Netflix CEO Predicts Streaming will Jump Ahead of Cable in 3-5 Years

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Netflix CEO Reed Hastings told attendees at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York that streaming video will grow to replace cable as the viewing option of choice within 3-5 years. In reality, streaming video could leapfrog ahead of cable even sooner than that, but as Netflix gets ready to renew contracts with Hollywood studios, he might want to keep his cards closer to his chest.

Studios still prefer cable, where they have more control over their content. Starz, you might recall, opted not to renew its contract with Netflix, a decision that was reportedly made because Netflix refused to charge subscribers a premium for access to Starz content. Studios want the consumer to expect premium channels and content to cost more, and Netflix's all-you-can-consume media buffet threatens that mindset.

Regardless, studios will only be able to fight the transition to streaming for so long, and despite some recent bumps in the road, Netflix intends to not only ride the wave, but create them.

"We have got to get as big as we can before the rest of the world catches up," Hastings said, according to an AP report.

Netflix isn't alone, and Hastings identified one competitor in particular that keeps him up at nights.

"The competitor we fear the most... is HBO Go," Hastings said. "The two of us will compete for a very long time."

Both Netflix and HBO Go are spending billions of dollars on content every year, putting them a league of their own. Verizon could emerge as another competitor, but at this early stage, the chatter didn't elicit so much as a casual shout out by Hastings.

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Hopefully, Netflix gets its act back together before they get handicapped by big ISP companies.

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News Followup:

Verizon to Strike Netflix While the Iron is Hot (and Customers are Pissed)

Word to the wise, if you're planning to attack Netflix and make a serious attempt at stealing away its streaming customers, now is the time to do it. Netflix subscribers -- the ones who haven't fled -- are an excuse away from jumping ship, and surprising as it sounds, Verizon Communications might be the one to push them over the edge (insert your own 'Can you hear me now' joke here).

Reuters is reporting that Verizon plans to launch a standalone streaming media service for watching movies and TV shows over the Web. The company is in talks with programming partners, and if all goes to plan, Verizon will roll the service out in 2012 to around 85 million U.S. homes.

Color us skeptical. People with knowledge of the plans told Reuters programming would be limited, which is the last thing streaming refugees want to hear. Still, it's intriguing, unless you're a Verizon FiOS customer, in which case there's nothing to see here. As it stands, Verizon is only planning to launch its service in markets where it doesn't offer FiOS.

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[alaindc]

All these tv shows and movies sreaming content, and they promise HD content soon...BUT

all major ISP in Canada (some in US) want to cap our bandwich, and pay insane money per gig above the limit.

Even now, we pay more to have ridiculous transfert rate, and low limit.