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    Movie Talk

    No Bottom for Netflix?

    310-netflix_193229It's going to get worse before it gets better. At least that's one financial analyst's opinion on the future of Netflix.

    The once high-flying DVD-and-streaming company has fallen from grace following a summer of price hikes and ill-advised spinoffs. Though the company later abandoned plans to spin off its DVD business (to the relief of many), Netflix stock is still tanking like a Nic Cage movie.

    On Wednesday, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities downgraded the company's stock from "neutral" to "underperform." Pachter also said, "There may be no bottom to the company's 2012 losses."  We're not financial wizards, but from what we learned from "Wall Street," investors don't like it when a financial analyst uses words like "underperform" and "broken business model."

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    Web lookups in Netflix's stock soared on the news. Searches for "nflx stock price" and "netflix stock" more than doubled. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the actual value of its stock. On Wednesday, the stock fell around 6.5%. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ composite was up more than 3%.

    The company is a long way from collapse, but it's worth noting that Web searches for "netflix vs new coke" and "netflix ford edsel" are popular among folks looking to compare the company's self-destruction to other infamous business flops. But whereas Ford and Coca-Cola both came back strong, the jury is still out on whether Netflix can survive its own missteps.

    Netflix has said that it would report a loss in 2012. The company is trying to raise $400 million to help offset its subscriber loss and the rising cost of content.

     

    2,052 comments

    • Sinsemilla  •  5 months ago
      Good. That's what they get for raising your prices by 60% just after posting record profits the quarter before.
      • Special K 5 months ago
        Price increases are a simple inevitability. The WAY they did it is what killed them. Clearly they are interested in eventually becoming a streaming only company - they've made no mistakes about that. However, shoving it down customers throats as a price increase, trying to price them out of the DVD service, was an assinine way to do it.This was particularly obnoxious considering the content on the streaming service largely sucks.

