ReelSEO ► Online Video Industry News ► Google Buys NetFlix to Use as New YouTube Premium Content Provider

Google Buys NetFlix to Use as New YouTube Premium Content Provider

  |  2 years ago   |  
Google Buys NetFlix to Use as New YouTube Premium Content Provider

The search and online video giant, Google, has secretly struck a deal with Netflix to purchase the company, sources close to the deal said. The deal, which sees Google paying an, as yet, undisclosed amount for the subscription-based streaming video service is a move to bolster premium content delivery through YouTube, the online video sharing site Google purchased for $1.65B back in 2006.

There have been wild amounts of speculation as to how exactly Google was going to make YouTube profitable and many deals have been in the works to stream pay-per-view content through the video sharing site. With the acquisition of Netflix, Google gets both a built-in userbase of Netflix subscribers and access to many Internet-connected devices like Boxee and Roku via previously built deals. Plus with Netflix already offering streaming only packages it should be quite easy for them to tie the two services together.

The move also gives Google an instant streaming video presence in Canada where Netflix recently expanded as a pseudo-test for other International expansion.

Google has been testing various premium content delivery models at YouTube for some time and it seems they finally settled on simply purchasing a market-leading service in Netflix and tying it into YouTube.

Well, at least they both have similarly colored logos. Perhaps a name changes is coming? NetTube or YouFlix?

Additionally, since Google TV has been blocked from many broadcast TV streaming sites this gives Google a big chunk of content that they can now offer, perhaps as a value-added service to Google TV users giving them both the set-top box operating system and the premium content delivery all in one.

Finally, if you've read all the way down here and thought any of it was true, Kung Pao suckers! It's April Fool's Day! Though, I have to admit, it's not such a bad idea...

Posted in Web Video Industry News
2013 Video Marketing Summit
About the Author -
Christophor Rick is a freelance writer specializing in technology, new media, video games, IPTV, online video advertising and consumer electronics. His past work has included press releases, copy-writing, travel writing and journalism. He also writes novel-length and short fiction as part of Three-Faced Media and is working on Not So Super, an original web series. You can contact Chris here. View All Posts By -

What do you think? ▼
  • JeremyScott

    Wow.

    • http://www.gamersdailynews.com Christophor Rick

      not as much fun with the disclaimer at the bottom but look at all the shares and retweets :)

      • JeremyScott

        I feel sorry for anyone trying to deliver actual breaking tech news today.

        • http://www.gamersdailynews.com Christophor Rick

          Last year at GDN I railed against it. This year, I've been collecting them up into compiled articles :) My favorite is the Kinect marionette controller from Home Depot...basically, it's a stick with "some sawing required" heh

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=559520922 Christine Gullage

    Love it! But I am not sure how far off the mark you are, Christopher. With Google's acquisition of Widevine, I am thinking they are setting themselves up for something big. In 6 months, maybe you'll write this story for real.

    • JeremyScott

      Yeah, I agree. It's eerie how believable this story actually is.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tony.alexander Tony Alexander

    Googled "google netflix" and ReelSEO is numero uno result!

  • http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com Hani Mourra

    I fell for that one! :)

  • http://www.reelseo.com/ Mark Robertson

    Christophor - I am actually quite offended that you would trick our audience this way :) GOOD JOB....

    • http://www.facebook.com/tony.alexander Tony Alexander

      That search phrase looks familiar Mark!

  • http://www.VideoLeadsOnline.com/ Ronnie Bincer

    I wanted it to be true!

  • http://profiles.google.com/hiddentass Jerry Seek

    I found this May 4th -- April Fool's posts should really be flagged on the top of the article after the big day. It really makes you look like a terrible source of news and commentary to let joke articles look like realistic news. No longer funny, just irritating.

    • http://www.gamersdailynews.com Christophor Rick

      and if this had ever been true you would have found far more than just one post about it.... you had to have come through search and it didn't strike you as odd that we were the only ones to cover it?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000739180516 Carol Abbs-Baer

    I can't view any videos can't use my netflix.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000739180516 Carol Abbs-Baer

      Well two down and one to go. I have been doing dress a child with sister Gina. Whew, what a bunch of people. We had a great Thanksgiving with Gina an famill

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000739180516 Carol Abbs-Baer

      Family, we all ate too much. I'm at work so I better go for now, love you all,hugs and kisses.

  • EEricM

    I vote for YouGooFlix!  Never imagined just how prophetic the old Looney Tunes cartoons of the minnow being swallowed by the fish that's swallowed by the bigger fish, et al, would become!  But the real questions is when does the stock convert to Google?  What will happen to the NetFlix stock value before the conversion?  Is it worth buying quickly to get in on the action?

  • EEricM

    I vote for YouGooFlix!  Never imagined just how prophetic the old Looney Tunes cartoons of the minnow being swallowed by the fish that's swallowed by the bigger fish, et al, would become!  But the real questions is when does the stock convert to Google?  What will happen to the NetFlix stock value before the conversion?  Is it worth buying quickly to get in on the action?

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