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Netflix CEO Says Net Neutrality Is 'Not Our Primary Battle' (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on from the growing-up dept.

Speaking with Recode's Peter Kafka at the Code Conference today, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings explained his position on the current net neutrality debate that's happening at the FCC. Or, more to the point, he addressed the fact that he's been awfully quiet about it compared to how loudly he defended net neutrality in previous fights. From a report: "It's not narrowly important to us because we're big enough to get the deals we want," Hastings said. It was a candid admission: no matter what the FCC decides to do with Title II, Netflix isn't worried about its ability to survive. Hastings says that Netflix is "weighing in against" changing the current rules, but that "it's not our primary battle at this point" and "we don't have a special vulnerability to it." He does believe that smaller players are going to be harmed if net neutrality goes away, saying that "where net neutrality is really important is the Netflix of 10 years ago."

11 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Because we're big enough to get the deals we want by HumanWiki · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, that type of commentary is why people have serious issues with companies throwing their weight around whenever it suits them.

  2. Kudos on his honesty by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Fuck you, we got ours!"

    --
    Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
    1. Re:Kudos on his honesty by nyet · · Score: 2

      You mean "Fuck you, we are big enough that net neutrality would hurt us now."

    2. Re:Kudos on his honesty by srmalloy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      More accurately, "Fuck you, we are big enough that net neutrality would hurt us by making competition easier."

    3. Re:Kudos on his honesty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This guy gets it. Established companies very rarely mind when there is a barrier to enter.

  3. Re:Because we're big enough to get the deals we wa by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They are just being honest. There is nothing inherently wrong with a large company using its size to get a better deal.

  4. Thanks, asshole. by RatBastard · · Score: 2

    FTFA: "It's not narrowly important to us because we're big enough to get the deals we want," Hastings said.

    Gee, thanks a lot, asshole. Nice to see you have no regard for anyone but yourself.

    --
    Boobies never hurt anyone. - Sherry Glaser.
  5. Re: Gonna have to laugh by r_naked · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You got that backwards. Netflix is so big that a ISP that does not provide access to Neflix will be without customers.

    I don't know about where you live, but I have exactly *one* choice for high speed Internet where I live. I am sure I could get ADSL -- maybe even 3mbits, but I don't think I will be streaming Netflix on that.

    So if my ISP doesn't want to pay the "Netflix carriage charge" to the backbone provider that they use, Netflix is thrown back to the "buffering 90s", and I drop Netflix -- not my ISP -- because I have NO CHOICE.

    Wait, I do have a choice, I could move. Yea, that is a realistic choice.....

    Better hope that congress has some common sense, and when the FCC tries to show that there has been a drastic enough change to warrant the removal of title II status that they laugh in Ajit's face.

    --
    -- http://anonet.org -- The internet the way it was meant to be. Check it out, you may be surprised.
  6. Sucks to be a competitor of Netflix... by cjjjer · · Score: 2

    in a net neutrality focused internet is basically what he is saying...

  7. or translated by jmccue · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There are startups in the wings, we want to make sure they never grow.

  8. Re: Gonna have to laugh by thule · · Score: 2

    I don't know about where you live, but I have exactly *one* choice for high speed Internet where I live. I am sure I could get ADSL -- maybe even 3mbits, but I don't think I will be streaming Netflix on that.

    You have exactly one choice that you're willing to pay for. I'm sure there are more options, but they could be a lot more money. In order of cost you probably have, dialup, cable/DOCSIS, DSL, WISP, satellite, cellular LTE, 2Base-TL (a cheaper form of metro Ethernet via copper pairs), T1/T3, metro Ethernet (via the cable company, but you can choose your transit. Also, construction cost).

    If there is no WISP, why not build one?