        Compounding that mistake by continuing to shove the service separation between streaming and DVD by splitting the company and not only calling it an improvement for the customer, but bundling it with an apology was just a GROSS miunderstanding of their customers or a flat out arrogant move. It's amazing how colossally such a previously good company managed to screw up.
      • Scottie K 5 months ago
        I agree Sinsemilla. When the prices went up, I cancelled.
    • ABOB  •  5 months ago
      Bring back the old plans and you'd have truckloads of customers return. Park your pride, admit the mistake and move on. Otherwise, enjoy the path you've made for yourself.
      • Rich 5 months ago
        Wouldn't work. When they jacked up the prices, they caused their customers (including me) to see what other options were out there. And when we did that, we left.
      • Sterling 5 months ago
        What other options are out there? Does Blockbuster send movies out?
      • candacea 5 months ago
        I would never return just on principal...smartest thing they could have done would have been to retract the price hike idea before it went into effect and everyone cancelled - I would have stayed if they had retracted it before it went into effect, but they chose to ignore the uproar, and this is what they get - I am glad we made a point!
    • Thrasher  •  5 months ago
      I believe the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies. Greedy morons.
      • Ka'iwi Cooke 5 months ago
        You got that right! This is what happens when companies try to re-invent the wheel.
      • Alex 5 months ago
        All the blame should go to the greedy content providers, they suck. Netflix has no choice but to play by their rules.
      • Leroy O. Jackson 5 months ago
        Netflix had a choice. They rushed their price hike and tried to squeeze every dollar out of their subscribers. Look for a comeback by Blockbuster.
    • tommy  •  5 months ago
      Netflix meet Karma...when you screw your customers you screw yourselves!
      • William 5 months ago
        What a stupid move for management!! Are they Senators or Represenitives?? Sounds like our govt. Let the Bonuses begin.
      • Blake 5 months ago
        They are probably run by the so-called government
      • Paul R 5 months ago
        This is one time that that adage actually applies. I have seen so many companies screw their customers without any real backlash, that it was rather surprising to see this. And gratifying, I must admit.
    • ̀̀♀  •  5 months ago
      They are getting what they deserve. You just DON'T hike fees 60% and not expect some sort of backlash.
      • jerry 5 months ago
        hey! stop this gossip.. I love Netflix, I get to watch my favorites online.. how awesome it that ? Who cares what they say the company has done to others, it's what the company does for me most vital & I'll say I'm very happy with Netflix. You seriously need to get on with your life, you worry to much my friend.
      • Cade 5 months ago
        Jerry, you disagree with the above poster but at this moment there are 117 thumbs up compared to 4 thumbs down for said poster.
      • RoseH 5 months ago
        I think it was their uncaring for their customers feelings, needs, wants or wallets... essentially the same attitude in Congress and the W House causing people to occupy...
        seems to be catching...
    • Nicole  •  5 months ago
      I think the CEO should be fired. He started this whole mess. I switched to just streaming and there doesnt ever seem to be anything newer on there. So I will probably end up cancelling it all.
    • sleepingliv  •  5 months ago
      It is a real shame that this company fell victim to greed, especially since the founder began his endeavor feeling ripped off at the late charges his video rental store was charging him.
    • Douglas  •  5 months ago
      Fact is the movie studios don't like Netflix because they think they can make more money other ways (not sure what those are). Those same studios are making it harder and harder for Netflix to get content (ie: the 28 day wait, constantly raising prices, etc.) and will eventually make it so hard that Netflix can't survive. Of course those studios don't realize that once Netflix is gone they won't get any of that money any more, but no one has ever accused the movie and recording industries of being very smart with their product.
    • Dave  •  5 months ago
      See what happens when you get greedy Netflix?????
    • Objective Realist  •  5 months ago
      All companies and banks need to learn a lesson from this. We, as customers, are tied of getting the short end of the stick! Straighten up and fly right or suffer for trying to rip us off (that includes all the nickel and dime or hidden fee crap)!
    • xlr8  •  5 months ago
      They're running around like chickens with their heads cut off with no clue in the world what to do. Simply go back to where it was before this all happened. I'm about to cancel Netflix just because their streaming sucks now, too. Put on movies that are known...none of these 1 star rated pieces of crap.
    • NicoleP  •  5 months ago
      They should lower the price back down and maybe, just maybe some of their old customers will come back. The price hike was stupid!
    • David D  •  5 months ago
      They can still undo the stupidity and lower their prices (to fall in line with what others are doing) This is called cutting your losses. Dont try to keep lying and say that you were right and you made the right move when you really fell into a big pile of your own bull****.
    • Jeff R  •  5 months ago
      So, the CEO made these bad decisions and it's killing the company? Why has it not been announced that he has been fired? It's a public company. He doesn't own the place. Fire his dumb ***. No, next thing we will read on Yahoo! is how big of a bonus he got this year.
    • Vader  •  5 months ago
      Netflix has created an environment of hate and discontent from the consumer. You don't double your price and pull some razzle dazzle bull and think it is going to be okay with members. The problem is that Blockbuster is no solution to the problems at Netflix, because their model is riddled with even more greed.
    • Mimi  •  5 months ago
      We canceled our DVD portion of the plan when they decided on the price hike. I wish they would add more/newer content to their streaming service. Now it's mainly "B" list movies and below. I Hope they can add more if not we may cancel in the next year...
    • Anonymous  •  5 months ago
      Karma is a B****
    • USA  •  5 months ago
      Reed Hastings: 1st "Were raising prices 60%" 2nd "Oh, uh, we did that because were splitting into two divisions" 3rd "Ok, were arent splitting into 2 divisions anymore" But did they lower their rates back down? NO.
    • Ken  •  5 months ago
      And the lesson here is? Don't get too greedy..................they will walk away. Maybe someday the big banks will get the same customer support. Walk away.
    • dirt  •  5 months ago
      Netflix has lost its credibility with its customers. Once this trust is broken it will never be mended or forgotten. They are gone.

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