Movie streaming giant Netflix has set its sights on being in a position to outbid the UK’s Sky TV for movies in less than 1 year.
For some time now Netflix have been voicing concerns over the ‘near monopoly’ that has been afforded to Sky television, thus making it extremely difficult for the Nasdaq listed, Californian based company to make any serious inroads into the UK streaming movie market.
Netflix has given it a self-imposed target of under 1 year to be in a position to wrestle away a host of top movies from under the noses of Sky TV; however it should be noted that if it fails in this audacious plan it may well resort to urging the UK’s anti-trust and media regulators to issue a 2nd monopoly commission probe against the BSkyB company.
Earlier this year the commission ruled in favour of the Sky TV deal that includes the rights for 6 Hollywood studios movies doesn’t overly dominate the UK marketplace.
Meaningful FSPTW movie content
The row will centre of Netflix’s opportunities to provide meaningful first pay-TV subscription window (FSPTW) movies.
Netflix responded by describing the recent conclusion by the media commission as being, “dangerous”, they went on to add that, “If in the forthcoming year, it becomes obvious that we and the other Sky competitors aren’t able to obtain significant FSPTW fights from the other movie studios, this might demonstrate that the continued market dominance by Sky TV has resulted in Netflix having no option but to find other routes for the acquisition of FSPTW content.
It will certainly be an interesting 12 months, to see who can come out on top of this clash of the movie titans, Netflix haven’t got into the position in the market place by backing down and rolling over – so with that in mind, watch out Sky TV.
BSkyB not overly concerned
Although at this stage it has been reported that Sky TV are not overly concerned by Netflix’s recent challenges to their own movie rights, word out of BSkyB is that they, “don’t perceive Netflix as a threat.”
Those could well be what is often referred to as ‘famous last words’, as the American company will be keen to flex its muscle in attempting to secure an increase in FSPTW rights, since coming into the UK’s and Ireland’s movie streaming market earlier this year.
This could be seen as a major opportunity for the company to establish itself as a leading player in the UK streaming movie market place.
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