Seeking Alpha Author Victor Dergunov joins Cheddar to discuss his predictions for Netflix going into 2018. The streaming service reported 110 million subscribers last quarter, but how will the Disney / Fox deal impact its future growth? Dergunov says Disney's new streaming platform won't be competition for Netflix.
What Netflix doesn't have right now is a live aspect. Dergunov says it should happen as soon as next year, as long as the platform sees potential in that type of content. He does say Netflix has a lot of international momentum, and whether it starts a live component or not, it will have another stellar year.
Plus, will Netflix open a theme park just like Disney? Dergunov believes the company will stick to more of an online marketplace. However, he never says never and wouldn't be surprised if it's something Netflix explores in the coming years.
Marc Blinder, Co-Founder and CEO of Aikon, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he discusses how his company is helping businesses use blockchain applications without needing to learn the intricacies of the new technology.
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) have introduced a new bill to afford greater protection to minors on social media. The genesis of the Kids Online Safety Act came from a Facebook whistleblower case exposing the harm apps can have on the mental health of young girls.
Ride share competitors Uber and Lyft both posted their fourth quarter earnings days apart from each other. Both companies have been trying to get back on their feet after taking some pandemic-related hits, but the Omicron variant had other ideas as the year came to a close, with each company taking a hit in ridership in December. Lance Ippolito, head trader at The Future of Wealth explains how Uber and Lyft measured up this earnings period and why Uber may still have an edge over the competition.
Parallel Systems has been selected to receive $4.5 million from the Department of Energy for an advanced testing program of its autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles. The startup, which has raised more than $53 million to date, was founded by former SpaceX engineers to reimagine the rail system by creating a more efficient, decarbonized freight network. Matt Soule, Co-founder & CEO of Parallel Systems, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss what the company hopes to achieve.
