Author: Kathryn Gessner

Price hikes may chill subscriber growth, but Netflix still dominates streaming video

We learned last week that Netflix is planning to raise its prices (again). When this has happened in the past, notably in 2011 and in 2016, some Netflix members decided not to stick around. Time will tell if the newest price hikes will chill the company’s subscriber numbers again but, right now, Netflix is so … Continued

Kathryn Gessner — 12 Oct 2017

Whole Foods still ‘Whole Paycheck’: spending remains the same despite Amazon price cuts

Amazon’s first big move at Whole Foods was to lower prices on grocery staples, which risked a drop in revenue if shoppers chose to pocket the savings. Instead, the gamble paid off. Throughout the first week, customers still spent similarly high amounts, and the discounts increased new traffic. Transaction data shows that August 28 outpaced … Continued

Kathryn Gessner — 05 Oct 2017

And now their watch has ended: Game of Thrones finale means likely loss of subscribers for HBO Now

Thinking of cancelling your HBO Now membership now that Game of Thrones is over? You’re not alone. It’s no secret that the show caused HBO viewership to skyrocket, but just how much of HBO Now’s business depends on it? The highly anticipated Season 7 premiered in July, but since HBO Now offers a free introductory … Continued

Kathryn Gessner — 28 Sep 2017

QVC buys competitor HSN to make a stand among giants Amazon and Walmart

Any channel surfer who has quickly clicked past a TV shopping channel may be surprised to learn that QVC’s planned purchase of the Home Shopping Network (HSN) is about to turn these two televised shopping stations into North America’s third biggest online retailer, after Amazon and Walmart. Those two giants may seem to be in … Continued

Kathryn Gessner — 24 Aug 2017

Whole Foods shoppers could deliver for AmazonFresh

Online retail giant Amazon made headlines recently by announcing its planned purchase of high-end grocer Whole Foods. The market responded immediately with stock price leaps for both companies, and The New York Times speculated that the acquisition will poise Amazon to better compete with another retail behemoth, Walmart, in the brick-and-mortar marketplace. However, Amazon is … Continued

Kathryn Gessner — 28 Jul 2017