Netflix's 1Q tops forecasts, stock still plummets

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Netflix's comeback from a customer backlash accelerated during the first quarter, but the recovery wasn't impressive enough to ease more pressing concerns about the Internet video subscription service's ability to cope with tougher competition.

Wall Street's worries about the challenges facing Netflix Inc. crystallized Monday with the release of the company's first-quarter results and forecast for the upcoming months.

The company, which is based in Los Gatos, Calif., posted its first quarterly loss in seven years during the three months ending in March. The setback, though, was far smaller than analysts anticipated.

Instead of celebrating several positives contained in the report, skittish investors keyed on a second-quarter forecast that calls for a slowdown in subscriber growth during the spring and early summer. The April-to-June period has historically been a sluggish period for Netflix because more daylight and warmer weather tends to discourage people from staying inside to watch movies and old TV shows.

That's the main reason Netflix cited for its prediction that its service for Internet video streaming might add as few as 200,000 U.S. subscribers in the second quarter after gaining 1.7 million customers in the first three months of the year.

At most, Netflix is hoping to add 800,000 video streaming subscribers in the U.S during the second quarter. That would still be less than the 1.8 million streaming customers that Netflix picked up in last year's second quarter. It's also less than the increase of 1 million subscribers registered in the second quarter of 2010.

Netflix says the comparisons to its subscriber numbers from past second quarters are no longer an accurate barometer because the company has become more susceptible to seasonal swings as its audience has swelled. Management says Netflix is more likely to experience more cancellations in the spring and more new customers to sign up during the final three months of the year.

But Investors instead seemed to interpret the projection for this year's second quarter as a sign that Netflix will have a more difficult time attracting new subscribers as more alternatives emerge for Internet video streaming, including services from bigger companies, said Raymond James analyst Aaron Kessler.

Amazon.com Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Vudu and Comcast Corp all offer video streaming options. Verizon Communications Inc. is preparing to launch a service in a joint venture with Coinstar Inc., the owner of Redbox kiosks that rent DVDs in thousands of stores across the U.S.

"I don't think anyone is ready to give Netflix the benefit of the doubt at this point," Kessler said.

Netflix shares plunged $16.94, or nearly 17 percent, to $84.90 in Monday's extended trading.

In a conference call, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings urged investors to focus on the bigger picture. He predicted the company will add about 7 million streaming subscribers in the U.S. for all of 2012. That would be about the same number that Netflix attracted in 2010 ? the company's biggest growth year so far.

"Everyone is realizing that consumers want 'click and watch' on-demand" video, Hastings said. "We have been focused on this market for a very long time and have some substantial advantages because of that."

Monday's sour reaction on the stock market contrasted to the ebullience that prevailed when Netflix released its last quarterly report in late January. Investors were enthused then because the report showed Netflix had added about 600,000 U.S. subscribers during the final three months of last year.

Those subscriber gains were hailed as a sign that Netflix was well on its way to repairing the damage caused last summer when the company abruptly raised its prices by as much as 60 percent for customers who want to rent DVDs through the mail as well as stream video over the Internet.

The higher prices irked subscribers, causing Netflix to lose 800,000 U.S. customers from July through September.

Netflix fared better during the first three months of this year as it picked up 1.7 million subscribers to end March with 26.1 million U.S. subscribers. The growth hit the high end of Netflix's forecasts.

"Our brand recovery is well under way," Hastings said in an interview late Monday. "We still have a ways to go, but we are working hard."

The streaming service also won new fans in Netflix's market's outside the U.S. The company ended the first quarter with nearly 3.1 million subscribers in Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom and Ireland, up from 1.9 million entering the year. Netflix now intends to expand into another international market near the end of this year.

Even the DVD-by-mail service that Netflix is gradually phasing out fared slightly better than many analysts had expected. Netflix lost about 1.2 million subscribers in the first quarter, down from 2.8 million during the final three months of last year. The company now has about 10 million DVD customers, including 7 million that also pay for streaming.

The first-quarter progress wasn't enough to avert Netflix's first loss for any three-month period since the first quarter of 2005. The red ink flowed mainly because of the company's costs for international expansion and rising fees to license content for its Internet video library.

Netflix lost $4.6 million, or 8 cents per share, during the quarter. That compared to net income of $60 million, or $1.11 per share, at the same time last year.

First-quarter revenue climbed 21 percent from last year to $870 million.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet had predicted Netflix would lose 27 cents per share on revenue of $866 million.

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Audience Gets A 'Unique Perspective' Watching 'Baseball In The Time Of Cholera,' Says Olivia Wilde

We're big proponents of escapism. There's nothing like sitting down in a theater with popcorn and a soda and getting lost in another world where the rent isn't due in six days. That's why when April rolls around and the Tribeca Film Festival gears up for another round of comedies and dramas, it provides us [...]

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App-Enhanced Pavement Turns Roads Into Wireless Hotspots [Video]

A Spanish company called V?a Inteligente has created a unique smart paving stone with a built-in computer as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. They're designed as an easy way to provide wireless access to various services without the need for a hotspot or an ugly antenna, but it also has the potential to easily create an expansive wireless network in urban areas. More »


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How Stanford Feeds Silicon Valley—At a Cost [Education]

Stanford is a hot house for the technology industry, producing a constant stream of graduates who have gone on to set up and run the great and good of Silicon Valley. But while such a close working relationship has seen many successes, the sheer quantities of money involved make the set-up increasingly fraught. More »


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Rashad Evans? busted eye and Mac Danzig?s busted ankle are your pictures of the day

Those short elbows that Jon Jones used on Rashad Evans, and the heel hook Efrain Escudero used on Mac Danzig did some damage. Evans tweeted a picture of his eye the day after the fight. Danzig, who managed to win his bout even though his ankle was swollen and ugly, showed how it was still bruised and swollen. He plans to get an MRI later this week to see what damage was caused at UFC 146. It's just another reminder that fighters' jobs are not like ours, unless your job involves laughing off injuries on a daily basis.

--

Follow Cagewriter on Facebook and Twitter.

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Drone-curious? FAA reveals UAV operators near you

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Most people are aware that the military uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) overseas in wars and other operations. But there are also hundreds in operation here in the U.S., newly released records show. The Federal?Aviation?Administration has made public various?documents and certificates that describe the locations and owners of drones throughout the country.

But don't put on your tinfoil hats just yet: the organizations and agencies that own and operate these drones seem to have legitimate uses for them, and the companies that make the drones have gotten special certification from the FAA to sell them.

The Army, Navy and Air Force all use them, plus NASA, NOAA,?the FBI, and the Departments of Defense, Energy, Agriculture, and?Homeland Security. Plus about two dozen universities and research departments.?Lastly are the various police departments: Seattle, Arlington,?Houston, Miami-Dade and more.

That last group is perhaps the most worrying: for border patrol units, it makes fiscal sense to have drones instead of jeeps or surveillance towers. But in-city policing could be a minefield of privacy and safety concerns.

The EFF, which requested this information, has parsed it into map form based on the locations of the organizations listed. What the information doesn't reveal, however, is what kind of drone they use and what they use it for. The FAA does say this data is forthcoming.

Drones operating in your area could easily just be being used to monitor high-risk areas for wildfires, or to take atmospheric readings. And the police, too, should have documented, limited uses for them. But if you're curious or perhaps (justifiably) a bit paranoid, all that is or soon will?be public information. Ask your local?police department or government representative if you're worried.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for msnbc.com. His personal website is coldewey.cc.

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UH makes Princeton Review's Green List 3 years in a row

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 23-Apr-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu
713-743-8186
University of Houston

Each year, UH continues to reduce its carbon footprint through enhanced sustainability initiatives and increased participation from the campus community. Such efforts have been crucial to the university's recent recognition in The Princeton Review's 2012 "Guide to 322 Green Colleges." UH has been recognized as a green university by The Princeton Review for three consecutive years.

"UH is thrilled to be recognized again by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's greenest colleges," said Emily Messa, associate vice president for administration. "This is a testament to the integration of sustainability into the fabric of our university. We recognize that sustainability is a continual journey and look forward to learning and growing with our community."

Messa is among the dedicated staff members and students overseeing Green UH, the initiative leading campus sustainability endeavors. Its partners include the university's Sustainability Task Force, Green UH Student Leadership Council and volunteer Eco Reps.

Green UH promotes daily green practices on campus through trayless dining, office and residence hall recycling programs, campus recycling receptacles, green commuting tips and green computing. Also, Green UH oversees the campus' community garden.

Each year, UH students also participate in the national Recyclemania competition. This year, the university has collected recyclable materials equivalent to 22 metric tons of carbon dioxide (comparable to taking 65 cars off the road).

UH also hosts annual sustainability events including Green UH Day and the Earth Day Carnival. This year's carnival is set for 10 a.m. 3 p.m., April 19 in the university's Butler Plaza (in front of the UH M.D. Anderson Library).

A highlight of last year's green efforts was the installation of the campus' first solar array. Through a $140,000 gift from Green Mountain Energy, UH received 88 photovoltaic solar panels for the university's central utility plant. The panels power its administrative offices and produce up to 23,615-kilowatt hours of clean energy each year. It is estimated that this array will contribute to energy savings of up to $300,000 over 30 years.

