Flixster: Blockbuster/Netflix's Holy Grail?

I recently wrote Recipe for a Yahoo Turnaround, where I suggested that Yahoo organizes itself by segments, and puts the 3C (Content, Community, Commerce), in Context (4th C), and layers on Personalization (P) and Vertical Search (VS) on top it.

Here is a very good analysis from Read/Write Web on Flixster, where the Context = Movies. It already has the Community aspect, as well as some good Content. Not Commerce, yet. Not Personalization, yet. But they have Vertical Search.

I see this as a very good acquisition for Netflix (NFLX), since the latter has both Commerce and Personalization, as well as Vertical Search.

Alternately, Netflix could simply copy their features, and Blockbuster (BBI) could acquire Flixster.

Either way, it seems to me that the movie-lovers segment is relatively close to achieving the holy grail = (4C + P + VS).

Comments

[thomasadair:]

The Holy Grail to Investing.

Developed multiple arbitrages for the financial markets. Arbitrages that produce just a few percent a year, to arbitrages that produce over 30 percent a year.

In 2001 i started developing, as of now, a dozen arbitrages. I lock in an X percentage, and Y time later, i close out the arbitrage. Over 30%/yr.

Risk-Free Investing is not only possible, but in abundance. Just that people are told and taught that it is impossible. No risk has been in front of all, but not seen.

The market is unlimited.

The Ultimate business solution that can be offered.

Say one can guarantee a return on investment of 40% a year, then a business could offer their product or service for free.

Lets say i had a solar company, and that company offers Alternative energy to both private and business sector's, then we end up with an interesting business solution.

Well, if i have a cost of $10,000 to install a solar system on a building, and able to sell the install for $20,000, i have $10,000 to invest(40% a year). The purchaser then finances the install over a period of time. I just keep investing the profit till the end of the payment schedule. Thus, the buyer never makes a payment, and gets the product at no cost.

Thomas Adair
[e-mail]

May 27 10:30 PM