DirecTV Real Interested In Netflix, Contemplates Launching A Competitor

DirecTV (DTV) hit up some of their customers today with a web survey. A very interesting web survey. As it’s nearly all about Netflix (NFLX) – usage patterns, both physical discs and online streaming. Most intriguing is revelation of a DirecTV “concept” that would provide a “Netflix-like service” to existing satellite television subscribers:

In this next section, we would like you to evaluate a new service that DIRECTV is thinking about offering to their customers. DIRECTV plans to offer a streaming-only Netflix-like service for a flat fee per month, which would appear as a line item on your monthly bill.

• The service would allow you to stream thousands of movies and television shows over a broadband internet connection to your television, computer or tablet.
• The content available would likely be past season of current shows as well as older TV series and older movie released (released more than 5 years ago).
• You could watch as many programs as you want for one flat monthly efe, similar to what Netflix streaming offers.

On one hand, it does indeed sound like a Netflix-esque offering. Yet, on the other, it also sounds a bit like the OnDemand Xfinity iPad streaming Comcast provides existing customers… except, at a cost.  And, if you’re paying, you may as well go with the provider who has the best content on the platforms you possess. Granted, there’s a huge advantage in marketing to your exiting customer base. While I have no doubt Netflix would weather the storm, I wonder where moves such as these would leave Hulu?

(Thanks for the tip, Jon!)