This year, UH also benefitted from 60 new recycling bins that were donated by ALCOA, as well as 300 new trees that were planted on campus.

The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges profiles institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. The 232-page guide is the only free, comprehensive, annually updated guide to green colleges. It is published by The Princeton Review in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council. It can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.>

"We are pleased to make this free resource available to all students seeking to attend colleges that practice, teach and support environmentally responsible choices. To that end, we highly recommend the terrific schools in this book," said Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher of The Princeton Review.

The Princeton Review selected universities for this guide following surveys that were completed by the colleges' administrators. Surveys contained more than 50 questions regarding university policies, practices and programs. Based on these surveys, The Princeton Review tallied "Green Rating" scores from 60 to 99. The universities listed in this guide scored 83 or higher.

"We're honored to be part of a list of schools working hard for sustainability," said Leah Wolfthal, UH program coordinator for sustainability. "We're also excited about the unfolding progress made not only last year, but also by what's to come!"

###



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?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 23-Apr-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu
713-743-8186
University of Houston

Each year, UH continues to reduce its carbon footprint through enhanced sustainability initiatives and increased participation from the campus community. Such efforts have been crucial to the university's recent recognition in The Princeton Review's 2012 "Guide to 322 Green Colleges." UH has been recognized as a green university by The Princeton Review for three consecutive years.

"UH is thrilled to be recognized again by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's greenest colleges," said Emily Messa, associate vice president for administration. "This is a testament to the integration of sustainability into the fabric of our university. We recognize that sustainability is a continual journey and look forward to learning and growing with our community."

Messa is among the dedicated staff members and students overseeing Green UH, the initiative leading campus sustainability endeavors. Its partners include the university's Sustainability Task Force, Green UH Student Leadership Council and volunteer Eco Reps.

Green UH promotes daily green practices on campus through trayless dining, office and residence hall recycling programs, campus recycling receptacles, green commuting tips and green computing. Also, Green UH oversees the campus' community garden.

Each year, UH students also participate in the national Recyclemania competition. This year, the university has collected recyclable materials equivalent to 22 metric tons of carbon dioxide (comparable to taking 65 cars off the road).

UH also hosts annual sustainability events including Green UH Day and the Earth Day Carnival. This year's carnival is set for 10 a.m. 3 p.m., April 19 in the university's Butler Plaza (in front of the UH M.D. Anderson Library).

A highlight of last year's green efforts was the installation of the campus' first solar array. Through a $140,000 gift from Green Mountain Energy, UH received 88 photovoltaic solar panels for the university's central utility plant. The panels power its administrative offices and produce up to 23,615-kilowatt hours of clean energy each year. It is estimated that this array will contribute to energy savings of up to $300,000 over 30 years.

This year, UH also benefitted from 60 new recycling bins that were donated by ALCOA, as well as 300 new trees that were planted on campus.

The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges profiles institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. The 232-page guide is the only free, comprehensive, annually updated guide to green colleges. It is published by The Princeton Review in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council. It can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.>

"We are pleased to make this free resource available to all students seeking to attend colleges that practice, teach and support environmentally responsible choices. To that end, we highly recommend the terrific schools in this book," said Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher of The Princeton Review.

The Princeton Review selected universities for this guide following surveys that were completed by the colleges' administrators. Surveys contained more than 50 questions regarding university policies, practices and programs. Based on these surveys, The Princeton Review tallied "Green Rating" scores from 60 to 99. The universities listed in this guide scored 83 or higher.

"We're honored to be part of a list of schools working hard for sustainability," said Leah Wolfthal, UH program coordinator for sustainability. "We're also excited about the unfolding progress made not only last year, but also by what's to come!"

###



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


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6 Tips For SLumber Party Success ? ? Maryland Family Magazine ...

Erin O'Reilly, (from left), Haley Forman, 10, Rosie Clemens, 10, and Kendall Broughton, 10, play the Xbox game "Just Dance" at the Forman home. Photo by Sarah Pastrana

Julie Forman has never discouraged her daughters from throwing, or attending, slumber parties because she remembers clearly how much she enjoyed them as a child.

?Growing up I loved sleepovers because you got to go to someone else?s house, be with all your friends and have fun until late at night,? the mother of two from Elkridge recalls. ?I did it and know how much fun it can be, and I want my daughters to have those memories, too.?

On a child?s social calendar, sleepovers rank right up there with trick-or-treating and birthday parties. But what can be 15 hours of fun for a child can translate into 20 hours of anxiety for a parent trying to plan an entertaining party with no drama.

