Is Netflix's Subscription Model in Danger?

Investors who think that Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) has a great business model might want to consider the opinions of those surveyed by the Zogby Analytics.The company, which surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults, found that 75 percent of them prefer to consume ad-supported content instead of having to pay for ad-free content.While the survey's findings may receive a resounding "duh!" from the mobile game development community, the results are a stark contrast to the subscription levels for Netflix versus other streaming video services.Netflix currently serves more than 30 million users worldwide. Without a free, ad-supported option available, all of those subscribers pay a monthly fee to gain access to Netflix's massive library of videos.Hulu, on the other hand, receives less than 20 million viewers for its free service, along with an additional three million users who pay for Hulu Plus.This has to make you wonder: are consumers more willing to pay for ad-free content than they care to admit?Not necessarily. While Hulu is only six years old, Netflix has had more than 10 years to build its customer base. The company has done a remarkable job of convincing some of its DVD-by-mail users to sign up for the streaming service, all the while attracting millions of additional customers that were entirely new to Netflix.Hulu is only available in two countries: the United States and Japan. Netflix, on the other hand, can be found in dozens of countries worldwide.With only two markets available, Hulu has garnered somewhere between 12 and 19 million viewers. At one time the site reportedly had as many as 28 million unique viewers.This could mean that the ad-supported model does not work, that users are abandoning Hulu in droves, and that Netflix will continue to reign supreme.Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at 248-636-1322 or louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