Netflix versus Blockbuster versus Video-on-Demand Strategic Issues in the Case Founded in 1999, Netflix is an online DVD rental service whose strategy and market success were predicted on providing an expansive selection of DVDs, an easy way to choose movies, and fast, free delivery via postal mail. The company’s strategic intent was to be the world’s largest and most influential movie supplier. The goal of the company was to make it a lot easier for customers to select and rent movies and to eliminate the hassles involved in picking up and returning them. Its strategy incorporates customer convenience and a wide selection of entertainment selections. Netflix provides extensive information to its customers to help them make good selections and identify films that they may like to rent in the company’s vast library. Netflix’s growth strategy comprised three primary strategic issues. First, Netflix continued to pursue its reputation for innovation and to maintain the high quality level of service that its customers expected. Second, Netflix intended to use its preeminent position in the industry to lead the transition to high-definition DVD’s and eventually to digital downloading of movies on the Internet. Third, Netflix focused on rapidly expanding its subscriber base to maintain its market leadership and to realize economies of scale that will drive down costs. Netflix’s strategy was to create a blue ocean of uncontested market space within the video rental industry, an industry dominated by Blockbuster for over 20 years. Blockbuster was the world’s market leader in the videocassette, DVD, and video game rental business, earning about a 40 percent share of the $13 billion industry. Blockbuster generated most of its revenue from rentals at its company-owned and franchised brick-and-mortar stores throughout the United States and internationally. As of 2004 it still rented and sold videocassettes but revenue from rentals and sales of tapes for VCRs was falling sharply as increasing numbers of households were converting from VCRs to DVD players. In that year Blockbuster earned more than half of its revenue from DVD rentals with the remainder of its revenue generated from DVD sales and the rental and sales of video games and videocassettes. In 2002 Blockbuster had announced a strategic vision of becoming the complete source for movies and games in both the rental and sales markets. However, from 1999 to 2005 Blockbuster was a troubled company, with stagnant sales revenue and reported net losses in six of those seven years.
Expand outside of the U.S., Puerto Rico and United Kingdom (where technology is moving at a slower pace and people are not as familiar with Netflix or VOD).
§ There are a large number of substitute products. Netflix is in the business of providing personal entertainment at an affordable cost. Since any other form of entertainment is considered a substitute, Netflix?s industry is in direct competition with all other forms of entertainment, whether it be reading, physical exercise, regular television, etc. If trends in popular culture move away from those related to movies, revenues may be affected.
Companies like Amazon and Netflix are very effective in predicting what customers normally buy and watch. Knowing what your customers are or are not buying will allow you to position products that they are statistically likely to purchase based on recent transactions and activity. This is a powerful tool for Netflix because it keeps users engaged and actively using the service but also allows them to tailor their investments in content towards items that are more likely to keep users active on their site.
The video rental industry began with brick and mortar store that rented VSH tape. Enhanced internet commerce and the advent of the DVD provided a opportunity for a new avenue for securing movie rentals. In 1998 Netflix headquartered in Los Gatos California began operations as a regional online movie rental company. While the firm demonstrated that a market for online rentals existed, it was not financially successfully. Netflix lost over $11 million in 1998 and as a result significantly changed the business model in 2000. The new strategy included focusing on becoming a nationally based subscription model and focusing on enhancing the subscribers experience on their website. The change in strategic focus has allowed Netflix to grow into the largest online entertainment subscriptions service in the United States with over 6.3 million subscribers (Netflix).
Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix headquartered in Los Gatos, CA, began the company’s operations in 1997 after receiving an enormous late charge from a movie rental he returned long overdue. However, Hastings had the desire to be different than traditional movie outlets; whereas, customers had to drive to the location, pay a certain amount for each movie they rented, and were given a deadline in which to return the movie. Instead of using a method established by other video markets “to attract customers to a retail location, Netflix offered home delivery of DVDs through the mail” which eventually led to a booming business towards streaming forms of entertainment (Shih, Kaufman, & Spinola, 2009, p. 3). Today, Netflix exists along with several competitors; however, offers the most streaming content available for viewing, and continues to grow its subscriber base both domestically and globally. Although, direct and indirect competitors, acquisition costs, and several barriers present a financial threat for Netflix, the company has managed to grow with the acclamation of partnerships, expand to international territories, and vastly increase its price in shares of stock.
