Although Netflix had a rocky 2011 due to numerous strategy gaffs, it's still the most popular streaming video service in the world. While Netflix streaming is growing, the way its customers are streaming video is changing. In the past, people used Netflix more on PCs than tablets. That has changed. Read on for more details.
Here's a clip from GigaOm on Netflix's Q4 earnings call hosted by CEO Reed Hastings:
Hastings also talked about the growing importance of tablets, which are especially interesting as a mobile device to Netflix because most people use them via Wi-Fi, so video viewing doesn’t collide with the carrier’s data caps. And people are using their iPads, Kindle Fires and Android slates a lot for watching Netflix: “We do see people enjoying a lot more of their viewing on tablets relative to the PC,” Hastings said. That’s significant, because PCs used to account for close to 20 percent of all Netflix traffic just a few months ago.
Considering recent trends in computing, the rise of tablet use shouldn't be surprising. Apple sold 15.4-million iPads in its most recent quarter. The Amazon Kindle Fire has been tremendously successful. A recent Pew survey shows that tablet use in America -- Netflix's biggest market -- has nearly doubled. Combine all of that with the decline in Windows PC sales then it should be no surprise that Netflix use on tablets has overtaken PC use.
The trend in how Netflix users consumer content supports the notion that tablet PCs will be more popular than desktop and laptop PCs in the near future, don't you agree?
[Via: GigaOm]
