For the third straight quarter, Netflix generated more revenue than its feted rival HBO last quarter.
That was revealed this morning when HBO’s parent company, Time Warner Inc, reported its quarterly results.
As you can see in the chart above, the numbers confirm that HBO still has a commanding lead over Netflix when it comes to operating profits. That possibly reflects the fact that HBO is an established business that has been around since the 1970s, and is already available in most corners of the globe. Netflix, on the other hand, only launched its main streaming video product in 2007 and is still in hyper growth and global expansion mode.
HBO, of course, only launched its direct-to-consumer, internet video product this month. Netflix’s ambitions might be bigger than those of HBO, but it is clear this corporate rivalry is only just getting started.
For the record, Time Warner’s overall results were slightly better than expected.