Netflix in deal to pay Verizon for faster access

Netflix Inc has reached a deal to pay Verizon Communications Inc for faster delivery of its TV shows and movies, the second arrangement to pay fees for quicker access that the company argues should be free.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

In February, Netflix struck a deal with Comcast Corp to pay for faster delivery over the Internet through a practice known as interconnection. Weeks later, Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings said he had reluctantly agreed to pay the fees so his customers would get better service.

Hastings, in a blog post in March, called on broadband providers to make adequate connections available to Netflix for free, but said Netflix might reach deals to pay other providers in the short term.

On Monday, Netflix spokesman Joris Evers said "we have reached an interconnect arrangement with Verizon that we hope will improve performance for our joint customers over the coming months."

Verizon spokesman Bob Varettoni confirmed the deal.

"We reached this agreement to deliver improved service for our combined customers," he said.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/netfli...005948574.html

Hi AZuser,

In order to continue adding more movies and TV shows, we are increasing our price from $7.99 to $8.99 for new members. As a thank you for being a member of Netflix already, we guarantee that your plan and price will not change for two years.

You can review your membership details at any time by visiting Your Account. As always, if you have questions, we are happy to answer them. Please call us at any time at 1-888-357-1516.

–The Netflix Team

Netflix Seeks OK for More Shares in Step Toward Split

Netflix Inc. is asking investors to approve a huge increase in the company’s share authorization, a prelude to a possible stock split.

The company, the largest online subscription video service, wants to increase the shares authorized to 5 billion from 170 million now, according to a regulatory filing Friday. Investors will vote at the June 9 annual meeting.

Netflix, based in Los Gatos, California, wants greater flexibility for dividends, possible equity financing, option grants or acquisitions, according to the filing. The company doesn’t have any current plan to issues shares for mergers or to raise money.

“At a lower price point, there’s a perception the stock is more accessible,” Anne-Marie Squeo, a Netflix spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.

“The company is preparing for a stock split,” said Paul Sweeney, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence. Netflix “would like to make its shares more attractive to retail investors. Reducing the per share price via a stock split is one way to do that.”

Netflix in Talks to Take Content to China

Talks with Chinese online broadcasters BesTV and Wasu are in early stages

BEIJING— Netflix Inc. is in talks with Chinese online broadcasting companies about bringing its content to China, executives at the Chinese companies said. The move comes after Netflix executives said they plan an aggressive global push as subscriber growth slows in the U.S.

The talks are in early stages, the executives said. Complications include Chinese censors and potentially objectionable content in some of Netflix’s programming.

“We would love to cooperate with Netflix considering its global influence,” said Xu Feng, vice president of Shanghai-based BesTV New Media Co. “But we need to take note of the obstacles, including policy restrictions on foreign online content.”

Wasu Media Holding Co. , an online media company backed by a group that includes Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Executive Chairman Jack Ma, has also spoken with Netflix, an executive with the company said. The executive cited similar concerns about new restrictions on online content.

A Netflix spokeswoman declined to comment.

“House of Cards,” an original Netflix series starring Kevin Spacey as the scheming U.S. politician Frank Underwood, is already popular in China. Wang Qishan, China’s powerful anticorruption czar, has told people that he watches the show, according to those who have spoken to him.

The first two seasons of the show were a top draw on a Chinese video streaming site run by Sohu.com Inc. But the third season hasn’t been shown there yet, following new Chinese restrictions that forbid foreign shows being shown on local sites before the full seasons are reviewed by China’s media regulator.

The delay gives Chinese officials time to screen episodes for objectionable content such as sex, violence and political material that could upset Beijing. Because of the delay, China became the top pirated video downloader of the show’s third season, piracy-tracking firm Excipio said.

“House of Cards” has material that could give Chinese investors pause, including sex and violence. One second-season plotline involved a corrupt Chinese businessman.


The Wasu executive said the company has talked with Netflix several times since February about bringing Netflix content to mobile phones, video-streaming and Internet TV in China. “We are still taking time to know each other better because America’s content industry is very different from China’s,” said the executive with the Hangzhou-based Wasu.

