Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) sees a "complete, natural partnership" with the broadband side of cable, CEO Reed Hastings said during the Q&A portion of the over-the-top service provider's recent earnings call. "With a video side, we're a channel, we're sort of tolerated, we're not a big threat but it's hard to see why it makes sense for them to help us grow," he added.
Both views may be a bit generous if you listen to Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC-WI) Chairman-CEO Glenn Britt's analysis during his own earnings call Q&A, who was asked specifically about Netflix and its potential impact on TWC.
"It's dangerous to be too specific about a given company," he said, before noting that Netflix "started with a very clever model built on the first-sale doctrine" and has combined that with a "clever interface on the Web. Overall, though, he said he would "question the ultimate value-add of what they're doing."
Britt was a little closer to Hastings' way of thinking when it came to broadband since OTT "uses our infrastructure so it's not a horrible thing for us at the end of the day."
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