Will Microsoft Challenge Netflix?

By Doug Ehrman – May 13, 2013 at 11:30PM

NASDAQ: NFLX

Netflix

Market Cap

$240B

Today's Change

(-0.08%) -$0.44

Current Price

$554.60

Price as of April 22, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET

The video streaming business is booming and a new player may be considering jumping into the game.

Among news that Microsoft (MSFT 0.46%) is dumping the Silverlight software that Netflix (NFLX -0.08%) relies on, and that Netflix is switching to HTML5, Mr. Softy has started having problems in its relationship with Apple (AAPL 0.51%). With the Xbox set to be released later this month, the video streaming industry has never been more competitive. Amazon.com (AMZN 1.49%) Prime and Redbox Instant are challenging Netflix like never before, and grabbing even a piece of the market is attractive to anyone who can get involved.

In the following video, Fool.com contributor Doug Ehrman discusses the circumstances in the market that suggest that Microsoft may be considering its own offering in this promising industry.

Fool contributor Doug Ehrman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Apple, and Netflix and owns shares of Amazon.com, Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.