Netflix's U.S. subscriber numbers may be falling, but the over-the-top video giant is posting some staggering statistics nonetheless.
The company says its members in 45 countries streamed a whopping 2 billion – yes, that's billion with a "b" – hours of TV shows and movies across all devices, from televisions to smartphones to tablet PCs, in the fourth quarter of 2011 alone.
Netflix, which has 20 million subscribers to its streaming-video service, hopes to start 2012 off better than it left 2011. Its stock price plummeted from an all-time high of $300 in July to just $70 later in the year after a pair of missteps: a rate hike that was communicated poorly to its customers, and a failed effort to split its DVD and streaming businesses into two.
An increased number of content partnerships and original-programming offerings may be one way to get customers to forgive Netflix. The company signed multiyear agreements with CBS, Twentieth Century Fox, Lionsgate, Miramax and more in 2011. Netflix also has original movies and TV shows on tap, including the revival of cult favorite "Arrested Development," which aired on Fox a few years ago, as well as "Lilyhammer," just announced this week.
"In the coming months, Netflix members can enjoy complete seasons of great TV series from all the major networks and most branded cable channels as well as fantastic films like Drive, Hugo, Captain America and Margin Call," said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. "The more great TV shows and movies Netflix adds, the more people watch."
