A Timeline Of Netflix Takeover Rumors

Over-the-top streaming network Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), which recently reported strong third quarter results riding on subscriber growth momentum, has long been rumored to be a takeover target. However, at no point did Netflix hint at its willingness to be bought over.

Here is a list of suitors rumored to have wooed Netflix in 2016.

• February 11, 2016: With Netflix completing its migration to Amazon.com, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AMZN) cloud platform, rumors were adrift that Amazon could eventually buy Netflix. The migration was the culmination of a seven-year effort.
• April 11, 2016: Analysts broached the possibility of Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) gobbling up Netflix, as the latter saw roaring success in reaching content directly to customers.
• May 26, 2016: A Financial Times report said bankers it consulted suggested Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) may be better off pursuing an acquisition of a streaming video provider such as Netflix, as it would "make it easier for Apple's services to continue to offer a wide range of content makers." This was in addition to the report bringing to light Apple executive Eddy Cue's reported discussions with Olaf Olafsson, Time Warner Inc's (NYSE: TWX) head of corporate strategy about a potential takeover of the media giant
• In the month of May, Netflix stock was up 15 percent.
• June 30, 2016: The Disney rumor resurfaced again, as the company was losing subscribers to Netflix. However, the speculation lost some credibility, as Disney inked a deal with Netflix for the latter to gain the status of exclusive online streaming provider of Disney content.
• October 3, 2016: Bloomberg attributed the stock run up ahead of quarterly results to M&A rumors, with multiple suitors supposedly interested in Netflix. The stock rose over 4 percent in the session.
• Oxtober 28, 2016: Disney yet again popped up. A Netflix spokesperson declined to comment on the rumor.
• Meanwhile, as early as 2009, Netflix was rumored to be chased by several blue chip companies, including Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) and the erstwhile Google, now known as Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL).