating
margin levels. In the third quarter of 2011, Netflix implemented a 60% price increase,
from US$10 to US$16 a month for unlimited streaming and DVDs by mail, which imme-
diately resulted in the loss of 800,000 subscribers, pointing to the company’s very limited
latitude with regard to pricing.
In response, Netflix took action that very shortly proved disastrous. In addition to
raising its prices and shifting its business model to focus on online streaming. Netilix
also attempted to restructure its operations by spinning off its DVD delivery ser-
vice and rebranding it Owikster. Rebranding a well-known product or service such
as Netflix usually only works if a company was trying to simplify its brand, almost
never the other way around, which was, unfortunately what Netflix tried to do. Netilix
attempted to introduce a new entity, Owikster, by splitting the old entity into two:
with two separate websites, two separate queues, two separate sets of recommenda-
tions, two separate customer bases, two separate billing avenues, and two new sets
of rules customer had to learn about, While Netflix had banked on the competitive
advantage of offering “affordability, instant access and usability,” the introduction of
a separate website undercut instant access and usability. Customers, critics, and Wall
Street responded harshly.
Apart from losing over 800,000 subscribers after its price increase, and losing half
of its market capitalization, Netilix’s rebranding strategy did not seem justifiable to its
customers
Netflix botched the rebranding because it neglected due diligence prior to Iaunch-
ing it and its price increases, Market research would surely have indicated customer
resistance to both. Heavily focused on increasing profits, Netilix did not effectively
strategize the rebranding! repricing plan, nor did it anticipate resistance or prepare
strategy implementation scenarios. A new strategy should not only increase revenues
and profits, it should consider relationship and brand image gains and losses. In spring-
ing the rebranding on customers, Netflix undercut the quality of the experience it had
previously offered, and the negative reaction was not mitigated by the company’s public
apology or its rescinding ofits decision to split its services. The botched rebranding led to
a dilution of Netilix’s brand, and loss of customer trust. Re-establishing its brand image
became a priority for Netflix, though it was not very easy to do. The company needed to
offer something genuinely useful to its customers at just the right cost, while increasing
the quality of the content offered and enhancing customer experien
Finally, in order for Netflix to expand internationally, it needed to invest in the
technological infrastructure in the international markets that it lacked but which it des-
perately needs due to heavy competitions and other legal concerns that appear there,
Strategic Challenges Ahead for Netflix
Netflix’s top management needed to address many issues to maintain the company’s
Icading position in the home video market. A strategic plan was needed to:
1. Repair the PR damage from the rebranding and price increases of 2011
2. Focus on growing its subscriber base both at home and abroad.[Link]
cases xox:
3. Maintain a healthy cash position to meet the growing content cost obligations.
4, Invest in innovative user interface and streaming technologies to create a solid
platform for the shift from DVD delivery to streaming.
REFERENCES
Blockbuster Wins 3-Month Restructuring Extension, Reuters. 20,
Jan 2011, URL: bttpit cofiZPsUiS
Video On Demand, Wikipedia, Accessed:
‘rtpen wikipedia orpwikiVideo_on_demand
Netflix Annual SEC Report (2010) URLhttplifiles shareholder
‘com/dowaloads/NFLX/1159919179x0xS1193125,
“10-36181/1065280/ing pe
bupssfwww [Link]/eompany-histories/Nettlix
-lac-company-History bul
2 10-K Netflix Annual Report - 2010
Hoovers company profile Netix Inc.
etx Inc. Company Profile, 23 Jun, 2010
blip:/[Link],coms/2011/10/24technology/netilix_earninge
‘index him
Datamonitor. Blockbuster Ine. Company Protile. 30 Dee. 2010
[Link].comirelease_20110811
bupu/[Link]/business/2011/08/walmarts
-facebook-powered-future/41843)
bttpi//[Link]/Innovation/2011/0713
ive-alternalives(o-NeUlix/Amazon-Prime-instant-video
[Link]/mohanpinetfix html
Information System: A Manager's Guide to Harnessing ~ John.
Gallaugher
FY 2008, and June 2009 market cap figures for both firms
[btp:fwww [Link]/newsroom/financial_only
html
ttp:[Link]/[Link]?
sirobreportsOther
Movies to Go, The Economist. Tuly 9, 2005
bUpsinsight kellogg northwestern. edwindex php/Kellogg,
Jartcle's_eurprising_secret_to_netflixs runaway_saccess
Intpisearchenierprisewan techtarget comidetinition*bandwigth
bltp:/[Link]/posts2011/06/02/nmessee_netfix_law_
new_measure makes illegal to_share_login tal
tp Jwww wired conthreatlevel2011/09ineifix-video-privacy!
[Link]-warner-netfix-sued-providing
-captions-video-streams!
bhstps//[Link]/8301-13578_3-20072619-38/netflix
-sued-by-deat-group-over-lack-of-subites!
[Link]/PS_cacheles/pa¥[Link]
tpi nytimes con/2010/08/ technology’ Snettix html
‘tp [Link].con8301-10784_3.9926311-7 hak
1664%
NOTES
1. hupsi/[Link]/company-histories
(Netilix-Ine-company-History htm
2, 10-K Nett Annual Report - 2010,
5, Hoovers company profile ~ Netix Inc.
4 Datamonitor, Netflix Ine. Company Profile, 23 Jun, 2010.
5. Datamonitor, Netix Ine. Company Profle, 23 Jun, 2010
S&P Net Advantage
IDC Technology Research Firm Source: S&P Industry Survey
10-0 Netix Quarterly Fillings-03-2013
10-K Netilix Annual Report - 2010. bttp://[Link]
.com/2011/08/31/teeh/mobile/smartphone-market-share-
sgahzansindex biml
S&P Industry Survey
10-0 Netflix Quarterly Fillings-O3-201
‘Morningstar Analyst Report
Euromonitor Bentley Librery Database
http:[Link]/[Link]/time-spent
-[Link]/
‘Media Usage ée Online Behavior —Mintel Report Oct 2011
tps www routers com/article/2011/10/31/ue-netfixdisney
igUSTRE79U0042011103
utpsl/[Link],com/magazine/content/0S_43/
'[Link].
‘Mintel Tavestment Reseaseh
“Ansal Shareholder letter Netix 2011
Contolidated Financial Statement 10k
‘Netix 10k 2011,
Netflix Factsheet
upsiiwww. google com/adplanneriplanning/ste_profiletsiteDe
‘ails?identfier=[Link] Quarterly Letter to the
shareholders 30 2011
utp:liwww. [Link]/articles/2S6810/20111128/nettlix,
estimates-revised:elferies-guidance-capita-raise htm
Company Filings 8k 3
Blockbuster Creditors Should Call k Quis, Poll Says, TheStreet,
30 Jan 2011. URL: hitp:tco/TeSPlun
[Blockbuster Wine 3-month Restructuring Extension, Reuters, 20
Jan 2011, URL: hitps/teoliZPsUiS
Grossman, Robert J. Tough Love at Netix. UR Magazine (Apr
2010): 36-41
Fuoco-Karasinski, Netflix Bucks Traditional Total Rewards,
‘WorldatWork workspan (8107)
Jetirey, & Holding, Reynolds. Incentives Play Role in
‘Success of Netix. The New York Times. (May 8, 2011)
-upililes shareholder com/downloads/NFLXI2097821 30130456
1754/3715dal8-1753-4e34-Sba7-18dd28050673(NFLX_10K
ae
Innpi netfix comimanagementcfzn
Goll
6, [Link]/index. php
‘Kellogg/artclea_ surprising seetet_to_netflixs runaway,
17. hutp:/[Link]/2011/10/24/technologyinettlix_
‘carningsindex tan
8, S&P Advantage[Link]
CASE 15. Netix
».
1.
L
2
1
rs
6B
16.
1.
1
wv.
2.
2.
IDC Technology Research Firm Source: S&P Industry
Survey
10-0 Netix Quarterly Flings - 3-201
bips!/[Link],
ibandwidth
Consolidat
10-K Netflix Annual Report
10-K Netflix Annual Report ~ 2010
-[Link]/2011/08/31/tech’mobile/smariphon
market share-gabranfindex html
“&P Industry Survey
Euromonitor, Bentley University Library Database
S&P Industry Survey
bpeliwww google com/adplanner/planning/ste_profile#
siteDetais?identifier=megauploadcom
Media Usage & Online B Mintel Report Oc
2011
tpi reuters. com/artcle20L1/10°3/a4-netflindisney
-idUSTRE79U00420111031
1d Financial Statement 10-K,
2010
1. [Link]/Tnnovation/2011
psi [Link]/magazine/contenti05_43
43956201 him
‘Ansial Shareholder Letter - Netix 2011
Datamonitor, Blockbuster Ine, Company Profile. 30 Dee
2010
upsiwww-redbox.comirelease_20110811
http:ifwww-theatlantiewire com/business/2011/08,
-walmart-facebook-powered-futurel 41843)
713
ideo
(ie-allernalives-o-NeUlixAmazon-Prime-instant
-[Link]/mohanpinetiix html
9. Taformation System: A manager's guide to harnessing =
John Gallaugher
). Movies to Go. The Economist. July 9, 2005
‘Morningstar Investment Report
Quarterly letter tothe shareholders 30 2011
(Quarterly letter to the shareholders 30 2011
Company Filings ~ 8K 30
10-0 Netflix Quarterly Filings - Q3-2011