And if the ogre Microsoft was about to make a new titanic takeover? Indeed, some clues could point to an acquisition of netflix by the American giant.
But before that, a long way will have to be traveled by the two companies which have just started a new partnership.
An alliance of circumstance?
It was an announcement that caused a stir. Last week, Netflix entered into a partnership with Microsoft with the aim of developing an advertising interface that will soon arrive on the SVoD service. The main objective is to allow users to subscribe to a more affordable offer, as it is partly financed by advertising. This could help retain subscribers who are fleeing the platform en masse following the price increase.
But it must be admitted, the choice of Microsoft to develop such a project has surprised many analysts. Indeed, the firm headed by Satya Nadella is ultimately inexperienced in the advertising field. Netflix could have turned to other companies with deeper expertise. Thus, some believe that this decision was motivated by other reasons…
Speculation and few concrete elements
According to analyst Laura Martin, who specializes in financial movements linked to the streaming service, Netflix would have selected Microsoft in the hope of one day being able to be bought by the multinational computer company. The latter would be the only one able to pay the 100 billion necessary to afford the platform which hosts many hits such as Stranger Things.
For several months, it is true that Microsoft has not hesitated to take out its checkbook. Last January, the firm already offered the Activision Blizzard group for the trifle of 68.7 billion dollars. This transaction, which could be validated by the FTC in August, seems to give hope to Netflix, which would hope to experience the same fate.
Finally, remember all the same that the press release attached to the formalization of the partnership between Microsoft and Netflix absolutely does not suggest a hypothetical takeover. But historically speaking, the two companies have always been very close since the streaming service had, during the first years of its life, been integrated into the Xbox 360. Case to follow.
Source : Yahoo Finance
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