8-KRegulation FD

NETFLIX INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Jun 20, 2006)

Filed June 20, 2006For Securities:NFLX

Summary

This Form 8-K filing by Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) addresses recent speculation regarding the company's digital delivery strategy. The report clarifies remarks made by an employee at an industry meeting, which were interpreted as a narrowing of Netflix's downloading strategy to a proprietary set-top box. Netflix is emphasizing that this is not the case and that the company is exploring a broad range of options for delivering content digitally, with no final decisions made on specific delivery methods or timelines. Investors should note that Netflix is actively investing in its online movie delivery capabilities, allocating between $5 to $10 million this year for development. The company has indicated that further details regarding its downloading plans will be shared during its fourth-quarter earnings announcement in January 2007. This filing serves to correct potential misinterpretations and reassure stakeholders about the company's ongoing exploration of digital distribution methods.

Key Highlights

  • 1Netflix clarifies that its digital downloading strategy is not limited to a proprietary set-top box, as previously speculated.
  • 2The company is evaluating a wide array of options for online movie delivery, with no specific decisions finalized.
  • 3Netflix is investing $5 to $10 million in 2006 to develop its approach to online movie delivery.
  • 4Further details on downloading plans will be provided in the Q4 2006 earnings announcement, scheduled for January 2007.
  • 5The filing was made to address misinterpretations of recent employee remarks at an industry event.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary reason for this 8-K filing was to clarify recent remarks made by a Netflix employee at an industry meeting. These remarks were interpreted by some as indicating that Netflix was solely focusing on a set-top box for its downloading strategy, and the company wanted to correct this potential misunderstanding.

No, the filing clarifies that Netflix is exploring a broad range of options for delivering movies digitally. While a proprietary set-top box was mentioned as one possibility by an employee, the company states that no decisions have been made regarding specific delivery options or timing, and it is not limiting its strategy to just a set-top box.

Netflix plans to discuss its downloading plans more thoroughly in its fourth-quarter earnings announcement, which is expected in January 2007.

Netflix is investing between $5 to $10 million in 2006 to develop its approach to online movie delivery.