HBO Makes Clarification: Denies Possibility of Plans for Netflix Partnership

By Rob Scott
July 26, 2012

HBO has clarified that it is “not in discussions” with Netflix regarding a potential partnership.
The denial contradicts a statement from Reed Hastings, who had hinted that the companies may be ready to work together.
“HBO rushed to pour cold water on the possibilities that the Netflix CEO raised in a letter to shareholders, making it clear it had no intentions of making a deal with Hastings, who often singles out HBO as a chief competitor,” reports Reuters.
HBO offers original programming to its subscribers through the on-demand service HBO Go. Earlier this year, the channel opted not to sell DVDs of its shows to Netflix at the wholesale price it offers to retail operations.
“While we compete for content and viewing time with HBO, it is also possible we will find opportunities to work together — just as we do with other networks,” Hastings and CFO David Wells wrote in their letter.
Hastings told analysts the HBO reference was merely meant to highlight that “we’re just another network, and then when you have multiple networks, they often find ways of working together.”
“There is no current deal on the table,” he said.

No Comments Yet