?There?s no such thing as throwing a slumber party together,? Forman advises. ?You have to plan ? who?s going to come, what activities the kids can do, what kinds of food to serve. It doesn?t have to be anything expensive or complicated, but if you don?t plan ahead you?re going to end up calling moms in the middle of the night because someone is scared or bored or feeling excluded.?

Forman?s daughters are 10 and 12, and she?s survived many sleepovers.

?If it?s your first time hosting, the best piece of advice I can give is keep it small,? she advises. ?Crowd control is a lot easier to manager when you only have three or four guests.?

Here are six basic guidelines to follow that can help alleviate stress and ensure a memorable party for all involved:

1. Pre-Party

There are simple steps you can take ahead of time to make things go smoothly when the first guest arrives. Make sure your invitations have a definite start and end time, what each child should bring (sleeping bag) and what meals will be served. When a parent RSVPs, get a contact number for them in the event a late-night phone call is warranted. Designate a specific area of the house where the kids will be by rearranging furniture to maximize the space and removing anything breakable. Finally, make sure all parental controls are activated for your television and computer.

2. Finger Foods

No matter what age your guests are, expect them to eat twice what you?d expect. Make it easy on yourself by buying finger foods like chips, grapes, cookies, cheese and crackers and maybe a small bowl of candy. Juice boxes and water bottles might cost a little more, but they cut down considerably on spills that need to be cleaned up. Keep serving bowls small so you have to go in periodically and refill them. It?s a good excuse for popping in and checking out what is going on without looking like you are snooping. For older kids, late-night pizza is always a big hit, particularly after the 10 p.m. ?power surge? (See? No. 3 ?Get physical?)

3. Get Physical

For some reason that has yet to be explained, kids at a sleepover seem to have a burst of energy around 10 p.m. Everything can be running smoothly, and all of a sudden you have kids jumping on the couch, wrestling on the floor or turning cartwheels down your hallway. Constructively channel this burst into a physical activity like a scavenger hunt in your house or yard, a brisk walk through the neighborhood (let?s see who can run backwards fastest to the corner), or pull out the game console for ?Just Dance? or ?Dance, Dance Revolution.? If all else fails, let them loose in the yard for a game of flashlight tag before the neighbors go to sleep.

4. A Dull Roar

Prepare yourself for a lot of noise. You know how high the volume gets pushed when one or two friends come over. Multiply that by how many guests you expect and don?t be shocked when, in spite of your firmest reminders to ?keep it down,? your partygoers squeal, laugh, vie for the spotlight or shriek out of sheer excitement. Remember that they are kids. While every parent will have a different level of tolerance, if you are expecting a quiet evening, you are setting yourself up for a night of frustration.

5. Wind Down

Rent several appropriate movies for the end of the evening when you want the party to transition to a slower pace. Usually at least one or two guests, if not most, will fall asleep during a late movie. They are also good in the morning once everything has been cleaned up and guests are waiting for parents to pick them up. It can be fun to schedule a sleepover on or near the DVD release of a popular movie. Check out http://www.movieweb.com/movies/2012/family?s=date for dates in 2012.

6. Breakfast

You might be tempted to whip up a hot, hearty breakfast for your guests, but keep it simple with a self-serve meal. Some kids will eat like birds; others might still be stuffed from goodies the night before. Instead of heaping their plates with foods that might not appeal at the moment, set out an easy buffet where they can help themselves to as little or as much as they want. A bowl of fruit salad, cereal bars and doughnuts and bagels should cover all the bases. Water, juice and milk will wash it all down.

IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR A SLEEPOVER?

Some children never think twice about sleeping away from home. Others aren?t ready until middle school. Here are some clues that might help you determine if your child is ready to be away from home until tomorrow.

Might Not Be Ready

1. Has trouble saying goodbye to you. When someplace new, wants you to stay until he or she feels comfortable.

2. Can?t sleep through the night without calling for a parent or visiting their bedroom.

3. Has trouble solving problems without an adult?s help.

4. Is afraid of the dark.

5. Routinely wets the bed.

Note: Often numbers four and five can be accommodated but talk to the host parent first and have a plan in place like a nightlight or an extra set of pajamas.

Ready

1. Has slept over previously with family members.

2. Is extremely excited about the sleepover and shows no hesitation.

3. Talks about the sleepover without expressing fear or asking too many ?what if? questions.

4. Sleeps well and through the night at home.

5. Feels comfortable trying to solve own problems.

For more ideas, check out these books and DVDs:

? Super Slumber Parties by American Girls, $9.99

? Snooze-A-Palooza by American Girls, $9.99

? Melissa & Doug Slumber Party Box Of Questions, $9.99

? Best Ever Sleepover DVD, $9.99

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