In a letter to investors in January, Netflix said its preference is to “operate a small service in China centered on our original and other globally-licensed content.”

Netflix investors approve share increase, company to pursue stock split

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) shareholders on Tuesday approved a massive increase in the number of shares the company is authorized to issue, the first step toward a possible stock split.

Chief Executive Reed Hastings said at the company's annual meeting that management will seek approval from the board of directors "in due course" to pursue a stock split, Netflix spokeswoman Anne Marie Squeo said.

The video-streaming service won approval to raise its share authorization by nearly 30 times to 5 billion from 170 million.

The company is the top performer on the Nasdaq 100 (.NDX) this year, with shares nearly doubling to close at $647.15 on Tuesday. Its shares touched a record high of $645.54 during trading.

Netflix has been focusing on international expansion as growth slows in the United States, where it has reshaped TV viewing habits since it was first launched in 2007.

Shareholders also approved non-binding proposals to elect board members annually, to require a simple majority vote for all measures, and to increase the ability of investors to nominate directors.

Netflix acquires Brad Pitt's 'War Machine' for its biggest original movie yet

The streaming video giant announced on Monday that it is producing and distributing "War Machine," a new movie that will star Pitt and come out late next year.

"War Machine" will play in a small number of theaters, but its main home will be Netflix. The streaming service's Twitter account heralded the news this way: "Brad Pitt goes to war in new Netflix film."

Landing Pitt's movie is a coup for the service, which is trying to change the way movies are released all around the world.

Netflix doesn't want its users to have to wait months or even years for movies to leave theaters before they're available online.

And it's spending millions of dollars to make its vision a reality.

Deadline.com reported that "War Machine" "will be the biggest investment Netflix will have made so far in a feature film, in the $30 million range."

Pitt, of course, is one of the biggest box office draws in Hollywood, starring in classic films like "Fight Club" and the "Ocean's Eleven" series, so his association with Netflix makes a big statement.

"We are so excited to be a part of the inspiring commitment by Netflix to produce cutting-edge content and to deliver it to a global audience," Pitt said in a statement.

The announcement may also escalate the tension between Netflix and theater owners.

"War Machine" will star Pitt as a "rock star" general who commands the American war effort in Afghanistan. Netflix called it a "provocative satirical comedy" to be directed by David Michôd.

"'War Machine' is a rip-roaring, behind-the-facade tale of modern war decision-makers, from the corridors of power to the distant regions of America's ambitions," Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in a statement. "Brad and David are a perfect team to make this timely, compelling and entertaining film."

The movie is based on "The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan," a book by the acclaimed reporter Michael Hastings, who died in 2013.

Hastings' reporting led to the dismissal of Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

Netflix did not announce a release date, but the movie will come out sometime late next year.

Besides Pitt, Netflix has made deals in the past to work with some of Hollywood's biggest names.

For example, the company also has original movies in the works with Adam Sandler. That deal will have Sandler producing and starring in four feature films exclusively on the service.

In April, Netflix announced that a new original comedy film written and starring Ricky Gervais would premiere next year.

And Netflix will be spending the holidays with Bill Murray for the company's Christmas special, "A Very Murray Christmas," in December.

The price — the amount a stock is worth — is NEVER a reason to buy or not buy a stock. The reason to buy or not buy (or sell!) a stock is because of what you think the company is worth, meaning how much a company makes in profit, or what you think it could make in the future, and so on.

LOS GATOS, Calif., June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a seven-for-one stock split to be effected in the form of a stock dividend of six additional shares of common stock for each outstanding share of common stock. The stock dividend will be payable on July 14, 2015 to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 2, 2015. The new shares will be delivered by Netflix's transfer agent Computershare Trust Company.

Netflix stock will begin trading regular way at the post-split price on July 15, 2015. Any shares purchased between the July 2, 2015 record date and the July 14, 2015 payment date will come with a "due-bill" entitling the buyer to six additional shares for each share purchased.