Roku Looks a Lot Like Netflix Circa 2012
It might be hard to remember a time when Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) was seen as a great friend to media companies rather than their worst nightmare. But just seven years ago, Netflix didn't have a single Emmy or Oscar to its name; "original content" was still just an experiment at the streaming service.
In 2012, it was primarily a platform for other media companies to distribute their content to an audience beyond traditional TV, specifically in the United States. Netflix's first original series Lilyhammer didn't debut until February 2012, and Netflix ended that year with 85% of its streaming subscribers coming from its home country.
Media companies like Disney (NYSE: DIS) have wised up since then. Disney signed a massive film output deal with Netflix in 2012, but one that didn't bring its movies to the streamer until 2016. And fairly soon after that deal went into action, Disney announced it wouldn't be renewing it. Instead, it would launch its own direct-to-consumer streaming service to fully capitalize on the value of its content library. Several other big media and tech companies have followed suit.
Source Fool.com
