Netflix's Would-Be Competitors Must Get This 1 Thing Right

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is set to face a bunch of new competition in the very near future. Disney (NYSE: DIS) is launching Disney+ and plans to ramp up investments in Hulu. Still other big media companies are starting their own subscription streaming services. Even tech companies, like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), are joining the market with subscription services. Then there’s the growing number of free ad-supported streaming options.” data-reactid=”11″>Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is set to face a bunch of new competition in the very near future. Disney (NYSE: DIS) is launching Disney+ and plans to ramp up investments in Hulu. Still other big media companies are starting their own subscription streaming services. Even tech companies, like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), are joining the market with subscription services. Then there’s the growing number of free ad-supported streaming options.

In determining how big a threat these new competitors are to Netflix, investors should consider why consumers subscribe to the streaming service in the first place. Analyst Michael Nathanson recently conducted a survey of U.S. Netflix users asking them to rate the importance of certain factors in their decision to subscribe to the service. Here’s what he found and what it means for Netflix investors.

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Image source: Netflix

<h2 class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="All about the experience” data-reactid=”25″>All about the experience

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="While consumers say they&nbsp;love the original series and films on Netflix, what they like even more (in aggregate) is the user experience. Respondents rated not being interrupted by ads, the ability to choose what they watch, and the option to binge-watch as their top reasons for subscribing.” data-reactid=”26″>While consumers say they love the original series and films on Netflix, what they like even more (in aggregate) is the user experience. Respondents rated not being interrupted by ads, the ability to choose what they watch, and the option to binge-watch as their top reasons for subscribing.

In other words, subscribers really care about the general experience of ad-free on-demand streaming.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Indeed, the most popular shows on Netflix aren’t its original series. For example, when Netflix was about to let its license for Friends lapse in 2019 , it caved to subscriber pressure and spent the $100 million to license the 20-year-old show for another year.” data-reactid=”28″>Indeed, the most popular shows on Netflix aren’t its original series. For example, when Netflix was about to let its license for Friends lapse in 2019 , it caved to subscriber pressure and spent the $100 million to license the 20-year-old show for another year.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="If consumers just want an ad-free, on-demand binge-watching service, though, that leaves the door wide open for competition. Apple, notably, creates excellent user experiences with its software and services. That may be one reason the company's been able to grow its Apple Music streaming service so quickly despite having the same 50 million songs as everyone else in the space. A similarly enjoyable experience with Apple TV+ could produce the same subscriber growth results in video streaming — and potentially steal some of Netflix’s market share.” data-reactid=”29″>If consumers just want an ad-free, on-demand binge-watching service, though, that leaves the door wide open for competition. Apple, notably, creates excellent user experiences with its software and services. That may be one reason the company’s been able to grow its Apple Music streaming service so quickly despite having the same 50 million songs as everyone else in the space. A similarly enjoyable experience with Apple TV+ could produce the same subscriber growth results in video streaming — and potentially steal some of Netflix’s market share.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="On the positive side, Netflix likely doesn't have to worry about the growth of free, ad-supported&nbsp;streaming services such as Amazon‘s (NASDAQ: AMZN) planned expansion of IMDb Free Dive.” data-reactid=”30″>On the positive side, Netflix likely doesn’t have to worry about the growth of free, ad-supported streaming services such as Amazon‘s (NASDAQ: AMZN) planned expansion of IMDb Free Dive.

<h2 class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Focus on what differentiates them” data-reactid=”31″>Focus on what differentiates them

Almost any company can offer a premium ad-free subscription video service with just a little bit of work.

In order to get consumers to subscribe, they need something other competitors don’t have. For Apple, that’s an install base of 1.4 billion devices, the ability to attract high-quality talent, and the cash to give that talent free rein to do whatever they want. For Disney, it’s a plethora of high-quality intellectual property, a handful of top production studios, and the best streaming technology in the industry.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="But Netflix clearly has something users want besides the ability to stream content ad-free. If consumers simply wanted an ad-free, on-demand, binge-watching service, there are several options cheaper than Netflix, including Amazon Prime. But Netflix's subscriber numbers are only getting bigger as it&nbsp;raises its pricing. Netflix’s pricing power is an indication that subscribers are interested in more than just a good user experience. As a result, Netflix may not have to worry as much&nbsp;about a company like Apple, with its superb design chops, coming in and stealing subscribers away.” data-reactid=”34″>But Netflix clearly has something users want besides the ability to stream content ad-free. If consumers simply wanted an ad-free, on-demand, binge-watching service, there are several options cheaper than Netflix, including Amazon Prime. But Netflix’s subscriber numbers are only getting bigger as it raises its pricing. Netflix’s pricing power is an indication that subscribers are interested in more than just a good user experience. As a result, Netflix may not have to worry as much about a company like Apple, with its superb design chops, coming in and stealing subscribers away.

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