A Timeline Of Netflix Takeover Rumors

Over-the-top streaming network Netflix, Inc. 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 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 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. 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 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 MSFT and the erstwhile Google, now known as Alphabet Inc GOOGL.