Cable

摘要

A rumored Netflix app for cable set-top boxes probably won’t happen, said MoffettNathanson analystrnCraig Moffett in a blog post Friday (http://bit.ly/1exp8UZ). Cable operators would likely want a cutrnof Netflix's profit to allow the service on their set-top boxes, but it’s unlikely that cut would match thernprofit cable operators get from HBO, he said. Moffett said Netflix is positioning itself as a competitor tornHBO, so if the availability of Netflix on set-top boxes starts to cut into HBO subscription revenue, itrnwould represent lost funds for operators. “If there is any cannibalization of HBO whatsoever, that’s a badrntrade,” said Moffett. A Netflix deal would also threaten HBO’s and Showtime’s relationships with cablernoperators, he said. “Would not HBO (and Showtime) then be forced to at least consider going direct-toconsumerrnthemselves, cutting out the cable operator entirely in response to cable’s traitorous Netflixrndeal?” A Netflix deal would also likely affect the sale of on-demand video, and the profit of content producersrnin turn, Moffett said. On the regulatory side, it’s not clear how Netflix’s traffic would countrnagainst data caps or for usage-based pricing, and granting Netflix preferred status could affect the net neutralityrndebate, said Moffett. “Even something as simple as putting a Netflix app on a set top box is fraughtrnwith complexity.” Another analyst wrote last week that a Netflix/cable deal could help operators avoidrnnew broadband-pricing regulation (CD Oct 16 p17).