Amazon and streaming video competitor Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) have taken to producing their own content in an effort to slow down the rise in licensing fees the two streaming services have to pay to traditional studios. Netflix signed a $300 million deal for programming from The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) beginning in 2016.
The streaming video companies are following the path of cable networks like CBS Corp.’s (NYSE: CBS) Showtime, Time Warner Inc.’s (NYSE: TWX) HBO, and Liberty Media Corp.’s (NASDAQ: LMCA) Starz, which all got their start broadcasting licensed contents but have since made the move to original programming in an effort to retain more profit.
Paul Ausick