Setting its sights squarely on the film portion pay-cable business, Netflix will aggressively bid against HBO for the premium network's Warner Bros. movie window when it comes up for negotiation next year.
So said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos Tuesday while speaking at the National Association of TV Programming Executives in Miami.
Speaking at a one-on-one with VideoNuze editor Will Richmond, Sarandos said Netflix has no intention of competing in the original-series realm with HBO, when asked specifically about the pay-cable network.
However, he added that there is "no question" that Netflix could compete directly with pay cable channels on movie windows.
Specifically, he said Netflix will bid against HBO when its movie contract with Time Warner sibling Warner Bros. comes up in 2012 — if, for no other reason, than to drive up the price HBO has to pay.
"I think that's why there's aggravation and why colorful quotes show up in the press," Sarandos said, alluding to comments made earlier by Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes, dismissing Netflix's market power.