...mpetitive and it is difficult in order to make greatly effort for the company to keep up its competitive advantages. In addition, the company now already has global brand name and customer loyalty as well as reasonably healthy financial situation after recovering some its mistakes. Netflix could build up further its strategic plans through several viably emerging trends in the marketplace such as network neutrality, video gaming along with transmedia properties and second screen engagement. As mentioned, video games and second screen engagement could be good choices and opportunities for the company to be ongoing health in long-term. However, it should also be noted that Netflix must be committed to take action in the greatest way appropriate to international expansion approach, meeting the challenges forward and finally come out on the top of the ladder once more.
In conclusion, the vast technology change opens many opportunities for Netflix to grow. By assessing the market environment and challenges, it enables Netflix to overcome the obstacles to remain as the market leader. To achieve the future growth, Netflix should implement both strategic and tactical approaches to compete with others. The strategic and tactical business plans for Netflix are improving content libraries, developing more partnership with production firms, and staying with the low-pricing strategy.
...a remarkable opportunity to grow in the industry and lead as an innovative provider, Netflix has much opportunity to satisfy its customers and maintain their attention with their revolutionary business growth (Martala, 2009). Their success goes beyond their product. As stated, it is a combination of their culture of high performance drivers and fosters the “freedom and responsibility” mindset (Elliott, 2010). Because of their innovation and gradual entry into the market, Netflix has the competitive advantage to add layers of products for growth for years to come. Currently, Netflix has the competitive advantage to increase price and retain their current customer base. Even more beneficial, is the opportunity to attract additional subscribers with their new features. To end this, combining their products, price, culture, and strategic plan makes Netflix innovative.
[1] Halal, Bill. "How NetFlix Beat Blockbuster: An Exemplar of Emerging Technologies." William E Halal RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013.
In today’s world, advances in technology have led to the development of materials, tools, techniques, and other means that make life easier, more efficient, and more productive. Businesses in the private sector as well as the governmental organization use those models, devices, and technologies for marketing purposes to help with marketing analysis, market entrance, data tracking for decision making, productivity, ability to serve their members or partners better by supplying quality products and virtual service to promote brand lifting, customer feedback, great customer experience, and offering the right product to the targeted market. Porter's Five Forces Model is one of the frameworks that help businesses develop their market strategy and analysis. This paper will focus on the Porter Model to evaluate a prospective market entrance for a potential movie rental business. Therefore, the five criteria for the model--Buyer Power, Supplier Power, Threat of Substitution, Competitive Rivalry, Threat of New Entry, and the movie rental industry will be scrutinize.
After receiving a ridiculously high fee for returning a movie late, Reed Hastings said that there had to be a better way to rent and watch movies and TV shows from the comfort of their own homes. Hence, in 1997 Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, a software executive, co-found what is known today as Netflix, “the world’s leading internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows,” (Netflix, Facts). The purpose of this paper is to the process of exchange between Netflix and their customers, as well as Netflix’s approach to relationship marketing and how this marketing technique has helped Netflix leave their competitors in the dust when it comes to customer satisfaction.
As the firm moves forward, top managers must pay attention to staying unique to sustain a competitive advantage. Netflix does not own their content, nor do they have any tangible assets. Netflix is a part of a broad range of network users. As technology continues to grow exponentially, Netflix will have to be readily adaptive to change and innovation. Technology never stops growing and evolving, therefore, Netflix’s business platform should never stop growing and evolving. At the same time, they must be careful to remain user friendly and customer centric by keeping the technology at a level where users will not have to obtain a certain set of technological skill sets.
Netflix was established by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings in 1997 in California. Initially, the company offered a DVD-by-mail service for a monthly, flat rate subscription fee. Videos were sen...
When debating Netflix and movie theaters the factors to consider are convenience, variety, price, and the experience. These are the four most important factors, because people want the best quality that is the most cost effective. Through my research, I show that movie theaters have an unsurpassed experience associated with them, but Netflix is convenient, affordable, and has a wide array of programs.
A movie theater has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that people can see the showing of different movies that have been newly released. The disadvantage is that, that is all there is to it and nothing more. At home, you can control the variety and ways to watch a movie. People buy many movies to watch at home and it can be anything at any time even at any place. The only bad thing about it is that they cannot see any of the newest released movies that recently came out in theaters. There are two types of ways people watch movies at their homes. One way is people already own DVDs or have bought many of them and start watching them in their DVD players. The other ways are streaming a movie through the internet. For this to happen, people would mainly buy the monthly subscriptions such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. Through this subscription people do not only watch movies in their homes but they also watch television shows. The only downside is there is a very limited number of movies added onto these