Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) Chairman-CEO Brian Roberts candidly laid it on the line when the Wall Street Journal asked about Netflix. "What used to be called 'reruns' on television is now called Netflix," he said.
The comment, especially in light of Netflix's recent deal to air programs from within the CBS content library, is currently accurate but historically shaky because it misses two salient points: Most cable channels--including the new Comcast acquisition USA Network--got their start showing reruns, and Netflix has built an audience of 20 million people to see that kind of content running, most times, over the cable broadband pipe.
Still, for sheer fun and stirring the pot, the statement is classic enough to repeat.
For more:
- Business Insider has this story
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