#82 - What if Microsoft bought Netflix?
Greg Taieb · · 5 min read
Hello,
I hope you are well despite this overwhelming heat. I literally had a blast this weekend with a box of Ikea furniture, so the terraces will be a little later 😩.
That didn't stop me from preparing a nice program for you. Finally, like last week, don't hesitate to give your opinion on the subjects proposed at the end of the newsletter.
🧐What if Microsoft bought Netflix?
We recently mentioned it, it's a little less joy at Netflix in recent months.
In fact, competition has never been so severe and for the first time the platform has lost subscribers.
The stock market didn't like it too much and the company had to consider new avenues such as the introduction of an offer with advertising.
Moreover, we recently learned that it was Microsoft which was chosen to manage advertising on the platform even though it was not the most obvious player at first glance.
As a result some analysts are starting to think that this could be the start of a much more lasting relationship that would take the form of a purchase of Netflix by Microsoft ... just that!
And you know what? After the element of surprise, I must admit that this is a scenario that holds up rather well.
The 3 reasons why Microsoft should buy Netflix:
- Netflix is the only independent player in streaming! Behind its competitors we find Apple, Amazon and Disney.
- Microsoft has become the king of monthly subscriptions for work (Microsoft 365), for video games (Xbox Game pass)... only missing video and audio.
- Microsoft is in a logic of massive acquisitions and struck a big blow a few months ago in buying the game studio Activision for $70 billion (Netflix is currently valued at 80 billion so it's scope)
There is a real proximity between video and video games and that would allow Microsoft to get a serious foothold in this market and offer super interesting bundles. Plus we know that Netflix is trying its hand at video games...
Probability of a short/medium term buyout: 70% (yes, I'm getting wet).
🧸Truly personalized toys
There's never been a better time to be a child !
I told you a few months ago about this larger than life Transformers figurine. Well, I found yet another cool new item that I would have loved to see available in France as it makes an exceptional gift.
Have you certainly already had cartoon figurines like Marvel, Power Rangers or Star Wars?
Well it will soon be possible to order your favorite figurines with unprecedented customization.
This special edition entitled “Hasbro Selfie Series” will allow you to have your face printed in 3D on a series of characters for $60. It's not cheap but it's the price for having a unique gift.
The service will be open at the end of the year and you can find out more by watching the following video:
For the record I tested a similar system (but not on figurines) at La Poste about 5-6 years ago (they have since stopped) and it already worked quite well.
The only bad news is that the service is only offered in the US, UK and Germany so if you have a contact in these countries, now is the time to put yourself on the waiting list.
🎙️ Podcast: Widespread (encore) surveillance in China
In this episode d'Encore Un Podcast Tech, Remi and I decipher what the recent calls for tenders from the Chinese government tell us about the future of surveillance.
On the menu: cameras (really) everywhere, super microphones and finally unified databases.
We're still not bad in France 😉.
📱 The return of the Nokia 8210!
Nokia remains a brand for which I have a particular affection and among all the models of the brand if there is one for which I have a particular nostalgia it is definitely the 8210.
This mini phone had everything a big one with an iconic design.
I have a crazy story about this phone, I bought one when it came out during my studies. It cost me an arm and 2 years of subscriptions but I was happy.
The first “real” phone I bought for myself.
And one evening while going out with friends, I dropped it in the car… and I NEVER found it 😱.
Even though we made it ring (as long as it had battery), it was impossible to find it.
I had to buy it again. a crappy phone while waiting for my package to end.
Fortunately I will be able to make up for it since Nokia continues its reissue momentum by offering a new version of the 8210.
This 2022 version is 4G, has radio, basic applications like Facebook and battery life of several weeks!
Ideal for a digital detox this summer!
And that’s all for this week !
If this newsletter interested you, you can: